The Matinee Idol(1928)
Here's a real comedy of the theater, which takes you behind the scenes of a thrilling melodrama and shows you how they acted in the old ten-twenty-thirties. You'll learn how to make love and say nice things to your sweetheart.
The Matinee Idol Synopsis
The famous matinee idol and blackface comedian, Don Wilson, heads out of town to escape adulation. There, calling himself Harry Mann, he accidentally joins a traveling acting troupe, and falls in love with Ginger Bolivar, who runs the troupe and stars in their Civil War melodrama. Don's producer sees the play, and thinks it's a comic masterpiece, and just what Don's Broadway show needs. But when Ginger finds out she's been played for a fool, will she forgive Don? Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. in 1997.
The Matinee Idol (1928) is a romance and comedy film directed by Frank Capra, released on March 14, 1928 with a runtime of 56m. It stars Bessie Love, Johnnie Walker, Ernest Hilliard and Lionel Belmore. Viewers rate it 6.6 out of 10 across 19 ratings.
- Director:
- Frank Capra
- Writers:
- Ernest Pagano, Peter Milne, Robert Lord
- Producers:
- Harry Cohn, Frank Capra
- Cinematographer:
- Philip Tannura
- Production:
- Columbia Pictures
- Status:
- Released
The Matinee Idol Cast & Crew
Main cast
Bessie Love
as Ginger Bolivar
Johnnie Walker
as Don Wilson - aka Harry Mann
Ernest Hilliard
as Arnold Wingate
Lionel Belmore
as Jasper Bolivar
- David Mir
David Mir
as Eric Barrymaine
- Joe Bordeaux
Joe Bordeaux
as Auditoning Actor (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey
as Don's Valet (uncredited)
Sidney D'Albrook
as J. Madison Wilberforce (uncredited)
Mary Gordon
as Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Key crew
Directed by Frank Capra, written by Ernest Pagano, Peter Milne and Robert Lord, produced by Harry Cohn and Frank Capra.
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The Matinee Idol Reviews & Ratings
Average viewer score of 6.6/10 from 19 ratings.
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The Matinee Idol – Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Matinee Idol online?
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The Matinee Idol (1928) is available to stream on fuboTV, and to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Streaming availability is checked against JustWatch data and can change by region.
Who stars in The Matinee Idol?
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The main cast of The Matinee Idol (1928) includes Bessie Love, Johnnie Walker, Ernest Hilliard, Lionel Belmore and David Mir. The film was directed by Frank Capra. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
When was The Matinee Idol released?
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The Matinee Idol was released on March 14, 1928 and runs for 56m.
Is The Matinee Idol worth watching?
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The Matinee Idol (1928) holds an average rating of 6.6 out of 10 from 19 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy romance and comedy films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.