The Dream Merchants (1980)

Fictionalized behind-the-scenes machinations of early Hollywood movie-making.

Director:

Vincent Sherman

Writers:

Richard De Roy, Chester Krumholz,

Stars:

Mark Harmon, Vincent Gardenia, Morgan Fairchild

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Harmon	...	Johnny Edge
Vincent Gardenia	...	Peter Kessler
Morgan Fairchild	...	Dulcie Warren
Brianne Leary	...	Doris Kessler
Robert Picardo	...	Mark Kessler
Eve Arden	...	Coralee
Kaye Ballard	...	Esther Kessler
Morgan Brittany	...	Astrid James
Red Buttons	...	Bruce Benson
Robert Culp	...	Henry Farnum
Howard Duff	...	Charles Slade
José Ferrer	...	George Pappas
Robert Goulet	...	Craig Warren
David Groh	...	Rocco Salvatore
Carolyn Jones	...	Vera

Storyline

Fictionalized behind-the-scenes machinations of early Hollywood movie-making.

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Plot Keywords:

film industry | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 1981 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Die Traumfabrik

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Television, Operation Prime Time (OPT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

240 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character "Johnny Edge" (Mark Harmon) is loosely based on the real life of Universal Studios founder Carl Laemmle.

User Reviews

Historical Soap Opera of Hollywood's Early Daze

Cheese, cheese and more cheese. Mix Harold Robbins' pot-boiling plot (that unfolds in the early days of the Hollywood studio systems) with that "80s Dynasty-esque glamour" and you're left with some bad acting, bad dialogue, and some historical inaccuracies. However, you just gotta love hissing at the screen when bad girl Morgan Fairchild appears to chew up some scenery!

If you love bad miniseries from the 80s, here's one for you.