The Matinee Idol
“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.”
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.
Top Cast
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Bessie Love
Ginger Bolivar
Johnnie Walker
Don Wilson - aka Harry Mann
Ernest Hilliard
Arnold Wingate
Lionel Belmore
Jasper Bolivar
David Mir
Eric Barrymaine
Joe Bordeaux
Auditoning Actor (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey
Don's Valet (uncredited)
Sidney D'Albrook
J. Madison Wilberforce (uncredited)
Mary Gordon
Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 14, 1928
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Frank Capra
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Lord, Ernest Pagano, Elmer Harris, Peter Milne
- Original Title
- The Matinee Idol
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 56m
- Production Studios
- Columbia Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Frank Capra
Robert Lord, Ernest Pagano, Elmer Harris, Peter Milne
Philip Tannura
Arthur Roberts
Harry Cohn, Frank Capra
Department Leadership Roster
Frank Capra
Director
Harry Cohn
Producer
Frank Capra
Producer
Philip Tannura
Director of Photography
Arthur Roberts
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Matinee Idol.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Matinee Idol.
Missing Mine
Greatest Directors Ever Part 9
Frank Capra, Patrice Chéreau, William Wyler, Mike Nichols, Warren Beatty, Ron Howard, Barry Levinson, Steven Soderbergh, Otto Preminger, John Schlesinger, Robert Altman
Frank Capra (1897 - 1991)
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Matinee Idol
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Matinee Idol about?
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.
Who directed The Matinee Idol?
The Matinee Idol was directed by Frank Capra.
Who stars in The Matinee Idol?
The principal cast of The Matinee Idol includes Bessie Love, Johnnie Walker, Ernest Hilliard, Lionel Belmore, David Mir.
When was The Matinee Idol released and how long is it?
The Matinee Idol was released in 1928 with a total runtime of 56m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Matinee Idol?
The Matinee Idol holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).