Sparkle

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Sparkle

PG

Released Apr 7, 1976

1h 40m

Musical

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

18%

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11 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In 1950s Harlem, Sparkle (Irene Cara), Sister (Lonette McKee) and Dolores (Dwan Smith) are three musically gifted sisters whose mother, Effie (Mary Alice), supports them by working as a maid. Encouraged by Sparkle's boyfriend, Stix (Philip Michael Thomas), the three form a singing group and become a sensation at a local nightclub. However, tensions rise when Sister is appointed the group's lead singer and begins dating Satin (Tony King), an abusive, drug-addicted pimp.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

The crowded look of the film helps to compensate for the Joel Schumacher script, which appears to be no more than a skeleton.

Dec 2, 2023

Full Review

Keith Phipps

AV Club

It's a rags-to-riches story that doesn't miss a stop along the well-trod ghetto-to-musical-charts path, but makes its journey with tuneful conviction.

Rated: B-

Aug 16, 2012

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Hackneyed, ho-hum 1976 feature about a black girl group, clearly modeled on the Supremes.

Aug 16, 2012

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Sparkle is watchable because the music by Curtis Mayfield is very good, and the ladies, even though they don't have much, at least nostalgically evoke the grace, style, and power that The Supremes had in the past decade. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 3, 2023

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Jacoba Atlas

Los Angeles Free Press

Has all the shine of a badly cut rhinestone.

Oct 31, 2019

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Bernard Drew

Gannett News Service

[An] uneasy marriage of cliched melodrama and music in an odd March of Time technique.

Oct 22, 2019

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Audience Member

Now who the hell gave sparkle one damn star!? Also, someone said something about "Effie", talking about this is based off the Supremes..Fool this isn't Dreamgirls... LMAO I guess we really do all look a like to you morons. Back to the movie, and enough about dummies, this movie is a more of a coming of age story. The girls have a strict hard working mother, all can sing and are beautiful. In the 1950's everyone wanted to be a star. Not everyone made it. I love this movie. Drugs, music, heartache, hard work, thieves, liars, and love. Sounds like a the makings of all great musical movies to me! <3 Of most rags to riches stories, this one is one of my favorites. The music, the singing... and the story are great.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

Music is incredible! The music in this film is by far the greatest part. Lonette McKee shines as, Sistah. The storyline isn't difficult to follow.The acting as a whole is good, not necessarily outstanding, but good.The lighting is poor and can take away from some of the scenes, All in all, I still think Sparkle is an easily lovable film and one worth seeing. It is definitely one worth hearing, and no you can't just get the soundtrack. The soundtrack is sung by Aretha franklin, and as much as I love Ms. franklin...these songs need to be heard by the cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Something about this dragged - the story was the usual overnight success followed by disaster arising from crime and drugs - but mostly it needed better singers.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Great movie, enjoyed the singing a lot.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Great movie full of a lot of emotions

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

Love it Great movie Wonderful movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/20

Full Review

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Sam O'Steen

Director

Philip Michael Thomas

Stix

Irene Cara

Sparkle

Lonette McKee

Sister

Dwan Smith

Delores

Mary Alice

Effie

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Synopsis

In 1950s Harlem, Sparkle (Irene Cara), Sister (Lonette McKee) and Dolores (Dwan Smith) are three musically gifted sisters whose mother, Effie (Mary Alice), supports them by working as a maid. Encouraged by Sparkle's boyfriend, Stix (Philip Michael Thomas), the three form a singing group and become a sensation at a local nightclub. However, tensions rise when Sister is appointed the group's lead singer and begins dating Satin (Tony King), an abusive, drug-addicted pimp.

Director: Sam O'Steen
Producer: Howard Rosenman
Screenwriter: Joel Schumacher
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 1976, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 40m

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