The Matinee Idol (1928): cast, story & where to watch
1928 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1928, The Matinee Idol is a comedy and romance film directed by Frank Capra, running about 66 minutes. “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 ” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s 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?
Who’s in it. The Matinee Idol stars Bessie Love as Ginger Bolivar, Johnnie Walker as Don Wilson - aka Harry Mann, Ernest Hilliard as Arnold Wingate and Lionel Belmore as Jasper Bolivar, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Matinee Idol has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Matinee Idol page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Matinee Idol tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Matinee Idol (1928)?
- In US, The Matinee Idol is available to stream on fuboTV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Matinee Idol worth watching?
- The Matinee Idol holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Matinee Idol?
- The Matinee Idol stars Bessie Love, Johnnie Walker, Ernest Hilliard, Lionel Belmore and David Mir.
- When was The Matinee Idol released?
- The Matinee Idol was released in 1928, with a runtime of about 66 minutes.