The Idolmaker (1980)

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writer:

Edward Di Lorenzo (writer)

Release Date:

14 November 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

He's got the look... He's got the talent... He's got the Idolmaker... He's got it all!

Plot:

Based on the life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marucci, who discovered, among others, Frankie Avalon and Fabian. |

Plot Keywords:

1950s | Rock Music | Teen Idol

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Ray Sharkey	...	Vincent 'Vinnie' Vacarri
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Brenda Roberts
Peter Gallagher	...	Caesare
Paul Land	...	Tommy Dee
Joe Pantoliano	...	Gino Pilato
Maureen McCormick	...	Ellen Fields
John Aprea	...	Pani Vacarri
Richard Bright	...	Uncle Tony
Olympia Dukakis	...	Mrs. Vacarri
Steve Peck	...	Mr. Frank Vacarri (as Steven Apostlee Peck)
Leonard Gaines	...	Luchetti
Deney Terrio	...	Jerry Martin
Charles Guardino	...	Jesse
Michael Mislove	...	Ed Sharp
Kenneth O'Brien	...	Walt Bennett

Runtime:

117 min | 119 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | USA:PG (certificate #26166) | West Germany:12

Company:

Kirkwood

Trivia:

Feature film debuts of both Joe Pantoliano and Peter Gallagher

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When the "payola money" is exchanged, "Green Seal" Federal Reserve Notes are again seen.

Quotes:

Vincent Vacarri: True sex comes from between your ears, not from between your legs.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Saturday Night Live: Ray Sharkey/Jack Bruce & Friends (#6.6)" (1981)

As 9 and 10yr old my friend and I watched this continuously!

We loved this movie! I loved it years later and special ordered the soundtrack on vinyl. Now I'm trying to get it on cd. Impossible I think. Peter Gallagher was hot as "Fabian" and the music scenes were real, not Hollywood musical crap. This is a very moving film about a man who spends his life making the careers of others only to get left behind as they move up the food chain. Talented himself but didn't have "the look" that sold records. Ray Sharky died of aids yrs later, actually did some work while he had hiv and looked it. This is probably his best work. I have always been a movie buff (still dream of directing) and I can remember the Ebert and Roeper review of this film. It was their sleeper hit of the week. I remember if vividly because that's when I learned about the term "sleeper" referencing films. It was a 2 thumbs up and HBO played it constantly. HBO was limited back then and this was always on and we watched it every chance we could!