The Music Man (1962)

The Music Man (1962)

starring Robert Preston, Shirley Jones

directed by Morton DaCosta

151 minutes

Traveling salesman Professor Harold Hill (Robert Preston) arrives in River City, Iowa by train. He starts looking for an angle and settles on the pool table that just arrived in town. He talks up the trouble it will cause. He also makes an effort to get to know Marian Paroo (Shirley Jones), the town's librarian, but she won't give him the time of day when he first approaches her.

Professor Hill sells the town on the idea of starting a boys band. He goes around town selling parents on musical instruments and uniforms for their boys. The board of education want to see his credentials. He does what he can to distract them on that front. Hill learns how Marian became the town's librarian. It is something of a scandal, although he later learns that the "scandal" was actually an invention of nosy townspeople who are disgruntled that she was made the town's librarian.

Hill continues to woo Marian, eventually winning her over to the degree that she covers up information that would prove him to be a phony. Everything seems to be going well until another traveling salesman comes to town with information about Hill that he takes to the mayor. Hill is brought in front of the townspeople in handcuffs. The boys show up in their uniforms with their musical instruments. Marian insists that Hill be given a chance to demonstrate the progress that the boys have made.

Hill is given a chance. The boys play their instruments. The townspeople love what they hear even though the boys have yet to come close to mastering the musical instruments.

Thoughts

Paul Ford, who was part of the regular cast of The Phil Silvers Show, played the part of Mayor Shinn. Buddy Hackett played the part of Hill's friend. Ron Howard, who was eight years old at the time, played the younger brother of Shirley Jones, who was 20 years older than him. Howard started working in movies and television in 1956. The actress who played their mother was in her mid-50s at the time.

I've seen this movie before but it has been a good long while since I last saw it. I know some of songs. I recall that when I was in 2nd grade I saw it performed at my grade school. One of the performances was on my birthday. I had fond but not very clear memories of this musical. I can't say that I felt that this musical stood the test of time although in all fairness the subject matter isn't exactly my cup of tea.