The Idolmaker (1980)

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The story of Philadelphia-based rock 'n' roll starmaker Bob Marcucci is given a pointed a clef treatment in The Idolmaker. Ray Sharkey plays Vincent Vacarri, who takes a couple of raw young kids (Peter Gallagher and Paul Land) and molds them into teen idols. If Gallagher and Land seem at times to be clones of Fabian and Frankie Avalon, then you've gotten the point. As played by Sharkey, Vacarri comes off as both maven and monster: he gives his boys everything they need professionally and everything they want personally, but it's subliminally clear that his interest is purely mercenary (incredibly, Bob Marcucci is the film's technical advisor). An excellent, clear-eyed view of show biz mechanics, The Idolmaker falters only in its anachronisms, notably the style of music performed by Vacarri's proteges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Theatrical Feature Running Time:

119 mins

Complete Cast:

Director(s):

Taylor Hackford

Writer(s):

Edward di Lorenzo

Producer(s):

Howard W. Koch, Gene Kirkwood

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG(Questionable for Children, Adult Situations, Adult Language)

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• 1980 - The Idolmaker - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy