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The Music Man

  • 1962
  • G
  • 2h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
20K
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
Classic MusicalComedyFamilyMusicalRomance

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.

  • Director
    • Morton DaCosta
  • Writers
    • Meredith Willson
    • Franklin Lacey
    • Marion Hargrove
  • Stars
    • Robert Preston
    • Shirley Jones
    • Buddy Hackett
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    20K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Morton DaCosta
    • Writers
      • Meredith Willson
      • Franklin Lacey
      • Marion Hargrove
    • Stars
      • Robert Preston
      • Shirley Jones
      • Buddy Hackett
    • 166User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 12 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Music Man
    Trailer 0:55
    The Music Man

    Photos122

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    Top cast98

    Edit
    Robert Preston
    Robert Preston
    • Harold Hill
    Shirley Jones
    Shirley Jones
    • Marian Paroo
    Buddy Hackett
    Buddy Hackett
    • Marcellus Washburn
    Hermione Gingold
    Hermione Gingold
    • Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn
    Paul Ford
    Paul Ford
    • Mayor George Shinn
    Pert Kelton
    Pert Kelton
    • Mrs. Paroo
    The Buffalo Bills
    • School Board
    Vern Reed
    • Jacey Squires
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Ron Howard
    Ron Howard
    • Winthrop Paroo
    • (as Ronny Howard)
    Al Shea
    • Ewart Dunlop
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Bill Spangenberg
    • Olin Britt
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Wayne Ward
    • Oliver Hix
    • (as The Buffalo Bills)
    Timmy Everett
    • Tommy Djilas
    Susan Luckey
    Susan Luckey
    • Zaneeta Shinn
    Harry Hickox
    Harry Hickox
    • Charlie Cowell
    Charles Lane
    Charles Lane
    • Constable Locke
    Mary Wickes
    Mary Wickes
    • Mrs. Squires
    Sara Seegar
    Sara Seegar
    • Maud Dunlop
    • Director
      • Morton DaCosta
    • Writers
      • Meredith Willson
      • Franklin Lacey
      • Marion Hargrove
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The two songs "76 Trombones" and "Good Night My Someone" are the same tune, played in different tempos. Meredith Willson used this technique to present a masculine and feminine slant on the on the events surrounding Harold Hill's arrival in River City and his budding relationship with Marian.
    • 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 reviews166

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10

    Still great after all these years

    I first saw "The Music Man" on its first run in 1962. I just saw it again last night on cable. If anything, I enjoyed it more last night. I think that your belief in "fairy tales" such as this only grows with the passing of the years. Preston's performance is so near-perfect that the viewer starts to believe his line of corn-fed BS. The knowledge of what Ron Howard has become enhances the enjoyment of his fine work here. It's funny, magical and a musical treat to the ears!!
    • ToddTee
    • Feb 27, 2001
    • Permalink

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    FAQ22

    • How long is The Music Man?Powered by Alexa
    • 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

    Tech 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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