The Music Man (1962)

Director:

Morton DaCosta

Writers:

Meredith Willson (based on: "The Music Man")
Franklin Lacey (written in collaboration with)
(more)

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:

Librarian | Marching Band | 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
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
Peggy Mondo	...	Ethel Toffelmier
Jesslyn Fax	...	Avis Grubb
Monique Vermont	...	Amaryllis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rand Barker	...	Duncan Shyball (uncredited)
Charles Alvin Bell	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Jeannine Burnier	...	Jessie Shyball (uncredited)
Shirley Claire	...	Amy Dakin (uncredited)
Natalie Core	...	Truthful Smith (uncredited)
Ronnie Dapo	...	Norbert Smith (uncredited)
Roy Dean	...	Gilbert Hawthorne (uncredited)
Eileen Diamond	...	Dancer (uncredited)
William Fawcett	...	Lester Lonnergan (uncredited)
Jack Gordon	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Ralph Hart	...	Student (uncredited)
Percy Helton	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Patty Lee Hilka	...	Gracie Shinn (uncredited)
Rance Howard	...	Oscar Jackson (uncredited)
Delos Jewkes	...	Harley MacCauley (uncredited)
Elaine Joyce	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Charles Karel	...	Salesman on the Train (uncredited)
Ray Kellogg	...	Harry Joseph (uncredited)
Ann Loos	...	Stella Jackson (uncredited)
Therese Lyon	...	Dolly Higgins (uncredited)
Robert Lyons	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Penelope Martin	...	Lila O'Brink (uncredited)
Natalie Masters	...	Farmer's Wife (uncredited)
Bert May	...	Student (uncredited)
Arthur Mills	...	Herbert Malthouse (uncredited)
Milton Parsons	...	Farmer - Iowa Stubborn (uncredited)
Barbara Pepper	...	Feril Hawkes - Snapping Beans (uncredited)
Charles Percheskly	...	Salesman (uncredited)
Gary Potter	...	Dewey Malthouse (uncredited)
Maudie Prickett	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Larry Steven Randel	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Vern Reed	...	Jacey Squires - One of The Buffalo Bills (uncredited)
Al Shea	...	Ewart Dunlop - One of The Buffalo Bills (uncredited)
Max Showalter	...	Salesman on the Train (uncredited)
Bill Spangenberg	...	Olin Britt - One of The Buffalo Bills (uncredited)
David Swain	...	Chet Glanville (uncredited)
Larri Thomas	...	High School Girl (uncredited)
Wayne Ward	...	Oliver Hix - One of The Buffalo Bills (uncredited)
Hank Worden	...	Undertaker (uncredited)
Peggy Wynne	...	Ada Nutting (uncredited)

Directed by
Morton DaCosta

Writing credits
Meredith Willson		(based on: "The Music Man")
Franklin Lacey		(written in collaboration with)
Marion Hargrove		(screenplay)

Produced by
Morton DaCosta	....	producer
Joel Freeman	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ray Heindorf		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Robert Burks		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William H. Ziegler		(film editor) (as William Ziegler)

Art Direction by
Paul Groesse

Set Decoration by
George James Hopkins
Phil A. Ankrom		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Dorothy Jeakins

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor
Jean Burt Reilly	....	supervising hair stylist
Myrl Stoltz	....	hair styles: Miss Jones
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joel Freeman	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Russell Llewellyn	....	assistant director

Sound Department
M.A. Merrick	....	sound
Dolph Thomas	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Greene	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Fuca	....	assistant set costumer (uncredited)
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Frank Comstock	....	orchestrator
Ray Heindorf	....	music conductor
Ray Heindorf	....	music supervisor
Ray Heindorf	....	orchestrator
Charles Henderson	....	vocal arrangements
Gus Levene	....	orchestrator
Herbert Greene	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Kermit Bloomgarden	....	stage producer
Herbert Greene	....	associate stage producer
Tom Panko	....	assistant choreographer
Onna White	....	choreographer
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (video)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Frank Productions  stage production in association with (as Frank Productions, Inc.)

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:

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

Filming Locations:

Kings Row, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

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

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Winthrop asks Harold Hill if his proposed uniform has "a stripe", Harold assures him that it will. But when the boys come into the schoolroom wearing the newly-delivered uniforms, the uniforms very clearly do not have a stripe on the pants. However, the uniforms worn by the marching band at the end do have a stripe.

Quotes:

Constable Locke:That was pretty good, Professor, but you made a couple of mistakes.
Harold Hill:Oh?
Constable Locke:Yeah, the billiard hall and that pool table belong to Mayor Shinn.
Harold Hill:Oh
[looks thoughtful]
Harold Hill:What was my other mistake?
Constable Locke:That Zaneta, she's the mayor's oldest girl.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: That Damn Donna Reed (#1.14)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Piano Lesson

Still great after all these years

I first saw "The Music Man" on its first run in 1962. I just saw it again last night on cable. If anything, I enjoyed it more last night. I think that your belief in "fairy tales" such as this only grows with the passing of the years. Preston's performance is so near-perfect that the viewer starts to believe his line of corn-fed BS. The knowledge of what Ron Howard has become enhances the enjoyment of his fine work here. It's funny, magical and a musical treat to the ears!!