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:

Piano Teacher | Uniform | Nostalgia | Trouble | Traveling Salesman

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	...	Themselves
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

Also Known As:

Meredith Willson's The Music Man (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

151 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Warner Bros. Studios, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Even though Robert Preston had played the role of Harold Hill on Broadway, Frank Sinatra was Warner Bros' personal choice to play the role in the movie. However, Meredith Willson told them, "No Robert Preston, no movie".

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the Wells Fargo Wagon song, while Mayor Shinn is waiting for Marian to give him the education journal, Marian opens the book twice.

Quotes:

Harold Hill: I always think there's a band, kid.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Mike Myers/Aerosmith (#22.16)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Ya Got Trouble/76 Trombones

Charismatic, colourful, cheerful and chirpy

I fell in love with this musical after hearing a specially commissioned production for BBC Radio 2 starring Jim Dale in the title role. It was superb (particularly the opening patter "Railway Carriage" number, which comes into it's own on audio).

I finally acquired a copy of the Robert Preston movie (which somehow I'd always managed to miss), and the viewing was well worth the wait. It brought all the "audio" characters to life.

Meredith Wilson's score is unique and I was pleased to note that it hadn't been mucked around with. The photography was stunningly colourful, and the acting and singing chirpy and charismatic. However, I must comment on Winthrop's (Ron Howard) awful out-of-tune screeching. Perhaps this was supposed to add a natural charm, but if so it failed, and was the only downside to the film.

Maybe this musical doesn't have the best songs ever written, but the overall package exudes a certain "je ne sais quoi", which puts it squarely up there amongst the very best.