The Music Man

G

Released Jun 19, 1962

2 hr. 31 min.

Musical

Comedy

List

94%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

85%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When Harold Hill, a traveling con man, arrives in River City, he convinces the locals to start a band by purchasing the uniforms and instruments from him. His intention is to flee as soon as he receives the money. Librarian Marian Paroo suspects Harold is a fraud but holds her tongue since her moody brother, Winthrop, is excited about the band. As Harold begins to develop feelings for Marian, he faces a difficult decision about skipping town.

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Russ

Wake me up when the remake, showing Harold Hill in handcuffs, being thrown in prison for FRAUD, is released. You can keep this hokey, over-long, and quite preposterous musical.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/12/24

Full Review

Alec B

While it's often associated with sub par high school and community theatre productions, "The Music Man" can work really well if it's done right and this film adaption is the best example of that. It's success is probably due to the fact that just about everyone who crafted the original Broadway productions worked on it. Although the most important element was keeping Robert Preston as the lead (like Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire", its the perfect marriage between performer and role) because no one else could have and still hasn't played this part so well.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/23

Full Review

Zazoo909 C

Hadn't seen "The Music Man" in decades. Even though the music lingers with you forever, I guess I avoided revisiting it because of the images of a pure-hearted America that either never existed or faded out before my time. But I just saw it again and I have to put it up there: Number Two, after my favorite musical of all time, Fiddler on the Roof. This is not the edification of small town values and the American innocence that I remembered. In fact, it satirizes that, while also satirizing the shameless shenanigans of huckster, Prof. Harold Hill. The humor here is gloriously subversive and no one escapes getting skewered. The songs are great, but none so ingenious or infectious as "Ya Got Trouble," where Hill hilariously scams the yokels: "Ya got trouble, that starts with t, that rhymes with p, that stands for pool!"

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/26/23

Full Review

Paully

None better.. Shirley Jones is 24 when this was filmed.. Wow on her performance..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 02 hours: and 31 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

liam s

Despite a few of mediocre songs, the production elevates this film above most other musicals. For example, the "76 Trombone" scene is fantastic. "Lady Librarian" is one of my favourite production numbers from any show. I could watch that scene over and over. But I believe Shirley Jones' singing voice was underappreciated! So, what's the deal with Robert Preston? I'm still surprised he wasn't nominated for an Academy Award for his performance! Oh, and a fascinating fact is that the composer, Meredith Willson, and his estate made more money from royalties on The Beatles' version of "Till There Was You" than they did from the musical and film! Amazing!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/05/22

Full Review

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Morton DaCosta

Director

Robert Preston

Harold Hill

Shirley Jones

Marian Paroo

Buddy Hackett

Marcellus Washburn

Pert Kelton

Mrs. Paroo

Ron Howard

Winthrop Paroo

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Glorious production, with gorgeous music, dancing.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 28, 2010

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 5/5

Apr 13, 2002

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Music Man might not be remembered as highly as its movie musical contemporaries but the film is still a fan favorite.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 4, 2022

Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

A treat to re-watch, almost 50 years from its original production date.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 21, 2012

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

...a quintessential slice of Americana, featuring wonderful music, engaging characters, and an uplifting story.

Rated: 10/10

Jan 22, 2010

Full Review

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

Rated: B-

Jan 31, 2007

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Synopsis

When Harold Hill, a traveling con man, arrives in River City, he convinces the locals to start a band by purchasing the uniforms and instruments from him. His intention is to flee as soon as he receives the money. Librarian Marian Paroo suspects Harold is a fraud but holds her tongue since her moody brother, Winthrop, is excited about the band. As Harold begins to develop feelings for Marian, he faces a difficult decision about skipping town.

Director: Morton DaCosta
Screenwriter: Meredith Willson, Franklin Lacey
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: G
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 1962, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016

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