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:

Marching Band | Librarian | Billiards | Love | Iowa

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)
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		(costume design)

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	....	orchestration
Ray Heindorf	....	music conductor
Ray Heindorf	....	music supervisor
Ray Heindorf	....	orchestration
Charles Henderson	....	vocal arrangements
Gus Levene	....	orchestration
Herbert Greene	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Frank Loesser	....	music and lyrics by (uncredited)

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

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1966) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• 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:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

During the "Lida Rose"/"Will I Ever Tell You" duet both Mrs. Paroo (Pert Kelton) and the lead singer of The Buffalo Bills (Vern Reed) are in rocking chairs. They are synchronized throughout much of the song, starting, stopping and rocking together. This is only visible in the wide screen version.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Lights and camera equipment seen in the store windows during the "Wells Fargo Wagon" song number.

Quotes:

Mrs. Shinn:Now, George!
Mayor Shinn:Not one poop out of you, Madame!
Mrs. Shinn:[turning to Zaneeta] I think he means "peep"!
Mayor Shinn:[looks back] *Yes!*

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in That's Easy for You to Say! (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Ya Got Trouble

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.