Themes: Pygmalion Stories, Rags To Riches, Ladder to the Top
Main Cast: Ray Sharkey, Paul Land, Olympia Dukakis, Peter Gallagher, Joe Pantoliano, Tovah Feldshuh
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 119 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
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
Review
An underrated minor gem from debut director Taylor Hackford that, while often compared to Grease (1978) and the same year's odious remake The Jazz Singer (1980), actually owes considerably more to the Oscar-winning The Buddy Holly Story (1978) in tone and execution. While certainly not displaying the charm and emotional impact of that classic film, Hackford's introduction is not without its charms, which include a pair of nicely turned-on performances from Tovah Feldshuh and Golden Globe-winner Ray Sharkey (this film and the series Wise Guy standing as two of the ill-fated actor's finest projects), as well as some memorable tunes from legendary pop songwriter Jeff Barry, co-author of "Da Do Ron Ron," "Be My Baby," and "Leader of the Pack," among other hits of the Brill Building era. The drama's limited budget shows in its rather skimpy efforts to depict the time period, and the story is predictably rags-to-riches-to-rags, but in this thinly veiled bio of "power behind the throne," Bob Marcucci crackles with a raw, nervously sexual energy, fairly bristling with enthusiasm for its subject matter. Not yet cynical and jaded by an industry that would so often misrepresent and poorly promote his work, Hackford is fully engaged here, and it shows on all levels, from casting (Peter Gallagher and Joe Pantoliano both make their feature film bows with the film) to the picture's subtly frisky, funny (and most likely totally intentional) homoerotic undercurrent. It's not the definitive rock & roll film, but The Idolmaker (1980) still trumps later-model cousins such as Rock Star (2001). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Maureen McCormick - Ellen Fields; John Aprea - Paul Vacarri; Richard Bright - Uncle Tony; Steven Apostlee Peck - Mr. Vacarri; Leonard Gaines - Luchetti; Denny Terrio - Jerry Martin; Charles Guardino - Jesse; Michael Mislove - Ed Sharp; Kenneth O'Brien - Walt Bennett; James Saito; Barbara King; Penny Perry Davis
Credit
David Snyder - Art Director, R.J. Louis - Associate Producer, Denny Terrio - Choreography, Bob Marcucci - Consultant/advisor, Rita Riggs - Costume Designer, Clifford C. Coleman - First Assistant Director, Taylor Hackford - Director, Arthur Schmidt - Editor, Neil Travis - Editor, Steve Potter - Editor, Jeff Barry - Composer (Music Score), Jeff Barry - Songwriter, Adam Holender - Cinematographer, Gene Kirkwood - Producer, Howard W. Koch - Producer, Barbara Krieger - Set Designer, Don MacDougall - Sound/Sound Designer, Peter Hliddal - Sound/Sound Designer, Bob Glass - Sound/Sound Designer, Buzz Knudson - Sound/Sound Designer, Edward di Lorenzo - Screenwriter
The film is based on the life of rock promoter and producer Bob Marcucci, who discovered and promoted several rock 'n' roll stars including Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Bob Marucci served as a technical advisor for the production.
Ray Sharkey plays Vincent Vacari, a songwriter/manager, driven by his desire to discover the next big act. After watching the band play at a local club, Vinnie approaches Tomaso DeLorusso (Paul Land), a popular and talented saxophone player, and convinces him to trade his instrument for a microphone. Following some months under Vinnie's guidance, "Tommy Dee" becomes a rock 'n' roll sensation.
Following on from his success with Tommy Dee, Vinnie prepares another act in the form of Guido (Peter Gallagher), a local busboy. With even more gusto and singlemindedness, Vinnie embarks on a destructive journey to control every aspect of his new act's image.
Despite Vinnie's obvious flair for idolmaking, his girlfriend Brenda (Tovah Feldshuh) is concerned that his obsession is destroying everyone around him, including himself.
