The Matinee Idol (1928)
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- Passed
- 1h 6min
- Comedy, Romance
- 14 Mar 1928 (USA)
- Movie
A Broadway matinee idol famous for his black-face portrayals anonymously joins an amateur acting troupe and falls in love with the leading lady.
Director:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Bessie Love | ... |
Ginger Bolivar
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| Johnnie Walker | ... |
Don Wilson - aka Harry Mann
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Ernest Hilliard | ... |
Arnold Wingate
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| Lionel Belmore | ... |
Jasper Bolivar
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David Mir | ... |
Eric Barrymaine
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Joe Bordeaux | ... |
Auditoning Actor (uncredited)
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| Sidney Bracey | ... |
Don's Valet (uncredited)
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| Sidney D'Albrook | ... |
J. Madison Wilberforce (uncredited)
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| Mary Gordon | ... |
Woman in Audience (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Frank Capra | ... | (as Frank R. Capra) |
Written by
| Robert Lord | ... | (from the story "Come Back to Aaron") and |
| Ernest Pagano | ... | (from the story "Come Back to Aaron") |
| Elmer Harris | ... | (adaptation) |
Produced by
| Frank Capra | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Harry Cohn | ... | producer |
Music by
| Robert Israel | ... | (uncredited) (1999) |
Cinematography by
| Philip Tannura | ... | (photography) |
Editing by
| Arthur Roberts | ... | (editing) |
Editorial Department
| Tanner Buschman | ... | colorist (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Robert E. Lee | ... | (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Eugene De Rue | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Rafael Adame | ... | engineering: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Edwin Armstrong | ... | electron beam recording: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Michael Bonnville | ... | digital artist: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Steve Borden | ... | online editor: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Patrick Byrne | ... | additional digital artist: Sony Pictures High Definition Center / online editor: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Christopher Ewing | ... | digital artist: Sony Pictures High Definition Center / titles: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Joseph Grimm | ... | producer: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Ron Harris | ... | color correction: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Heather Hoyland | ... | digital artist: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Melissa Kampschroer | ... | online editor: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| James Pearman | ... | software designer: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| John Persichetti | ... | color correction: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Matthew Plec | ... | software designer: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Daniel Post | ... | additional digital artist: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| David Price | ... | digital artist: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Les Vary | ... | electron beam recording: Sony Pictures High Definition Center |
| Steve Diggins | ... | on-line editor (uncredited) (1997 digital restoration) |
Music Department
| Robert Israel | ... | arranger: musical score / conductor: musical score |
Script and Continuity Department
| Peter Milne | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Benny Rubin | ... | dance double: Johnnie Walker (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures (presents) (A Frank R. Capra Production)
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1928) (United States) (theatrical)
- Fotorama (1929) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Film Booking Offices (FBO) (1930) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Columbia TriStar Television (1997) (United States) (tv)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (Canada) (DVD)
- TriStar Television Distribution (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) (restoration collaborator) (1997 alternate version)
- Cinémathèque Française (restoration collaborator) (1997 alternate version)
- Sony Pictures High Definition Center (digital restoration) (1997 alternate version)
- Sony Pictures Releasing (restoration collaborator) (1997 alternate version)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Famous matinee idol and blackface comedian Don Wilson heads out of town to escape adulation. 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--just what Don's Broadway show needs. But when Ginger finds out she's been played for a fool, will she forgive Don? Written by Kathy Li |
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| Taglines | 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. (Print Ad- Times- Independent, ((Moab, Utah)) 21 March 1929) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | This restored version runs 57 minutes but is still missing about five minutes. The restoration was a joint venture of the Cinematheque Francais, the Motion Picture Academy and Sony Entertainment. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Frank Capra's American Dream (1997). See more » |
| Quotes |
Don Wilson, Harry Mann:
[after meeting a feminine actor]
Who is that? Helen of Troy? See more » |