The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel is a 2020 American biographical film about gospel group The Clark Sisters. Directed by Christine Swanson, and co-written by Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker, the film stars Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin, and Angela Birchett. It premiered on Lifetime on April 11, 2020.[2][3]
| The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | |
|---|---|
 The official poster for The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Christine Swanson |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | |
| Original release | |
| Release | April 11, 2020[1] |
Plot
editThe film centers on the formation of gospel group The Clark Sisters, the daughters and pupils of gospel singer and devout Christian Mattie Moss Clark.[4] The plot follows their journey from their hometown of Detroit to becoming the highest-selling gospel group in music history.[2][5]
Cast
edit- Aunjanue Ellis as Dr. Mattie Moss-Clark[6]
- Angela Birchett as Jacky Clark-Chisholm[1]
- Raven Goodwin as Denise Clark-Bradford[1]
- Christina Bell as Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark[1]
- Sheléa Frazier as Dorinda Clark-Cole[1]
- Kierra Sheard as Karen Clark-Sheard[1]
- Demore Barnes as Elbert Clark[7]
- Michael Xavier as J. Drew Sheard[7]
- Saad Siddiqui as Reza[7]
- Romaine Waite as Greg Cole
Production
editThe movie was filmed between January and February 2019 in Toronto, Canada.
On March 27, 2019, it was announced that Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Productions had greenlit the film to be released in 2020.[8] Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Loretha Jones and Holly Carter served as executive producers for the film.[2]
The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel is the first authorized biopic about the group.[8] The producers noted in an interview at the 2020 TCA press tour that estranged sister Denise Clark-Bradford was invited to be a part of the film but did not state the extent of her involvement.[9]
The film was directed by Christine Swanson and written by Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker, who wrote the story. Kierra Sheard portrayed her real-life mother, Karen Clark Sheard.[4]
Soundtrack
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Beginning (Spoken Word)" | Aunjanue Ellis & Cast | 1:39 | |
| 2. | "What He’s Done for Me" | Mattie Moss Clark | Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin & Angela Birchett | 2:33 |
| 3. | "In the Studio (Spoken Word)" | Aunjanue Ellis & Sheléa Frazier | 0:21 | |
| 4. | "If You Can’t Take It, You Sure Can’t Make It" | Leva Mae Penniman | Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin & Angela Birchett | 2:03 |
| 5. | "Karen Finds Her Voice (Spoken Word)" | Aunjanue Ellis, Kierra Sheard & Cast | 0:29 | |
| 6. | "I Can Do All Things Thru Christ That Strengthens Me" | Twinkie Clark | Kierra Sheard & Dorinda Clark-Cole | 2:27 |
| 7. | "Twinkie Takes Over (Spoken Word)" | Aunjanue Ellis & Christina Bell | 0:30 | |
| 8. | "Praying Spirit" | Twinkie Clark | Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin & Angela Birchett | 3:58 |
| 9. | "Nothing to Lose, All to Gain" | Twinkie Clark | Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin & Angela Birchett | 4:17 |
| 10. | "Crossover (Spoken Word)" | Aunjanue Ellis, Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin & Angela Birchett | 0:46 | |
| 11. | "You Brought the Sunshine" | Twinkie Clark | Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin & Angela Birchett | 4:11 |
| 12. | "Name It Claim It" | Twinkie Clark | Christina Bell, Kierra Sheard, Sheléa Frazier, Raven Goodwin & Angela Birchett | 2:32 |
| 13. | "Name It Claim It (Dorinda’s Sermonette) [Spoken Word]" | Sheléa Frazier | 1:22 |
Notes
- All songs produced by Donald Lawrence.
- Other songs performed in the film but not included on the soundtrack are "Hallelujah," "Is My Living in Vain," "Miracle" (a reworked version of The Clark Sisters' earlier "Expect Your Miracle" on their album of the same name), and the Karen Clark Sheard-penned "Blessed & Highly Favored."
Charts
edit| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[10] | 8 |
The soundtrack album debuted at number eight on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart, where it remained in its second week. In its third week, the album slipped to number 23.[11]
Release
editReception
editCritical reception
editThe Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel premiere was the most-watched film on Lifetime in four years with 2.7 million viewers.[12]
The film received mixed critical reception. In a review for rogerebert.com, Nell Minow rated the film 3.5/4 stars, calling Ellis's performance "mesmerizing" and the music "a gorgeous, spirit-lifting celestial chorus."[13] Joelle Monique of The A.V. Club rated the film a C+ and wrote in the review, "...it feels like a chorus of Clark sisters, each with their interpretation of events, presented in a way that wouldn’t offend anyone person in the group."[14] Writing for The Root, Panama Jackson stated in a more positive review: "It’s both heartwarming and endearing, while not skirting any of the issues that plagued their ultimately triumphant and still ongoing journey: domestic violence, gender inequality in the church, interpersonal issues, medical issues, mental health, life, etc."[15]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Black Reel Television Awards | Outstanding Television Movie or Limited Series | The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | Nominated | [16] |
| Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series | Aunjanue Ellis | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series | Raven Goodwin | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Director, TV Movie/Limited Series | Christine Swanson | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing, TV Movie/Limited Series | Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker | Nominated | |||
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Television Movie | The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | Nominated | [17] | |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television – Best Period and/or Character Make-Up | LaLette Littlejohn, Christopher Pizzarelli and Dorota Zajac | Nominated | [18] | |
| Best Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television – Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling | Etheline Joseph, Yasmine Crosdale and Tenika Smith | Nominated | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | Nominated | [19] | |
| Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Aunjanue Ellis | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Christine Swanson | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Sylvia L. Jones and Camille Tucker | Nominated | |||
| Satellite Awards | Best Television Film | The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel | Won | [20] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "'The Clark Sisters: First Ladies Of Gospel' Gets Premiere Date, New Trailer". shadowandact.com. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ a b c "Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige & Missy Elliott Tell The Clark Sisters' Iconic Story in New Biopic". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ "'The Clark Sisters' Is Lifetime's Biggest Movie in 4 Years". shadowandact.com. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
- ^ a b c "Here's Your First Look At 'The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel'". Essence. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ "Sheléa Speaks On The Lifetime Movie, "The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel"". www.yahoo.com. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ "Lifetime Presents The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel & A Question of Faith Easter Weekend". stylemagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ a b c Minow, Nell (April 27, 2020). "The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel movie review (2020)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- ^ a b Legaspi, Althea (2019-03-28). "Salt-N-Pepa Miniseries, the Clark Sisters Biopic In Works". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ Haithman, Diane (2020-01-18). "'Clark Sisters' Producers, Cast Talk Estranged Sibling, Faith-Based TV-TCA". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ "TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS". Billboard. May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ "TOP GOSPEL ALBUMS". Billboard. April 25, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Billboard.com.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (2020-04-13). "'The Clark Sisters: First Ladies Of Gospel' Biopic Marks Highest-Rated Lifetime Movie In Four Years". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
- ^ Minow, Nell. "The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel movie review (2020) | Roger Ebert". www.rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
- ^ "The Clark Sisters story belongs to their mother in new Lifetime movie". TV Club. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
- ^ "The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel Movie on Lifetime Brought the Sunshine. You Should Watch It. Amen". Very Smart Brothas. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ "Watchmen & Insecure Pace the Black Reel Awards for TV Nominations". Black Reel Awards. June 18, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (January 18, 2021). "'Ozark,' 'The Crown' and Netflix Lead 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards TV Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (2021-02-18). "'Bill & Ted Face the Music' Leads Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (February 2, 2021). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ Van Blaricom, Mirjana (February 1, 2021). "25th Satellite Awards Nominees for Motion Pictures and Television Announced". International Press Academy. Retrieved February 1, 2021.