Sparkle (1976)

A girl group experiences turmoil after one of their members turns to drugs and another achieves their desired fame all by herself.

Director:

Sam O'Steen

Writers:

Howard Rosenman (story), Joel Schumacher

Stars:

Philip Michael Thomas, Irene Cara, Lonette McKee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Michael Thomas	...	Stix
Irene Cara	...	Sparkle
Lonette McKee	...	Sister
Dwan Smith	...	Delores
Mary Alice	...	Effie
Dorian Harewood	...	Levi
Tony King	...	Satin
Beatrice Winde	...	Mrs. Waters
Paul Lambert	...	Moe
Joyce Easton	...	Lee
Otis Day	...	Ham
Norma Miller	...	Doreen
Talya Ferro	...	Miss Taylor
Bob Delegall	...	Mr. Daniels
Armelia McQueen	...	Tune Ann

Storyline

Three sisters (Sister and the Sisters) from Harlem become singers. Sister (Lonette McKee) becomes involved with drugs, while Sparkle (Irene Cara) ends up being the one who gets famous. This film tells of how drugs ruin Sister's relationships and eventually end her life. It is also about the relationship between Sparkle and Stix (Philip Michael Thomas).

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | singer | girl group | fame | alcoholism | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blysk

Filming Locations:

Stage 24, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Robert Stigwood Organization (RSO), Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Stix is working in the record store, the year is 1958, but there is a 1960 Coasters LP, "One On One" that is clearly present in the front of the store.

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Quotes

Sister: [after Delores and Sparkle discover her drug addiction] Can't you see? Sister can't fly on only one wing.....

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Connections

Referenced in Martin: All the Players Came (1995)

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Soundtracks

"JUMP"
Written by Curtis Mayfield
Performed by Lonette McKee, Irene Cara, Dwan Smith, Philip Michael Thomas and Dorian Harewood

User Reviews

An innocent, classic musical film that inspires!

I was 5 years old when I saw this musical movie while on vacation with my family in St. Thomas in 1977 and immediately fell in love with it. 27 years later, it is still an original inspiration for achieveing my goals that I have set to accomplish since that time!

This tragic story of a hard-core "behind the scenes" of the entertainment industry during the late 50's, "Sparkle" successfully portrays the struggle of three young sisters looking for their place in the sun. This story could simply become the biographical story of many young aspiring artists about what could materialize when things seem to happen too fast and role models are not available to lend a helping hand.

The phenomenal music written and composed by Aretha Franklin and Curtis Mayfield, the soundtrack carries the plot with every song. From being subjected to situations that almost leave no choice for strong long-term decision-making, to making the ultimate sacrifice in order to get ahead, all three young girls, Sparkle, Sister, and Delores, represent the different routes that one could take when you set out to achieve your ideal opportunity as your contribution to society.

This movie could have possibly spawned the ideas of creating "Dreamgirls" on Broadway, and Mariah Carey's "Glitter," 25 years later. As an original audience member of both productions, I have seen a lot of similarities in both stories to "Sparkle," as well as in "Saturday Night Fever," "Fame," "Flashdance," and the off-Broadway smash hit "Mama, I Want To Sing."