to take his place. All goes as Wingate had anticipated; the audience laughs wildly, as the confused actors continue performing. At the end, Ginger finally realizes what is going on and berates the audience, then walks out into the rain. When Don follows to console her, the rain washes away his makeup and reveals his true identity. She and her father return to their old work. A contrite Don shows up at the audition for a replacement actor. Though Ginger turns away from him, he follows her into the tent and takes her in his arms. Cast Bessie Love as Ginger Bolivar Johnnie Walker as Don Wilson, a.k.a. "Harry Mann" Ernest Hilliard as Arnold Wingate Lionel Belmore as Jasper Bolivar David Mir as Eric Barrymaine Production In early February 1928, Columbia Pictures announced that Bessie Love would have the female lead in the film, which had the working title of Broadway Daddies. The film was slated to begin production on February 2 with Frank Capra directing and Joe Jackson writing the continuity. Later, it was announced that Johnny Walker would co-star with Love, that Sidney D'Albrook and Lionel Belmore had been added to the cast, and that the name of the project had changed from Broadway Daddies to The Matinee Idol. Release and rediscovery In France, the film was released as Bessie à Broadway, as star Bessie Love was a strong box-office draw there. It was a French-language version of the film, originally obtained by a French cinema club, that was eventually rediscovered at the Cinémathèque Française in the 1990s. See also Matinee idol Racism in early American film References External links 1928 comedy-drama films 1928 films American black-and-white films 1920s English-language films American silent feature films Blackface minstrel shows and films Columbia Pictures films Films directed by Frank Capra 1920s American films Silent American comedy-drama films