Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Abegail Noëlle While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

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?

Cindy Reynolds This one's a movie I never was able to get tired of, so I finally purchased it online. The music is catchy and irresistible, the electrifying Ray Sharkey was at his usual best and, according to IMDb, this was Peter Gallagher's first movie. As Gallagher's various profiles indicate, he performed in a band early on, and whatever he drew from that makes him shine on stage in Idolmaker. Now he's releasing CD's of his singing and original songs - go figure. Obviously the late great Sharkey didn't invest that theatrical gene in Gallagher, but he and this movie can only have nourished and enhanced it. Sharkey truly was a tiger tiger burning bright and he never shone brighter than as the Idolmaker. Olympia Dukakis was perfect as the Idolmaker's mother. Color me surprised; that actress can do no wrong, in my opinion.The music in this film is a huge part of its charm, as has been said before. And it looks like more of the movie was choreographed than just the stage scenes and Vinnie's training of his would-be stars; the whole thing just ends up being served up as perfectly as a 5-star gourmet dinner.

nightilldawn It was fall of 1980 and I was listening to NBC Radio ( A.M. ). At the time, that station played great music of the day. I remember calling up a radio contest which said that you could win tickets to the premiere of a new movie called " The Idolmaker " at Radio City Music Hall in New York City ( Manhatten ). I could not believe that I actually got thru and when I did was told that I had won. They wanted my name, address and phone number and told me that I would be receiving tickets to the premiere of the movie. What made matters even more great was the fact that my ex-husband worked for Rockefeller Center, not NBC otherwise we wouldn't have been eligible for winning these tickets. What luck! The premiere of this movie was amazing!!! I loved the acting, and the singing was to die for. After the movie ended, the stars of the show got up on the Radio City stage and spoke a few words thanking everyone who attended. I was privileged to have been seated in the 5th row from front. Peter Gallagher was so handsome in person as was Paul Land. Ray Sharkey ( may he rest in peace ) was at his finest hour. Even though this movie received a bad review and it didn't do too well in the theaters, I believe that many people were not given the opportunity to see what a fine movie this really was. Prince and Michael Jackson are big fans of this movie and for good reason. " You can be anything you want to be " , and that is the motto of this movie. Singer, songwriter, artist-you can make it!

valkyrie911 We loved this movie! I loved it years later and special ordered the soundtrack on vinyl. Now I'm trying to get it on cd. Impossible I think. Peter Gallagher was hot as "Fabian" and the music scenes were real, not Hollywood musical crap. This is a very moving film about a man who spends his life making the careers of others only to get left behind as they move up the food chain. Talented himself but didn't have "the look" that sold records. Ray Sharky died of aids yrs later, actually did some work while he had hiv and looked it. This is probably his best work. I have always been a movie buff (still dream of directing) and I can remember the Ebert and Roeper review of this film. It was their sleeper hit of the week. I remember if vividly because that's when I learned about the term "sleeper" referencing films. It was a 2 thumbs up and HBO played it constantly. HBO was limited back then and this was always on and we watched it every chance we could!