tavm The late 1950s became the era of the Teen Idol. Many teens-like Ricky Nelson, Paul Anka, and Ritchie Valens-were emerging after their slightly older contemporaries Elvis Presley and Pat Boone had charted several hits for the past few years and would chart several more for a few more. By 1959, a man from the East Coast named Bob Marcucci would help create a couple more TI's-Frankie Avalon and Fabian. This movie is a fictionalized version of this songwriter/manager and his discoveries. Ray Sharkey is excellent as the frustrated show biz savvy promoter who turns his inexperienced amateurs into Hot Commodities before those would-be-icons turn against him. Sharkey's character is not faultless in this as he's shown being both inspiring and condescending to them both. Paul Land and Peter Gallagher are the people he molds into the big time. Gallagher himself had singing experience and showed it here to good advantage. The original songs are by Jeff Barry who with Ellie Greenwich had written several hits for the Girl Groups of the early '60s so that may be a factor why the songs he wrote here don't sound like anything Avalon or Fabian would sing. Also, some of the arrangements sound more like what would come out of the late '70s when this movie was made. Still, there's an enjoyable vibe throughout, even when the breakups come. Oh, and it was a nice surprise seeing Maureen McCormick-the former Marcia Brady of "The Brady Bunch"-having a fling with one of them. This marked the debut of director Taylor Hackford who would eventually do a couple of other music-related films: the Chuck Berry documentary Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll and the Ray Charles biopic Ray. So on that note, I highly recommend The Idolmaker.

Michael O'Keefe The Idolmaker, written by Edward Di Lorenzo, is based loosely on the life of Bob Marcucci, who had big dreams of making it big in the music business. Not actually having the look of a rock star, Bob was able to write a decent tune. Marcucci would make his mark as promoter/producer and discovering singers Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Vincent Vacarri(Ray Sharkey)finds a young sax player and changes his name to Tommy Dee(Paul Lind); Rehearsing and training him in posturing him into being a young singing heartthrob. He though the young record buyers needed one since Elvis was in Army. Dee becomes a star and wants to go into movies; he has to leave Vacarri's management to do so. No fear, the fiery promoter has already got another exotic singer in the fold...Caesare(Peter Gallagher). There is a problem in that his newest pretty boy can't really sing a lick. Plaster the kid's picture everywhere and keep him from singing too much in public. With the help of his song writing partner Gino Pilato(Joe Pantoliano), an idol is made. But all is not well with the music world.Keeping in mind that Gallagher's character is based on the teen idol Faban...kudos. Not only does Gallagher look the part, but provides some pretty good tunes like "Baby", "However Dark The Night" and "It's Never Been Tonight Before". A major portion of the soundtrack is written by famed tune-smith Jeff Barry. Also featured in the cast: Tovah Feldshuh, Maureen McCormick and Olympia Dukakis. I really enjoyed this movie due to the fact I love the music from this era. Avalon nor Fabian ever became another Elvis...but who in the hell could?

mrohlee I remember going to see this movie when it first came out. It's sort of a formula picture with the struggle to get to the top, the fame/power corrupting, the fall, then the redemption. Two things made this work, first the musical numbers were very good. This is a very difficult thing, making a movie about hit records and having to write original music that sounds like a hit. The movie shows how much work goes into the preparation and planning required to make it. This aspect was surprisingly good.The main thing that holds your attention though is Ray Sharkey. I just saw it again on Encore. I knew Sharkey was good in the part but looking back now I can see he is very good. It almost seems that Bruce Willis copied Sharkey's style from this movie in several of his own. I could see Sharkey in the "Die Hard" movies. He brings so much energy to the part and is totally believable as wise guy with a quick temper.When I first saw this movie I thought Sharkey was going to have a great career. I don't know if it was the drugs, a poor choice of parts or both but he really had talent and charisma. If he hadn't gotten hooked on drugs and contracted AIDS he could have been a Joe Pesci if not a Jr Robert DeNiro. If you think I am making this up get a copy of this movie and take a look. He did show flashes of what he could do in some television work but just couldn't keep it together for any length of time.If you have any interest in the pop music of the late fifties early sixties or just want to watch what a talented actor can do with a formula picture take a look at this.

WarpedRecord The bad news about "The Idolmaker" is that, like a lot of music films, it drags between songs. The good news is the songs are excellent.Ray Sharkey does a fine job as the agent to up-and-coming talent in New Jersey in the late '50s, and Peter Gallagher and Paul Land excel as his creations. The plot has many of the standard clichés about the price of stardom and the cold machinations behind the scenes, but the music makes it worthwhile. As superb as the soundtrack is, however, it appears to be more of a '70s and '80s take on '50s music. The songs are enjoyable, but they sound like something you'd be more likely to hear in "Grease" than on an Elvis Presley record.While "The Idolmaker" breaks no new ground for fans of '50s nostalgia, it's worth checking out for its fine performances and excellent soundtrack.