The Sparks Brothers (2021)
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- R
- 2h 20min
- Documentary, Biography
- 18 Jun 2021 (USA)
- Movie
A musical odyssey through five decades with Ron Mael and Russell Mael celebrating the legacy of the band Sparks.
Director:
Stars:
Awards:
- 5 wins & 26 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Edgar Wright | ... |
Self, also narrator and interviewer
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| Sparks | ... |
Themselves (archiveFootage)
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| Ron Mael | ... |
Self
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| Russell Mael | ... |
Self
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Meyer Mael | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| The Beatles | ... |
Themselves (archiveFootage)
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Earle Mankey | ... |
Self
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| Harley Feinstein | ... |
Self
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| The Who | ... |
Themselves (archiveFootage)
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| The Kinks | ... |
Themselves (archiveFootage)
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Larry DuPont | ... |
Self
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Mike Berns | ... |
Self
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Todd Rundgren | ... |
Self
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| Pamela Des Barres | ... |
Self
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James Lowe | ... |
Self
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Patricia Lowe | ... |
Self
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Alex Kapranos | ... |
Self
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| Beck | ... |
Self
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| Jack Antonoff | ... |
Self
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| Groucho Marx | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
(as The Marx Brothers)
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| Chico Marx | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
(as The Marx Brothers)
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| Harpo Marx | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
(as The Marx Brothers)
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Hilly Michaels | ... |
Self
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John Hewlett | ... |
Self
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| Paul Morley | ... |
Self
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| Bob Harris | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Jane Wiedlin | ... |
Self
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| Mike Myers | ... |
Self
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David Betteridge | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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Muff Winwood | ... |
Self
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Tony Visconti | ... |
Self
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| Vince Clarke | ... |
Self
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| Andy Bell | ... |
Self
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| Neil Gaiman | ... |
Self
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The Rubettes | ... |
Themselves (archiveFootage)
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Chris Difford | ... |
Self
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| Björk | ... |
Self (voice)
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| Nick Rhodes | ... |
Self
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| John Taylor | ... |
Self
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| Mark Gatiss | ... |
Self
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| Pete Townshend | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Shelley Winters | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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Stephen Morris | ... |
Self
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Gillian Gilbert | ... |
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| Jonathan Ross | ... |
Self
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Julia Marcus | ... |
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Richard Coble | ... |
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| Steve Jones | ... |
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| Nick Heyward | ... |
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Ian Hampton | ... |
Self
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Gary Stewart | ... |
Self
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| Flea | ... |
Self
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| 'Weird Al' Yankovic | ... |
Self
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| Jean-Luc Godard | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
(as Godard)
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| Jacques Tati | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Amy Sherman-Palladino | ... |
Self
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| Daniel Palladino | ... |
Self
(as Dan Palladino)
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Sal Maida | ... |
Self
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| Thurston Moore | ... |
Self
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Peter Knego | ... |
Self
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Tosh Berman | ... |
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| Adam Buxton | ... |
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| Donna Summer | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Giorgio Moroder | ... |
Self
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Lance Rock | ... |
Self
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| Bernard Butler | ... |
Self
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| Billy Idol | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
(as Billy)
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| Rusty Egan | ... |
Self
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Martyn Ware | ... |
Self
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| Paul McCartney | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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| Jason Schwartzman | ... |
Self
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| Fred Armisen | ... |
Self
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| Dave Weigel | ... |
Self
(as David Weigel)
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| Patton Oswalt | ... |
Self
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| Roddy Bottum | ... |
Self
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| Leslie Bohem | ... |
Self
(as Les Bohem)
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David Kendrick | ... |
Self
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| Jake Fogelnest | ... |
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| April Richardson | ... |
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| Katie Puckrik | ... |
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Madeline Bocchiaro | ... |
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Christi Haydon | ... |
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| Scott Aukerman | ... |
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| Molly Ringwald | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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Vera Hegarty | ... |
Self
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Michael Silverblatt | ... |
Self
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Dean Menta | ... |
Self
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| Tim Burton | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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Mark Crowther | ... |
Self
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Tammy Glover | ... |
Self
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Sue Harris | ... |
Self
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Ben House | ... |
Self
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Stevie Nistor | ... |
Self
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John Congleton | ... |
Self
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| Franz Ferdinand | ... |
Themselves (archiveFootage)
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| Leos Carax | ... |
Self (archiveFootage)
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Evan Weiss | ... |
Self
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| Alex Casnoff | ... |
Self
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Patrick Kelly | ... |
Self
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Eli Pearl | ... |
Self
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| Simon Pegg | ... |
John Lennon (voice)
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| Nick Frost | ... |
Ringo Starr (voice)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Chuck Berry | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| James Brown | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Belinda Carlisle | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Dick Clark | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Roger Daltrey | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Doris Day | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Danny DeVito | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Adam Driver | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Bill Haley | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Mick Jagger | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Joy Division | ... |
Themselves (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Jerry Lee Lewis | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Linda McCartney | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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Steve McDonald | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Elvis Presley | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| George Segal | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Talia Shire | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| Liv Ullmann | ... |
Self (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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Directed by
| Edgar Wright | ||
Produced by
| Amit Dey | ... | executive producer |
| Kate Griffiths | ... | archive producer |
| George Hencken | ... | producer |
| Serena Kennedy | ... | line producer |
| Nira Park | ... | producer |
| Laura Richardson | ... | producer |
| Leo Thompson | ... | associate producer |
| Edgar Wright | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
| Jake Polonsky | ||
Editing by
| Paul Trewartha | ||
Editorial Department
| Sam Chynoweth | ... | color workflow supervisor |
| Johnathan Wei Dickinson | ... | digital intermediate editor |
| Paul Ensby | ... | colourist |
| Dave Harvey | ... | assembly editor |
| Andy Laas | ... | conform editor |
| Joe Mannion | ... | assistant editor |
| Ian Mosedale | ... | digital intermediate technical supervisor |
| Caroline Richards | ... | additional editor |
| Robert Siddall | ... | head of engineering |
| Nick J. Webb | ... | additional editor |
| Tobias Zaldua | ... | additional editor |
Art Direction by
| Ves Phillippi | ... | (as Ves Philippi) |
Makeup Department
| Chloe Edwards | ... | makeup artist |
| Vyvy Tran | ... | hair stylist / makeup artist |
Production Management
| Rachael Havercroft | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Lena Mesiano | ... | production supervisor |
| Devan Vimal | ... | post-production producer |
Sound Department
| Gerard Abeille | ... | sound recordist |
| Jamie Allen | ... | sound editor |
| Nigel Heath | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Rob Mayes | ... | sound recordist - japan unit |
| Reza Moosavi | ... | production sound mixer |
| Benjamin Quiles | ... | sound mixer |
| Brad Rees | ... | mix technician |
Visual Effects by
| Robin Doelly | ... | visual effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Kevin Scott Anderson | ... | assistant camera |
| Vincent James Carnevale | ... | first assistant camera |
| Azu Ekwukoma | ... | digital imaging technician |
| Gabe Elder | ... | camera operator |
| Brendan Gilliam | ... | camera operator |
| Tom Gineyts | ... | assistant camera: belgium unit |
| B Kelley | ... | Dit |
| Tom Lane | ... | first assistant camera |
| Alexander Le Bas | ... | digital imaging technician |
| Jacques Lorch | ... | assistant camera / camera operator (studio segments) |
| Shaun Mone | ... | gaffer |
| Marc Swadel | ... | cinematographer - japan unit |
| Alexander VanHeisch | ... | digital imaging technician (as Alexander Vanheisch) |
| Garath Whyte | ... | b camera operator |
| Mary Wing To | ... | camera operator - japan unit |
Animation Department
| Anita Bruvere | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Gemma Byrne | ... | model & puppet maker (stop-motion segments) |
| George Carman | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Violet Cloutman | ... | Animation Assistant |
| Adam Cook | ... | motion control technician (stop-motion segment) |
| Jon Davey | ... | cinematographer (stop-motion segments) |
| Timon Dowdeswell | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Sam Gainsborough | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Quentin Haberham | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Martyna Koleniec | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Thomas Matthew | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Greg McLeod | ... | animator |
| Arnau Gòdia Montesinos | ... | animator (stop-motion segments) |
| Carla Mooney | ... | Animation Producer (stop-motion segments) |
| Delwyn Mooney | ... | Animation Producer (stop-motion segments) |
| Jake Teale | ... | model & puppet maker (stop-motion segments) |
| Ferriol Tugues | ... | digital compositor (stop-motion segments) |
| Joseph Wallace | ... | animations created & designed by (stop-motion segments) / cinematographer (stop-motion segments) |
| Becky Weston | ... | model & puppet maker (stop-motion segments) |
Location Management
| Laura Avila Tacsan | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Natalie Hayden | ... | executive in charge of music |
| Gary Welch | ... | music supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Georgie Monica Ball | ... | assist (stop-motion segment) |
| Violet Cloutman | ... | assist (stop-motion segment) |
| Molly Denton | ... | production assistant (stop-motion segments) |
| Liane Escorza | ... | production coordinator |
| Peter Facer | ... | Archive footage Video Beat |
| Sarah Janalli | ... | production coordinator |
| Emmi Joutsi | ... | consultant |
| Zoe Lewis | ... | assist (stop-motion segment) |
| Tess McNally-Watson | ... | archive researcher |
| Tam O'Malley | ... | logger |
| Antonia Shaw | ... | assist (stop-motion segment) |
| Marta Smyk | ... | assist (stop-motion segment) |
Thanks
| Naida Albright | ... | special thanks |
| Tatiana Bouchain | ... | special thanks |
| Thomas Clawson | ... | thanks |
| Daryl Easlea | ... | thanks |
| Tony Etz | ... | special thanks |
| Andy Friendly | ... | thanks |
| James Gay-Rees | ... | special thanks |
| Charles Gillibert | ... | special thanks |
| Jennifer Kuwabara | ... | special thanks |
| Jarred Land | ... | special thanks |
| William Orbit | ... | special thanks |
| Raija Pösö | ... | thanks |
| Emma Ray | ... | special thanks |
| George Rumsey | ... | special thanks |
| Morgan Strong | ... | thanks |
| Kris Trexler | ... | thanks |
| Hugh Whittaker | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
- Focus Features (presents)
- Media Rights Capital (MRC) (in association with)
- Complete Fiction
Distributors
- Focus Features (2021) (United States) (theatrical)
- Focus Features (2021) (World-wide)
- Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2021) (Non-US) (theatrical)
- Alba Films (2021) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinemundo (2021) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Tulip Entertainment (2021) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2021) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2022) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (2021) (Spain) (theatrical) (subtitled version)
- Studio Distribution Services (SDS) (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray) (through)
- Studio Distribution Services (SDS) (2021) (United States) (DVD) (through)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2022) (Australia) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2021) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2022) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2022) (Germany) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2023) (Finland) (tv) (and Internet)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Back Lot Music (soundtrack)
- Cardel Entertainment (animation production)
- Eyehear (music supervision)
- Vivid Rental (cutting rooms)
- Vivid Rental (editing equipment)
- Vivid Rental (editing equipment: Avid, post-production facilities)
- Waxwork Records (soundtrack available from)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Growing up in the '60s, Los Angeles brothers Ron and Russell got by on a heavy diet of popcorn matinees and pop music until the spotlight of school talent shows illuminated their way on a musical journey as Sparks and spawned 25 studio albums. Edgar Wright's vision brings five decades of invention to life through animations and interviews, digging deeply into the band's rich, career-spanning archival. Written by Sundance Film Festival |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | None of Ron's snow globes were harmed during the making of this documentary. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Peyton Manning/Bowen Yang/Edgar Wright/Stevie Nistor (2021). See more » |
| Soundtracks | This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us See more » |
| Quotes |
Jack Antonoff:
All pop music is rearranged Vince Clarke or rearranged Sparks. That's the truth. See more » |