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IMDbPro

The Music Man

  • 19621962
  • GG
  • 2h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
17K
YOUR RATING
Buddy Hackett, Paul Ford, Hermione Gingold, Shirley Jones, Pert Kelton, and Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer0:55
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Family
  • Musical
Traveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents of a small town in 1910s Iowa by posing as a boys' band leader to raise money before he can skip town.Traveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents of a small town in 1910s Iowa by posing as a boys' band leader to raise money before he can skip town.Traveling con artist Harold Hill targets the naïve residents of a small town in 1910s Iowa by posing as a boys' band leader to raise money before he can skip town.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Morton DaCosta
  • Writers
    • Meredith Willson(based on: "The Music Man")
    • Franklin Lacey(written in collaboration with)
    • Marion Hargrove(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Preston
    • Shirley Jones
    • Buddy Hackett
Top credits
  • Director
    • Morton DaCosta
  • Writers
    • Meredith Willson(based on: "The Music Man")
    • Franklin Lacey(written in collaboration with)
    • Marion Hargrove(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Preston
    • Shirley Jones
    • Buddy Hackett
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 154User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 12 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Music Man
    Trailer 0:55
    The Music Man

    Photos114

    Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
    Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
    Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
    Paul Ford and Hermione Gingold in The Music Man (1962)
    Hermione Gingold, Peggy Mondo, Robert Preston, and Sara Seegar in The Music Man (1962)
    Robert Preston and The Buffalo Bills in The Music Man (1962)
    Shirley Jones and Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
    Shirley Jones and Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
    Morton DaCosta, Robert Preston, and Meredith Willson in The Music Man (1962)
    Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
    Bradford Craig, Bruce Hoy, Elaine Joyce, Gary Menteer, Robert Preston, and Eileen Diamond in The Music Man (1962)
    Bradford Craig, Bruce Hoy, Shirley Jones, Bert May, Gary Menteer, and Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Preston
    Robert Preston
    • Harold Hillas Harold Hill
    Shirley Jones
    Shirley Jones
    • Marian Parooas Marian Paroo
    Buddy Hackett
    Buddy Hackett
    • Marcellus Washburnas Marcellus Washburn
    Hermione Gingold
    Hermione Gingold
    • Eulalie Mackechnie Shinnas Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn
    Paul Ford
    Paul Ford
    • Mayor George Shinnas Mayor George Shinn
    Pert Kelton
    Pert Kelton
    • Mrs. Parooas Mrs. Paroo
    The Buffalo Bills
    • School Boardas School Board
    Vern Reed
    • Jacey Squiresas Jacey Squires
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Ron Howard
    Ron Howard
    • Winthrop Parooas Winthrop Paroo
    • (as Ronny Howard)
    Al Shea
    • Ewart Dunlopas Ewart Dunlop
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Bill Spangenberg
    • Olin Brittas Olin Britt
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Wayne Ward
    • Oliver Hixas Oliver Hix
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Timmy Everett
    • Tommy Djilasas Tommy Djilas
    Susan Luckey
    Susan Luckey
    • Zaneeta Shinnas Zaneeta Shinn
    Harry Hickox
    Harry Hickox
    • Charlie Cowellas Charlie Cowell
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Constable Lockeas Constable Locke
    Mary Wickes
    Mary Wickes
    • Mrs. Squiresas Mrs. Squires
    Sara Seegar
    Sara Seegar
    • Maud Dunlopas Maud Dunlop
    • Director
      • Morton DaCosta
    • Writers
      • Meredith Willson(based on: "The Music Man")
      • Franklin Lacey(written in collaboration with)
      • Marion Hargrove(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In Joanie Gets Wheels (1980), Howard and Marion Cunningham are coming out of a movie theater; they pause in the lobby and look at the poster for "The Music Man". Marion comments how much the little boy in the movie (Winthrop) "looks so much like Richie did when he was little". Both Winthrop and Richie were played by Ron Howard.
    • Goofs
      Twice when Harold Hill first arrives in River City, mountains are seen in the background. There are no mountains like that in eastern Iowa where River City is supposed to be.
    • Quotes

      Marian Paroo: No, please, not tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

      Harold Hill: Oh, my dear little librarian. You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you've collected nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering.

      Marian Paroo: Oh, so would I.

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits appear in the style of a Broadway show's curtain call. First the minor characters are shown with the performers' names. The credits then progress through the cast ending with the lead.
    • Connections
      Edited into Right Here in River City: The Making of Meredith Willson's 'The Music Man' (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Main Title
      (1957) (uncredited)

      Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson

      Performed by Ray Heindorf and the Warner Bros. Studio Orchestra

    User reviews154

    Review
    Top review
    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.
    helpful•14
    2
    • EdKoh
    • Apr 23, 1999

    FAQ4

    • What is 'The Music Man' about?
    • Is 'The Music Man' based on a book?
    • What is the origin of Zaneeta Shinn's expression "ye gods" and what does it mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 19, 1962 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Meredith Willson's The Music Man
    • Filming locations
      • Midwest Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,240,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 31 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • SDDS
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1
      • 2.39 : 1

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    Buddy Hackett, Paul Ford, Hermione Gingold, Shirley Jones, Pert Kelton, and Robert Preston in The Music Man (1962)
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