Don Bexley

Sparkle -- Irene Cara and Lonette McKee sing and struggle their way to show-business glory in a Supremes-like girl group.

From the directors of Lawless Heart comes SPARKLE, a hilarious and heart-warming comedy about life, love, and getting ahead in the twenty-first century. Sam Sparkes (Shaun Evans) is a 22 year old with ambitions: move to London and join the glamorous PR world. When Vince (Bob Hoskins) finds Sam a job as a waiter, he meets his soon-to-be PR boss, Sheila (Stockard Channing). Sensing opportunity, Sam charms himself a job as Sheila's PA... and her lover. But when Sam falls for Kate (Amanda Ryan), he instigates a series of family betrayals and romantic mishaps. As balancing his job and love life becomes overwhelming, unexpected twists and uncovered secrets force Sam to choose between his career and the woman of his dreams.

In the tradition of "Dreamgirls" comes this Cinderella story starring Grammy Award-winner Irene Cara ("Flashdance," "Fame"), Lonette McKee ("The Cotton Club") and Philip Michael Thomas ("Miami Vice"). Three sisters from Harlem form a singing group and try to make it big, taking a path marked by romance, tragedy and finally triumph. The chart-topping soundtrack features songs by legendary R and B artist Curtis Mayfield ("Superfly"), including "Jump," "Hooked on Your Love" and the smooth ballad "Giving Him Something He Can Feel," recently covered with great success by En Vogue. Screenplay by hit-maker Joel Schumacher ("Batman Forever," "The Client").

Bookie Sorrowful Jones (Walter Matthau) grudgingly accepts a 6-year-old girl (Sara Stimson) as collateral for a debt. The sprightly youngster soon has a positive effect on her curmudgeonly guardian, adding a little sunshine to his life. What's more, the little lass decides to play matchmaker for sorrowful and lovely widow Amanda (Julie Andrews) in this adaptation of Damon Runyon's classic short story. Tony Curtis costars as the heavy.

Irene Cara and Lonette McKee sing and struggle their way to show-business glory in a Supremes-like girl group.

Shaun Evans plays Sam Sparks, a young man who relocates from Liverpool to London with his single mother, Jill (Lesley Manville) - a chanteuse in local bars.

Irene Cara and Lonette McKee sing and struggle their way to show-business glory in a Supremes-like girl group.

Shaun Evans plays Sam Sparks, a young man who relocates from Liverpool to London with his single mother, Jill (Lesley Manville) - a chanteuse in local bars.

A trio of musically talented Harlem sisters rise to become major stars of the '50s. Unfortunately, their sudden popularity causes much turmoil in their lives.

Peter Bogdonavich ("The Last Picture Show," "Paper Moon") directed this wonderful salute to the "screwball comedies" of the '40s and '50s. Superstar and Academy Award-winner Barbra Streisand ("The Prince of Tides," "Funny Girl") and Ryan O'Neal ("Irreconcilable Differences," "Love Story") star as an eccentric girl and an equally eccentric young professor who meet at a musicologist's convention and become involved in a zany chase up and down the hills of San Francisco to recover four identical flight bags containing jewels and secret government papers. This box office hit also features the film debut of comedienne Madeline Kahn ("Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein").

Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal star as an eccentric girl and an equally eccentric young professor who meet at a musicologist's convention and become involved in a zany chase.

Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal star as an eccentric girl and an equally eccentric young professor who meet at a musicologist's convention and become involved in a zany chase.