The Idolmaker Reviews

Ray Sharkey gives a dynamic performance here as the hustling Vincent Vacarri (a thinly veiled version of technical adviser Bob Marcucci, mentor of Frankie Avalon and Fabian), who promotes the careers of rock 'n' roll singers Tommy Dee (Paul Land) and Caesare (Peter Gallagher)--managing their every move, calling in favors here and making payoffs there, making sure his charges have the best clothes and backup bands, etc.--in the late 50s and early 60s. Brenda Roberts (Tovah Feldshuh) is an editor of a fan magazine who has a fling with Vincent and uses her influence to help make his boys into stars. THE IDOLMAKER takes itself too seriously, but is nonetheless one of the best and most energetic film treatments of the early days of rock 'n' roll and a fine depiction of how performers are groomed for stardom (far superior to THE ROSE). In his directorial debut, Taylor Hackford (AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMENT, 1982; WHITE NIGHTS, 1985) shows a solid command of the medium. The anachronistic music by Jeff Barry is a problem, however; its too-contemporary sound presumably stems from the producers' desire to get airplay for the film's score.