The Music Man (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Meredith Wilson's smash hit Broadway musical 'The Music Man' gets larger-than-life treatment by director/producer Martin DaCosta (Auntie Mame). Trouble {I tell ya trouble!} comes to a small Iowa town when charismatic conman "Professor" Harold Hill (a jubilant Robert Preston) arrives, posing as a salesman of band instruments & uniforms. Harold Hill happens upon an old pal, Marcellus Washburn (Buddy Hackett), & is ready to let loose with his favorite scam on the unsuspecting folks of River City. His plans is to sell the folks on the idea of a "boys band", with himself as leader (naturally), promise to teach them how to be musicians, get them to order instruments/uniforms, then skip on outta town with all the $$.
But 1st, he must charm the mayor's (Paul Ford) wife, Eulalie (Hermione Gingold) into forming a "ladies' dance committee", and convince the skeptical citizens, including reserved librarian/music teacher, Marian Paroo (beautiful Shirley Jones), who lives with her widowed mother (stage pro, Pert Kelton) & her shy little brother Winthrop (Ron Howard ... yes, that Ron Howard); who has the most adorably, spitting-est lisp you've ever heard. Harold Hill is able to razzle & dazzle the townsfolk ... even Marian the Librarian {great song/scene}. Despite solid evidence that he does not have the credentials which he claims, and Marian's certainty that he simply is not what he pretends to be, she finds herself softening towards him when her little brother starts to come out of his shell (due to the music).
Because of Marian (and the budding romance btwn. she & Harold), he stays in River City too long and, well ... he is arrested. But somehow, the young boys in town force a few melodic sounds out of their instruments; just enough for their parents to become proud. And Harold stays on; as it turns out, deep down inside, being a band leader seems to be what he really wanted all along. All sorts of fun frivolity ensue throughout.
Like anyone remotely involved in the arts, I became nostalgic while watching this movie, taking me back to middle school when I was involved in our spring production of The Music Man. I knew these songs by heart and, it was fun watching them play-out in the film. Even though 'The Music Man' was released in 1962 (well after Hollywood's golden age of joyous musicals), it has all the big production numbers & vibrant energy of those great Musicals of yesteryear. The songs are fantastic, starting with the imitative "Rock Island" to the engaging "Ya Got Trouble" to the swoon-worthy "Til There was You" to the rousing "Wells Fargo Wagon" to the seductive "Marian the Libraaaaaaarian" to cutesy "Gary, Indiana" to the delightfully goofy "Shipoopi" {great dance scene} and, of course ... "76 Trombones". The film looks fantastic, as well. The color cinematography is crisp. And both the production design & costumes (early 20th century Midwest) are fantastic.
In addition to the near-impeccable production, the story is more interesting & intricate than your typical musical fare, and the characters are very appealing. Marian, like her young brother, finally comes out of her own librarian shell. And Harold, in turn, learns about the importance of responsibility from Marian. When Harold realizes that someone like Marian can love him in spite of his shady past, for the 1st time in his life ... he's able to move on from the idea of himself as a lying thief.
The glue that holds this film together is Robert Preston's note-perfect portrayal of Harold Hill. Simply put, Preston was born to play this role. He shines. I loved watching him sing & dance through the proceedings; who knew he could be so nimble & light on his feet? Shirley Jones is just lovely as Marian, the librarian with a heart of gold. Jones was ecstatic when she found out that she got the part for this movie and, her enthusiasm surely shows in each scene she's in. Little Ron Howard is adorable; it’s nearly impossible not to smile during his lispy “Gary Indiana” moment. I also enjoyed Hermione Gingold as the comical, aristocratic wife of the mayor; when ISN'T Hermione Gingold enjoyable? Love her. Really, everybody fits their role so well.
Now, it's virtually impossible to watch a movie from 50+ yrs. ago & not evaluate it against today's filmmaking techniques (audiences will either love the nostalgic look back or be confused by the gooey, old-fashioned-ness of the production). I feel that the running time of 2 1/2 hours was a tad bit much. And though I enjoyed myself greatly while watching, I never felt truly immersed in the proceedings (it's hard to in musicals, anyway). Having said all of that, this film is quintessential Americana. It's hard to resist the engaging performances, wonderful music & uplifting story. Shipoopi!!!
But 1st, he must charm the mayor's (Paul Ford) wife, Eulalie (Hermione Gingold) into forming a "ladies' dance committee", and convince the skeptical citizens, including reserved librarian/music teacher, Marian Paroo (beautiful Shirley Jones), who lives with her widowed mother (stage pro, Pert Kelton) & her shy little brother Winthrop (Ron Howard ... yes, that Ron Howard); who has the most adorably, spitting-est lisp you've ever heard. Harold Hill is able to razzle & dazzle the townsfolk ... even Marian the Librarian {great song/scene}. Despite solid evidence that he does not have the credentials which he claims, and Marian's certainty that he simply is not what he pretends to be, she finds herself softening towards him when her little brother starts to come out of his shell (due to the music).
Because of Marian (and the budding romance btwn. she & Harold), he stays in River City too long and, well ... he is arrested. But somehow, the young boys in town force a few melodic sounds out of their instruments; just enough for their parents to become proud. And Harold stays on; as it turns out, deep down inside, being a band leader seems to be what he really wanted all along. All sorts of fun frivolity ensue throughout.
Like anyone remotely involved in the arts, I became nostalgic while watching this movie, taking me back to middle school when I was involved in our spring production of The Music Man. I knew these songs by heart and, it was fun watching them play-out in the film. Even though 'The Music Man' was released in 1962 (well after Hollywood's golden age of joyous musicals), it has all the big production numbers & vibrant energy of those great Musicals of yesteryear. The songs are fantastic, starting with the imitative "Rock Island" to the engaging "Ya Got Trouble" to the swoon-worthy "Til There was You" to the rousing "Wells Fargo Wagon" to the seductive "Marian the Libraaaaaaarian" to cutesy "Gary, Indiana" to the delightfully goofy "Shipoopi" {great dance scene} and, of course ... "76 Trombones". The film looks fantastic, as well. The color cinematography is crisp. And both the production design & costumes (early 20th century Midwest) are fantastic.
In addition to the near-impeccable production, the story is more interesting & intricate than your typical musical fare, and the characters are very appealing. Marian, like her young brother, finally comes out of her own librarian shell. And Harold, in turn, learns about the importance of responsibility from Marian. When Harold realizes that someone like Marian can love him in spite of his shady past, for the 1st time in his life ... he's able to move on from the idea of himself as a lying thief.
The glue that holds this film together is Robert Preston's note-perfect portrayal of Harold Hill. Simply put, Preston was born to play this role. He shines. I loved watching him sing & dance through the proceedings; who knew he could be so nimble & light on his feet? Shirley Jones is just lovely as Marian, the librarian with a heart of gold. Jones was ecstatic when she found out that she got the part for this movie and, her enthusiasm surely shows in each scene she's in. Little Ron Howard is adorable; it’s nearly impossible not to smile during his lispy “Gary Indiana” moment. I also enjoyed Hermione Gingold as the comical, aristocratic wife of the mayor; when ISN'T Hermione Gingold enjoyable? Love her. Really, everybody fits their role so well.
Now, it's virtually impossible to watch a movie from 50+ yrs. ago & not evaluate it against today's filmmaking techniques (audiences will either love the nostalgic look back or be confused by the gooey, old-fashioned-ness of the production). I feel that the running time of 2 1/2 hours was a tad bit much. And though I enjoyed myself greatly while watching, I never felt truly immersed in the proceedings (it's hard to in musicals, anyway). Having said all of that, this film is quintessential Americana. It's hard to resist the engaging performances, wonderful music & uplifting story. Shipoopi!!!