The Pied Piper (1972)

In 1349, while the Black Plague threatens Germany, the town of Hamelin hires a wandering pied-piper to lure rats away with his magic pipe, but then refuses to pay for his services, causing him to lure the town's children away.

Director:

Jacques Demy

Writers:

Andrew Birkin, Jacques Demy

Stars:

Keith Buckley, Patsy Puttnam, Arthur Hewlett

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keith Buckley	...	Mattio
Patsy Puttnam	...	Helga
Arthur Hewlett	...	Otto
Paul Hennen	...	Karl
Peter Eyre	...	Pilgrim
Donovan	...	Piper
John Hurt	...	Franz
David Leland	...	Officer
Michael Hordern	...	Melius
Jack Wild	...	Gavin
Michael Goldie	...	Burger
Diana Dors	...	Frau Poppendick
Cathryn Harrison	...	Lisa
Peter Vaughan	...	Bishop
Andre Van Gyseghem	...	Friar

Storyline

Greed, corruption, ignorance, and disease. Midsummer, 1349: the Black Death reaches northern Germany. A family of strolling players travel to Hamelin for the Mayor's daughter's wedding to the Baron's son. He wants her dowry to pay his army, while his father taxes the people to build a cathedral he thinks will save his soul. A local Jewish apothecary tries to find a treatment for the plague. The Priests charge him with heresy and witchcraft. A mysterious minstrel, who joined up with the players and who has soothed the Mayor's daughter with his music, promises to rid the town of rats for a fee. The Mayor agrees, then reneges after the rats have been dealt with. In the morning, the plague, the Jew's execution, and the Piper's revenge come at once.

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Plot Keywords:

flutist | fools' gold | crying | germany | rat | 

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Taglines:

Come children of the universe, let Donovan take you away, far far away.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

Pied Piper of Hamlin

Filming Locations:

Lee International Studios, Kensington, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sagittarius Productions, Goodtimes Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was released after the death of Hamilton Dyce (Papal Nuncio).

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Connections

Referenced in La demi-saison (2014)

User Reviews

Too bleak for its target audience, but not without interest...

Grimm Brothers tale of a strolling minstrel in 1349 Germany who agrees to rid the village of Hamelin of plague-carrying rats is given a serious, perhaps overly-solemn treatment. Jacques Demy has directed the story in a straightforward fashion, without any humor or playfulness, mystery or beauty (with the exception of the sunrise-heightened finale). Pop singer Donovan is well-cast in the title role, and his music compositions are good even if his songs are not of the Medieval period. The other cast members--top-billed Jack Wild, Donald Pleasance and John Hurt--have very little to do; Wild, in particular, is forced to painfully hobble around with a crutch as an alchemist's assistant. Michael Hordern as Melius, who is unable to conjure a cure for the Black Death and is arrested for being a heretic, gives the picture's finest performance, though his final moment tied to a stake may prove to be too heavy for the movie's supposed 'family audience.' The dank, mildewy locations, period costumes and bedraggled extras all lend a convincing air to the film, but "Piper"'s downbeat nature (not to mention all those rats!) makes it a tough sell. ** from ****