MovieChat Forums > The Idolmaker (1980) Discussion > One of the best...

One of the best...

posted 19 years ago by trufilm
4 replies | jump to latest

...rock n roll movies ever made. For anyone who hasn't seen this movie it is a must have. It is one of the rare gems lost in the shuffle when it came out in 1980. Unfortunately it came out around the same time "Heaven's Gate" came out by the same studio. So much bad publicity surrounded the movie that people just overlooked this film. It's got a catchy soundtrack,great performances by the cast. Even Ray Sharkey was nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance.
You have to be a real dull person to think this film is a bore or un-entertaining. It's out on DVD so get your copy if you can find it.

[–] MyDarkStar 19 years ago

You are very correct !

This movie is truly one of the best rock n roll movies ever made. I can't believe something as lame as La Bamba can become a blockbuster movie while something as well made as this just falls between the cracks & gets lost !

The story is well done. The acting is great. Ray Sharkey IS Vincent in this movie. After seeing the movie, you just can't imagine anyone else playing the role. Paul Land does a great job as Tommy Dee - going from a cocky smartass street kid to a stuck-up high-strung celebrity. Peter Gallagher makes a great debut as the young & naive kid who suddenly is a superstar. Even the actress who played Marsha in the Brady Bunch (Maureen McCormick) does a great job as the sexy reporter !

And then the music. The songs for this movie are GREAT ! They're really cute pop songs that not only pass as early-60s numbers, but still manage to sound fresh by today's standards.

Another great thing about this as a rock n' roll movie is that it is a very credible story. This type of story was REALLY part of rock history. Right between Elvis & The Beatles there was about three years where rock was completely dull & people such as Vincent Vacarri were turning guys like Fabian into overnight celebrities.

If you haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favor & rent it. It's a total sleeper. You'll never hear anyone talk about it. You'll never see it on late night TV. I love it so much I just bought the DVD - and I almost never buy DVDs because I watch so many movies.

[–] mikesnaps 19 years ago

Completely agree with the above posters. I first saw this movie on a 1st year high school camp back in 1982!

I was blown away,so much so that 23 years later I purchased the region 1 DVD from Amazon, I watched it last night with some friends who had never heard of it but were thoroughly entertained by this forgotten classic.

It's not available on DVD in my country (Australia) and I can't recall it being shown on television. What a shame that this movie appears to be forgotten & mediocre music industry films eg La Bamba/That thing you do are far more well known.

Ray Sharkey was magnificent, the numbers catchy and 23 years later I still love it. If youv'e never heard of the Idolmaker, do yourself a favour and hunt down the DVD, you wont be dissapointed.

[–] Flexicon 14 years ago

This film is a lost masterpiece. Period.

[–] thechangeling 8 years ago

Totally agree. One of my favorites.