Synopsis
He's got the look... He's got the talent... He's got the Idolmaker... He's got it all!
Based on the life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marucci, who discovered, among others, Frankie Avalon and Fabian.
The Idolmaker
1980 Directed by Taylor Hackford
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1980 In Review - October
Music producer and songwriter Vincent Vacarri believes that it takes good looks, not talent, to become a teen idol in 1950s America. So when he discovers handsome faced Tomaso, he sweet talks him into losing his saxophone and instead becoming a singer. Soon after, Tomaso is transformed into the the newest pop star - Tommy Dee. But when Vacarri takes on a second protégée, Caesare, the rivalry between the two egotistical performers spirals out of control.
This seemed to be overlooked when it first came out, which is a shame, because it’s a very enjoyable slice of 50s American music. Loosely based on the real-life story of legendary South Philadelphia pop music impresario Robert Marucci… -
ray sharkey has lifeless eyes, black eyes like a dolls eyes
also peter gallagher's eyebrows have always been big
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peter gallagher in this movie is exceptionally convincing as a 25 year old teen idol
my one complaint though is that the story is focused on the character of Vinny, and not the character of Caesare who’s exceptionally more fascinating. the movie pretty much presents Vinny as fucking up Caesare’s life and then just kind of. not really being punished for it or giving the audience any payoff.
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Week 48 of Revisiting 1980
Release Date: November 14, 1980
Bought dvdThis is what I remember : early days of Rock and Roll, commanding noteworthy performance by Ray Sharkey.
Thoughts after watching it for the first time in decades: This is one of those movies that gave 1980 it’s heartbeat. Ray Sharkey plays a songwriter looking for hid big break, he finds it in first Paul Land and then Peter Gallagher, it’s a bus boy to stardom tale. The movie is well acted several debuts, including Joe Pantoliano. The music scenes are well done, 1980 was such a musical year.
The movie is high energy and really enjoyable. A true gem of the year that holds up nicely.
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Real chud move to have peter gallagher play such an interesting character whose life is destroyed at the hands of the uncharismatic lead actor but only have him in less than half of the movie. Toss in some weird sexual assaulty shit peppered throughout and you have succesfully further lowered the quality of a movie with a flawless premise. . . but there is great, beautiful music though, for real. and i recommend watching it for the incredihorror that is Caesare's concerts. . . like i get a vibe, ladies and gentlemen. anyway. you could never remake this so i wish they had done the job right the first time!
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It would be hard to make a case for The Idolmaker as a lost classic worth a Criterion rediscovery, but I do believe it deserves more than the astonishing obscurity into which it’s been cast. No availability for download on Amazon or Apple, an out of print DVD, and even little interest here on Letterboxd! And Ray Sharkey’s acceptance speech for his Golden Globe win for this movie isn’t on YouTube.
Released in 1980 (just as the Reagan era was beginning), Idolmaker can be seen as the last of the minor trend that erupted in the late 70s of character-based movies that used music, particularly live performance of rock music, as elements of the storytelling. I would include Saturday Night…
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A movie that I never heard of before until my father-in-law highly recommended it to me. This review is dedicated to him. Based on the life of Bob Marcucci, a producer who discovers musical talents with the likes of Frankie Avalon. I went into watching this movie without knowing what the plot was about exactly. It was a very entertaining movie set in the late 50s and early 60s . I loved how it’s about making a super star artist. How they discovered talents. I thoroughly enjoyed the music and songs played , they were fun and catchy. And I have always been in love with the Italian American accent and it just makes me smile listening to it. Seeing…
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Another Gritty Overlooked Classic from my favorite year 1980!
Ray Sharkey should have been a bigger name and had this film been a hit, 'll bet he would have been, at least for a while.
One thing that gets me but doesn't bother me because the music is Terrific, is how the music sounds nothing like the era it is portraying, it's like if FABIAN was singing in 1980 instead of 1961, but he still had the look of 1961.
Nevertheless, this movie has that guy with GIANT EYE BROWS in his movie debut, along with a scene or two with Maureen McCormick (a.k.a. MARCIA BRADY) -
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A number of firsts here, being Taylor Hackford’s directing debut as well as first feature roles for Peter Gallagher (who also sings) and Joe Pantoliano. As the music writer/promoter Vince Vaccari (based on Robert Marcucci), Ray Sharkey is excellent. Such a tragedy that it seems following prominence and critical success in this movie, his life took a downward spiral leading to his sad demise at the age of just 40. This is a movie that is well worth a watch. It was one I had actually wanted to see when it was released but didn’t and it seems a pretty neglected movie these days. I watched on laserdisc
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Finally saw it all the way till the end. Ray Sharkey's famous award winning performance about a talent scout/producer looking for the next Elvis is great entertainment. Too bad the late Sharkey's career took a dump to his drug use. A nice show business drama. The Tommy Dee high school show with Sharkey mimicking him backstage is a highlight and the song "Here is my Love" never gets old.
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Peter Gallagher doesn’t show up till an hour in. What’s the friggin’ point?!