The Music Man (1962)

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 | Iowa | Love | Trouble

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
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

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:

The DAR is the "Daughters of the American Revolution", a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and preserving American history

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Set in 1912, the song "Trouble" mentions both the beverage Bevo (first offered in 1916) and the magazine "Captain Billy's Whiz-Bang" (first published in 1919). "Whiz-Bang" is named for a type of artillery round in World War I (1914-1918)--the publisher was a veteran of that war.

Quotes:

Marcellus Washburn: Thar she blows.
Harold Hill: I'll do it, but I don't like it.
Marcellus Washburn: No, that's not the librarian. That's Mrs. Shinn, the mayor's wife.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: All Singing, All Dancing (#9.11)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Goodnight My Someone/76 Trombones

this is what musicals are all about

bright, fun, colorful, unforgettable songs, likeable characters, great choreography, true to the time period, and i'd like to see anyone try to find an actor blend so naturally into a character as robert preston.