Loosely drawing on the stories of the Supremes and other soul groups, Sparkle follows three singing sisters from their Harlem home to stardom in the late fifties. Critics were quick to spot the talents of Irene Cara (Fame, Flashdance track) early on in her career (she had just won an Obie award for her role in The Me Nobody Knows). She plays the naive sister, Sparkle, who moves through innocence to adulthood and a solo career. Lonette McKee was also a revelation as the gutsy, sultry Sister. Curtis Mayfield composed six new songs for the film, and Bruce Surtees' close-in camerawork lends Sparkle an atmospheric beauty that defies its low-budget origins.