Sparkle |  | Director: Sam O'Steen
Actors: Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, Lonette McKee, Dwan Smith, Mary Alice
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $3.57
as of 11/24/2009 01:32 CST details
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New (41) Used (27) from $3.57
Seller: Moms Video Store
Rating:  123 reviews
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 31974
UPC: 085393197421
EAN: 0085393197421
Theatrical Release Date: 1976
Release Date: January 2, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Irene Cara (Fame) and Lonette McKee (Round Midnight) sing and struggle their way to show-business glory in a Supremes-like girl group. Dynamite Curtis Mayfield soundtrack.Running Time: 98 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG Age: 085393197421 UPC: 085393197421 Manufacturer No: 31974 |
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Product Description
Irene Cara (Fame) and Lonette McKee (Round Midnight) sing and struggle their way to show-business glory in a Supremes-like girl group. Dynamite Curtis Mayfield soundtrack.Running Time: 98 min.System Requirements:Run Time: 98 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG UPC: 085393197421 Manufacturer No: 31974
Amazon.com
Before Dreamgirls hit cineplexes in 2006, there was Sparkle. Released in 1976, the low-budget movie (which is also loosely based on the story of Diana Ross and the Supremes) achieved somewhat of a cult following among fans that enjoy a good cry along with their kitsch. Sparkle tells the rags-to-riches (and rags again, for some of the characters) tale of three sisters with gorgeous voices. There's Sister (Lonette McKee), Sparkle (Irene Cara, Fame), and Delores (Dwan Smith), who team up with a couple of players (including a very young Philip Michael Thomas, pre-Miami Vice) to form a singing group. Because the men add little oomph to the outfit, the quintet becomes an all-girl trio and is renamed the redundant (and hysterical) Sister and the Sisters. But because this movie is called Sparkle and not Sister, we know that Irene Cara's character is the one to watch. Cara is a joy to listen to when she unleashes her powerful pipes. And as the much put-upon Sister, McKee is convincing and earns the viewer's sympathy. Set in the 1950's, the movie tackles racism, sexism, jealousy, and both chemical and physical abuse. While it is overly dramatic and liberally serves up sloppy doses of soap opera clichés, the film also is highly watchable because of its over-the-top campiness. --Jae-Ha Kim
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 123
 EXTRA, EXTRA FABULOUS April 3, 2009
S. Stephens (albany, ny United States)
THIS IS THE MOVIE TO OWN. IT HAS ALL THE EMOTIONS IT MAKE YOU LAUGH, CRY AND ANGRY. VERY GOOD STORY LINE. VERY VERY ENTERTAINING.
Sparkle March 13, 2009
S. Reiter
Good performances on the part of Lonette McGee... and even Phillip Michael Thomas... A back in the day kinda film... great!
Sister and the Sisters **SPARKLE** and the movie Shines! January 6, 2009
Alex Honda (Los Angeles, CA USA)
I love the movie SPARKLE and I'm so glad I finally bought the DVD.
Named as the precursor and inspiration to the Broadway musical Dreamgirls (and eventually movie Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition)), the film is about a group of friends--three of them sisters--and the different paths their lives take as they deal with life in the Harlem ghetto in the late 50s and 60s.
Don't let the cutesy title fool you; SPARKLE is a dark drama about pain and joy, and the nearly impossible task of trying to lift one's life out of poverty. There are some fantastic musical numbers and the dresses are fab, but this is far from the glamorous "Dreamgirls."
Fantastic songs and score by Curtis Mayfield punctuate the drama on screen and the dark lighting creates a stifling atmosphere that puts the viewer smack dab in the middle of poverty...where the only light shines is on the performer up on the stage.
The transfer to DVD is gorgeous! It's about time this cult favorite was released on DVD.
It also includes the trailer narrated by Casey Kasem and includes a separate CD from the Aretha Franklin album Sparkle: Music From The Warner Bros. Motion Picture..
The bonus CD contains 5 out of the 8 songs that were on the album/CD. Songs not on the bonus are:
JUMP
I GET HIGH
ROCK WITH ME
One note about the soundtrack: I really wish they would add the original vocals from the movie (done by Irene Cara, Lonette Mckee and Dawn Smith) to the soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, I love Aretha but the arrangements are so different on some songs that I don't like it.
And beside, Cara and Mckee sound wonderful, particularly Cara's solo on "Precious Lord Take My Hand." Oh well, I guess we can't have it all!
 Nothing To Sing Home About December 16, 2008
Fish Cheeks (In Your Dreams)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Let's keep it real here: "Sparkle" became more boring after Sister died. Sister (Lonette McKee) was the most beautiful and exciting sister. Too bad her life was cut short- rather quickly. If the movie was focused solely on her and contained a better script, I'm sure the movie would've been more interesting and profound. I found Sparkle (Irene Cara) to be as bland as stale wheat bread. I can't believe someone as boring as her ended up being the star of the movie. I just got tired of the goody-two shoes personality. Even hooking up with Stix (Phillip Michael Thomas) didn't add any spice to her. I also didn't understand why the middle sister Doleres (Dwan Smith) was the homeliest of the bunch. Irene Cara is a good singer, but she's not much of a soul singer. Lonette McKee wasn't much of a singer in those days, although I really liked her version of "Giving Up." Over all, the movie was alright, it just wasn't that great. Since Hollywood likes do remakes of movies that came out eons ago, a really great idea would be to re-write the entire script to Sparkle and change some things around.
SUCH A GREAT MOVIE!!! October 20, 2008
Henry D. Foreman (Eielson, AK USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I thought this was going to be one of those boring movies where the characters would break out in a song for no reason at all, but this was beyond perfect. If you haven't seen it, you're seriously missing out on one of the greatest movies done.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 123
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