The Music Man (1962)

Harold Hill poses as a boys' band leader to con naive Iowa townsfolk.

Director:

Morton DaCosta

Writers:

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

Stars:

Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	School Board
Vern Reed	...	Jacey Squires (as The Buffalo Bills)
Ron Howard	...	Winthrop Paroo (as Ronny Howard)
Al Shea	...	Ewart Dunlop (as The Buffalo Bills)
Bill Spangenberg	...	Olin Britt (as The Buffalo Bills)
Wayne Ward	...	Oliver Hix (as The Buffalo Bills)
Timmy Everett	...	Tommy Djilas
Susan Luckey	...	Zaneeta Shinn
Harry Hickox	...	Charlie Cowell

Storyline

It's the early twentieth century American Midwest. A con man currently going by the assumed name Harold Hill has used several different schemes to bilk the unsuspecting, and now travels from town to town pretending to be a professor of music - from Gary (Indiana) Conservatory of Music, class of '05 - who solves all the respective towns' youth problems by forming boys' marching bands. He takes money from the townsfolk to buy instruments, music, instructional materials, and uniforms for their sons. However, in reality he has no degree and knows nothing about music, and after all the materials arrive and are distributed, he absconds with all the money, never to be seen again. Many of the traveling salesmen in the territory have been negatively impacted by him, as the townsfolk then become suspicious of any stranger trying to sell them something. For Harold's scheme to work, he must gain the trust of the local music teacher, usually by wooing her, regardless of her appearance. And if the ...

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Plot Keywords:

brother sister relationship | spinster | reference to gary indiana | librarian | iowa | 

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Taglines:

It's just a bang-beat, bell-ringin', big-haul, great-go, neck-or-nothin', rip-roarin', ever'-time-a bull's-eye movie!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Meredith Wilson wrote the University of Iowa Fight Song.

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Goofs

Chairs in front of the stage move around during the July 4th celebration in the auditorium. First there are three together with one chair a ways off to the left; then later, as one of the school board members prepares to sit down, the four chairs are in a group.

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Quotes

Marcellus Washburn: Hey, what are you selling now? Last I heard about you, you was in steam automobiles.
Harold Hill: I was.
Marcellus Washburn: Well, what happened?
Harold Hill: Somebody actually invented one.
Marcellus Washburn: No!

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Crazy Credits

The letters in the film's title, in producer-director Morton DaCosta's name, and in Meredith Willson's name (the first time it appears onscreen) are formed by a miniaturized, stop-motion animated marching band, who also form themselves into musical instruments on which the rest of the opening credits appear.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return: The Beast of Hollow Mountain (2017)

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Soundtracks

Lida Rose
(1957) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Performed by The Buffalo Bills and Shirley Jones

User Reviews

A movie that works at many levels--and touches our hearts.

I first learned of the Music Man when my brother's fifth grade class put it on. (My brother played Mayor Shinn.) Our entire family learned the train scene, all of the monologues (especially "Trouble"), and the Music Man became part of our lives. I still remember most of those monologues, and I still love to watch Robert Preston and Shirley Jones create their magic and make their music. Like "My Fair Lady," the players have refined their parts to high art, but have not burned out; the details delight again and again. The chorus is the best I've heard (Wells Fargo Wagon), the cast is just great. When my older son was two years old, The Music Man was his favorite video; he watched it over and over, laughing and gurgling. He "outgrew" it, and is now almost ten. Last night we watched it (again): I, my wife, and both of our sons. It touched me as much as the first time I saw it. ("I always think there's a band, kid.") I hear and read criticism of Robert Preston's acting, that as a performer he is a dilettante. But I feel this criticism misses the point. Harold Hill is the dilettante, trying to pass himself off as a music expert--until he gets his foot caught in the door. Preston is perfect as Hill. I love this film, and will watch it with my loved ones for a long, long time to come.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meredith Willson's The Music Man

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$4,240,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

151 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording) DTS SDDS Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1