The Idolmaker (1980)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

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
Michael Perotta	...	Carlo
Sylvia Shemmell
Myrna Smith
Afreeka Trees
Owen C. Davis
Jamie Fallin
Larry Van Claggett
Jeffrey Tanner	...	Delano
Renata Vanni
Howard Gordon	...	Scapio
Tammy Alverson		(as Tamy Alverson)
Frank Bunjic
Jed Brien
Jimmy Carter
Kim Corder
JoJo D'Amore		(as Jo Jo D'Amore)
Cherie Felice
Mallie Jackson		(as Malli Jackson)
Shelley Kirkwood
William Vincent Kulak
Anthony Marciona	...	Gino
Buddy Micucci
Alan Muir
Tony Munafo
Don Munson
Margery Nelson
Jack Neville
Thorne Nogar
James Saito
Sam Shamshak
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert P. Marcucci	...	New Jersey Heckler (uncredited)
Dean Rubin	...	New Jersey Heckler (uncredited)

Directed by
Taylor Hackford

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Edward Di Lorenzo		writer

Produced by
Gene Kirkwood	....	producer
Hawk Koch	....	producer (as Howard W. Koch Jr.)
R.J. Louis	....	associate producer
David Nichols	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jeff Barry

Cinematography by
Adam Holender

Film Editing by
Neil Travis

Art Direction by
David L. Snyder

Set Decoration by
Barbara Krieger

Costume Design by
Rita Riggs

Makeup Department
Marvin G. Westmore	....	makeup artist (as Marvin Westmore)

Production Management
R.J. Louis	....	production manager
Bernie Styles	....	production supervisor: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clifford C. Coleman	....	assistant director
Hope R. Goodwin	....	second assistant director (as Hope Goodwin)

Sound Department
Robert Glass	....	dubbing mixer (as Bob Glass)
Petur Hliddal	....	production sound mixer
Robert Knudson	....	dubbing mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Don MacDougall	....	dubbing mixer
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Ralph Gervais	....	special effects
Bob Trojan	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
David Goldner	....	special stills
Ron Grover	....	still photographer
Michael J. Schwartz	....	electrician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Steve Potter	....	assistant editor
Arthur Schmidt	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Gene N. Fowler	....	assistant music editor
Joe Renzetti	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Gene Clinesmith	....	driver

Other crew
Judith Gill	....	production coordinator
Dan Perri	....	title designer: main titles
Barry Rosenbush	....	production associate
Deney Terrio	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Kirkwood
• Koch Company

Distributors

• United Artists (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1985) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Cherokee Studios  music recorded at

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: The body style of the Ford Thunderbird didn't become available until the 1964 model, but when Caesare plays in Memphis, the date on the banner is March 17, 1961.

Quotes:

Vincent Vacarri: Hey, I'm not dumb! You don't even know me and you call me dumb. Wanna know what's dumb? The last eight covers in a row you did on Elvis in the army, with the badges? That's dumb. And that's boring.

Movie Connections:

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

One of the best kept secrets of film

This movie is the ultimate sleeper for me. What kept this movie from exploding into the theaters ? It has great direction, outstanding music, and career-defining performances !

"The Idolmaker" truly has everything. It is set during the time when Elvis was in the Army and everyone was looking for the Next Big Thing (Fabian, Frankie Avalon etc.). It shows how a man who is a great songwriter can turn guys who "have the look" into superstars.

This is the role that Ray Sharkey was born to play. It is almost as though he was the person who wrote the script, and had himself in mind for the role all along. You can just see the way he delivers his lines, dances to the music, and sings, that he truly is Vincent Vacarri.

Besides the fact that the acting is great, the musical performances are flawless. The songs just explode from the screen with catchy tunes. It gets especially interesting towards the end when Caesare (Peter Gallagher) gives his giant production live number.

Folks, if you haven't seen this movie (and I highly doubt that you have) - do yourself a favor and see it ! Like I said, it is a hard to find movie - but it is worth the time to track it down.

This is what happens if all the elements are clicking properly for a film with musical numbers.

Like I said, it's the biggest secret in film. Now that you know the secret, do yourself a favor and rent it. You'll thank me afterwards !