Background poster of The Matinee Idol blurred
Poster of The Matinee Idol

The Matinee Idol

1928-0h 56min
Star icon accompanying the rating score
6.3 / 10 16

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.

Directed by Frank Capra

Writers Robert Lord Ernest Pagano Elmer Harris

Stars Bessie Love Johnnie Walker Ernest Hilliard

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Cast

Bessie Love's picture in the cast

Bessie Love

Ginger Bolivar
Johnnie Walker's picture in the cast

Johnnie Walker

Don Wilson - aka Harry Mann
Ernest Hilliard's picture in the cast

Ernest Hilliard

Arnold Wingate
Lionel Belmore's picture in the cast

Lionel Belmore

Jasper Bolivar
David Mir's picture in the cast

David Mir

Eric Barrymaine
Joe Bordeaux's picture in the cast

Joe Bordeaux

Auditoning Actor (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey's picture in the cast

Sidney Bracey

Don's Valet (uncredited)
Sidney D'Albrook's picture in the cast

Sidney D'Albrook

J. Madison Wilberforce (uncredited)
Mary Gordon's picture in the cast

Mary Gordon

Woman in Audience (uncredited)

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