Product Details

• Actors: Ray Sharkey, Tovah Feldshuh, Peter Gallagher, Paul Land, Joe Pantoliano
• Directors: Taylor Hackford
• Writers: Edward Di Lorenzo
• Producers: David Nichols, Gene Kirkwood, Hawk Koch, R.J. Louis
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 117 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 630298128X
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,970 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unfairly forgotten classic for you to rediscover, September 5, 2000

By 

P. I. Johnson (Cape Town, South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Idolmaker (DVD)

"I've been up, I've been down, I've been playing women all around ..." It amazes me that this great movie seemed to have bypassed modern audiences to the extent that no-one even remembers it anymore. I remember when it was released in South Africa in 1981, my best friend and I went to see it four times in the same week. At that time, we were uncritically into movies about music, rock 'n roll and disco (Grease; Saturday Night Fever; Thank God it's Friday; I Wanna Hold your Hand etc)and this movie delivered big time in terms of our low expectations. As I've matured, movies like these have either dated rather badly (Saturday Night Fever) or gradually revealed their mediocrity (Thank God it's Friday). The Idolmaker has only become better! This is truly a movie that succeeds in being all things to all people. As kids, it delivered the most basic kind of entertainment that made going to the movies a weekly pleasure. As adults, it delivers an intelligent, bittersweet and admirably unsentimental look at the unforgiving dynamics of an industry and culture prizing image and packaging over substance and content. Featuring a remarkably confident career best performance by Ray Sharkey ably supported by the always reliable Joe Pantoliano and a suitably weeny Peter Gallagher, The Idolmaker is the forgotten classic of the musical drama genre. In a funny way, given the setting, the neighbourhood, the wiseguy attitude - I've always kind of considered The Idolmaker as a kind of sub-Scorsese movie - an upmarket, glamorous companion piece to Mean Streets, Raging Bull and other such Italian American neighbourhood tales. But that would be unfair to director Taylor Hackford, who has fashioned a remarkably original stand-alone homage to the hardworking, entrepreneurial, fame-hungry neighbourhood kids who were the real, unseen backbone of the rock 'n roll industry. Breezy and pacy, yet tinged with profound pathos, The Idolmaker is the best of its kind. The fact that it has a terrific soundtrack that'll have you humming all day doesn't hurt either. This is the best, most insightful and intellectually stimulating movie about rock 'n roll ever made. Add The Idolmaker to This is Spinal Tap and A Hard Day's Night in your collection and you'll own the only movies you need to about the music industry and the stupidities -and undeniable attraction - of its attendant celebrity. Oh yes - and I guarantee that after watching this movie, you'll never be able to take groups like the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync seriously again.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I own this video, November 14, 2000

By 

Mike Amenta - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Idolmaker [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Saw this movie in 1980 and was very impressed with the soundtrack. I then purchased the album and have always wondered why it was not issued in cd form. As for the movie I rate the story and music better than most musicals. Ray Sharkey dancing in the background while Tommy D is singing is a highlight. The only unbelievable aspect is the Memphis part of the movie. I have often wondered what became of Paul Land he was fabulous as Tommy D. I now show my daughter the musical scenes and she just wants to watch them over and over again. Great music Great movie

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good movie, great soundtrack that was ahead of its time, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Idolmaker [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie has some great performances by Ray Sharkey and in one of his first roles, by Joe Pantoliano as Sharkey's right hand man. Maureen McCormack also has a brief role.

The music is excellent and drives the movie. I've been searching for the soundtrack for years and can't find it.

With today's current crop of cookie cutter acts, like Backstreet Boys developed by Maurice Starr types, there is talk of a remake of The Idolmaker. I hope that it results in generation of interest in the original and its soundtrack