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."

Mar 14 1928 Passed 1h 6m
Comedy, Romance

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.

Plot

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?

Written by

Robert Lord, Ernest Pagano, Elmer Harris

Directed by

Frank Capra

Cast

Bessie Love, Johnnie Walker, Ernest Hilliard

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Columbia Pictures

Languages

No Language

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
679
Average Rating
6.9 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA