The Music Man (1962)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Morton DaCosta

Writers:

Meredith Willson (book) and
Franklin Lacey (book) ...

Release Date:

19 June 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Comedy | Family | Romance

Tagline:

The story of that man and his 76 trombones, and the wonderful, wonderful tune he played on every heart in town!

Plot:

A con man comes to a Midwestern town with a scam using a boy's marching band program, but things don't go according to plan.

Plot Keywords:

Marching Band | Librarian | Billiards | Iowa | Love

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Robert Preston	...	Harold Hill
Shirley Jones	...	Marian Paroo
Buddy Hackett	...	Marcellus Washburn
Hermione Gingold	...	Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn
Paul Ford	...	Mayor George Shinn
Pert Kelton	...	Mrs. Paroo
The Buffalo Bills	...	Themselves
Timmy Everett	...	Tommy Djilas
Susan Luckey	...	Zaneeta Shinn
Ron Howard	...	Winthrop Paroo (as Ronny Howard)
Harry Hickox	...	Charlie Cowell
Charles Lane	...	Constable Locke
Mary Wickes	...	Mrs. Squires
Sara Seegar	...	Maud Dunlop
Adnia Rice	...	Alma Hix

Also Known As:

Meredith Willson's The Music Man (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

151 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Canada:G (video rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #19903) (original rating) | USA:G (1985) (re-rating) | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Just prior to the "Lida Rose" number, Harold mentions a bassoon player named Madame Rini. Rini was the name of Meredith Willson's wife.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: From the fashions, the cars, the mention of Harold Hill being a member of the "Class of 1905" and general tone, the play/movie would appear to take place around 1910. However, the mentioned "Cap't Billy's Whiz-Bang" did not begin publishing until 1919. "Whiz-Bang" was published by a World War I veteran, and comes from the dough-boy's name for a type of artillery round.

Quotes:

[in song]
Mrs. Paroo: When a woman's got a husband, and you've got none, why should she take advice from you? Even if you can quote Balzac and Shakespeare and all them other high-falutin' Greeks.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: French Twist (#7.7)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Being in Love

Preston Seems Made For The Lead Role

I remember almost being shocked hearing this film again in the '90s after seeing it for over 30 years. Some of the music almost sounded like today's - or the 1990s - rap music! It's kind of weird.

There are memorable songs in this musical, ones that became pretty darn famous, such as "76 Trombones" and "Trouble In River City." Most of the songs, in fact, on this soundtrack, are pretty lively and interesting.

I enjoyed seeing the Midwest scenery. Having gone to college in Iowa, I've always been a pit partial to that state, and the wonderful small towns there. I am also partial to corny (speaking of Iowa) and sentimental stories to this film gets "props" for providing plenty of that. An extra point goes for the name of the barbershop quartet in this story: "The Buffalo Bills."

Robert Preston, as "Professor Henry Hill," gets center stage, here, and - warning - he can wear you out. Most people love him in this role but, for others, he can be grating....and I understand that, too. Preston's fast-talking can you give a headache, if you aren't ready for it. However, the man is so convincing in this role, he seems born to play it.

There are so many songs in this movie that the story is almost secondary. It's really a stage show, so don't expect some super story. Frankly, I liked that fact is mainly music. I've read where the new special-edition DVD really brings out the colors in this movie, so I'm anxious to check it out. I haven't seen the film since that VHS viewing a decade ago.