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The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel

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Wikipedia article




'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, Shela Frazier, Raven Goodwin, and Angela Birchett. It premiered on Lifetime on April 11, 2020.

Plot



The film centers on the formation of gospel group The Clark Sisters, the daughters and pupils of gospel singer and devout Christian Mattie Moss Clark. The plot follows their journey from their hometown of Detroit to becoming the highest-selling gospel group in music history.

Cast



Production



The 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. Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Loretha Jones and Holly Carter served as executive producers for the film.

'The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel' is the first authorized biopic about the group. 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.

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.

Soundtrack



'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



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.

Release



The film premiered on Lifetime on April 11, 2020.

Reception



Critical reception

'The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel' premiere was the most-watched film on Lifetime in four years.

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." 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 wouldnt offend anyone person in the group." Writing for 'The Root', Panama Jackson stated in a more positive review: "Its 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."

Awards and nominations



References




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