The Music Man (1962)
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94% of critics liked it
(17 reviews) -
81% of users liked it
(30,102 ratings)
Meredith Wilson's hit 1957 Broadway musical was transferred to the screen in larger-than-life fashion in 1962. Robert Preston repeats his legendary stage performance as fast-talking con man Harold Hill, who goes from town to town selling citizens on starting a "boy's band," then… More Meredith Wilson's hit 1957 Broadway musical was transferred to the screen in larger-than-life fashion in 1962. Robert Preston repeats his legendary stage performance as fast-talking con man Harold Hill, who goes from town to town selling citizens on starting a "boy's band," then extracts money from them by ordering instruments and uniforms, with the promise that he'll teach the kids how to be musicians. Once he's collected his bankroll, Hill skips town, leaving the kids in the lurch. Looking for new suckers in Iowa, Hill arrives in River City, where he declares that the only way to save the youth of River City from the lure of the poolroom is to organize a boy's band. He charms the mayor's wife Eulalie (Hermione Gingold) into forming a "ladies' dance committee" and sets his sights on winning over local music teacher Marian Paroo (Shirley Jones). Marian rightly considers Hill a fraud, especially when he espouses the "Think System" of learning music: if you think a tune, he claims, you can play it. But Marian becomes Hill's staunchest ally when her young brother Winthrop (Ronny Howard), sullen and withdrawn since the death of his father, exuberantly comes out of his shell at the prospect of joining Hill's band; and Marian's budding romance with the charming but unreliable Hill ultimately brings her out of her own shell as well. Marion Hargrove's script uses most of the original play, with a handful of amusing expansions, especially in the roles played by Gingold and by Buddy Hackett as Hill's comic sidekick. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Morton DaCosta
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Romance
- In Theaters
- Jun 19, 1962 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
A treat to re-watch, almost 50 years from its original production date.
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Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Glorious production, with gorgeous music, dancing.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...pure Iowa corn: Sentimental, nostalgic, gentle, and innocent. (Blu-ray Edition)
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a quintessential slice of Americana, featuring wonderful music, engaging characters, and an uplifting story.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The music is glorious, but as a movie, this is a photographed play, a nostalgic evocation of small-town American that was congruent with Kennedy's New Frontier; within a year, though, Kennedy would be assassinated and the optimistic mood would vanish
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Robert Preston
as Harold Hill
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Shirley Jones
as Marian Paroo
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Buddy Hackett
as Marcellus Washburn
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Pert Kelton
as Mrs. Paroo
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Ron Howard
as Winthrop Paroo
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Hermione Gingold
as Eulalie MacKechnie Shinn
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Paul Ford
as Mayor Shinn
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Susan Luckey
as Zaneeta Shinn
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Harry Hickox
as Charlie Cowell
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Charles Lane
as Constable Locke
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Mary Wickes
as Mrs. Squires
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Oliver Hix
as Buffalo Bills
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Natalie Core
as Truthful Smith
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Ronnie Dapo
as Norbert Smith
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Roy Dean
as Gilbert Hawthorne
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Timmy Everett
as Tommy Djilas
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William Fawcett
as Lester Lonnergan
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Jesslyn Fax
as Avis Grubb
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Percy Helton
as Conductor
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Rance Howard
as Oscar Jackson
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Anne Loos
as Stella Jackson
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Therese Lyon
as Dolly Higgins
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Natalie Masters
as Farmer's Wife
- Peggy Mondo
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Milton Parsons
as Farmer
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Barbara Pepper
as Feril Hawkes
- Max Showalter
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Monique Vermont
as Amaryllis
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Hank Worden
as Townsman
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Peggy Wynne
as Ada Nutting
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Delos Jewkes
as Harley MacCauley
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Ray Kellogg
as Harry Joseph
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The Buffalo Bills
as Jacey Squires; Olin Britt; Ewart Dunlo
- Hermoine Gingold
