The Idolmaker

He's got the look... He's got the talent... He's got the Idolmaker... He's got it all! This tuneful, very entertaining movie is, said Variety, "an unusually compelling film about the music business in the late 1950s and early '60s". It fascinatingly goes behind the scenes of the pop music world to show how teenage singing idols were created and promoted by entrepreneurs who cynically exploited the adolescent audience, The riveting script by Edward di Lorenzo is a fictionalized account of the career of Bob Marcucci who guided Frankie Avalon and Fabian to stardom and the film gains in impact from the tact that Marcucci served as its technical adviser. Ray Sharkey, noted the Financial Times, "muscles with terrific vitality through this film", and gives a superb performance as the songwriter-turned-pop promoter who makes singing stars from small-time saxophone player Paul Land and waiter Peter Gallagher who, said the Daily Express "are believable as the manufactured rock 'n' rollers". And there are some first rate period songs by Jeff Barry to add to the enjoyment. Taylor Hackford (An Officer and a Gentleman) making his first film does a top notch job and, said The Sunday Times: "I liked it for its tricks, guts, fun...Taylor Hackford has made a family film...helping to bring mum, dad and the kids together", and Rolling Stone called it "a small triumph...genuine entertainment".