SPARKLE
US, 1976, 98 minutes, Colour.
Irene Cara, Lonette McKee?, Philip Michael Thomas, Dorian Harewood.
Directed by Sam O'Steen.
Sparkle is a show business rags-to-riches story set in New York's Harlem in the '50s. The film was directed by Sam O'Steen, better known as a talented editor of films. The screenplay was written by Joel Schumacher (St Elmo's Fire, The Lost Boys). It features Irene Kara, five years before becoming famous in Fame. It also stars Paul Michael Thomas, years before Miami Vice, and Lonette McKee? before The Cotton Club.
The material is familiar - reminiscent of Diana Ross and the Supremes. While the material is familiar, it is played with verve.
1. Popular story of show business, rags to riches?
2. New York Harlem, the '50s? The neighbourhood, apartments? Gangster atmosphere? Nightclubs? The musical score, the range of songs, the choreography?
3. The title and the focus on Sparkle? Her relationship with the rest of the characters? Her successful career?
4. The presentation of the family, at home, singing in church? The girls and their singing talent? Their mother and the other relatives? The possibility of auditions, singing in nightclubs, competitions? Careers, ups and downs? Death? Success? Dangers and gangsters? Romance?
5. Irene Kara as Sparkle, her place in the family, relationship with her sisters, with the group? With Stix? The auditions, church? Pressures? The success of the group? Sister and her downfall? The support of Stix, the romance? The audition, the new group, success? The record company? The financial deals and dangers? Success - decisions, a future?
6. Stix, around Harlem, hopes, love for Sparkle? Auditions? Swaggering around the town? Levi and his friends? The auditions, performances, success? The money deals with Gerber, the pressures and the gun? His note giving in? Reunited with Sparkle?
7. Sister, her place in the family, talents? The singing, with Levi, his going to jail? With Satin, drugs and the wrong crowd, her singing, downfall and death? The funeral and grief?
8. The other members of the family: the sister, her place in the group, moving out? The older generation women and their concern? Sparkle's success?
9. Levi, relationship with Sister, with the gangs, framed, in prison?
10. Satin, the Harlem gangsters, money, swagger, the nightclubs? Drugs?
11. Gerber, the gangsters, the money, the record industry, pressures?
12. The popular ingredients and dreams of would-be stars? Talent and opportunities? Money, pressures? Compromise? Future?
