*The Music Man (1962 film)

*The Music Man (1962 film)
Name	The Music Man
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Morton DaCosta
Producer	Morton DaCosta
Screenplay	Marion Hargrove
Based on	The Music Man, Meredith Willson, Franklin Lacey
Starring	* Robert Preston * Shirley Jones * Buddy Hackett * Hermione Gingold * Paul Ford * Pert Kelton
Music	Meredith Willson
Cinematography	Robert Burks
Editing	William H. Ziegler
Studio	Warner Bros.
Distributor	Warner Bros.
Released	1962, 06, 19, Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Runtime	151 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$8 million
Gross	$15 million

*The Music Man (1962 film) is an American musical film directed by Morton DaCosta and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical of the same name. The film stars Robert Preston, reprising his iconic stage role as the charismatic con man Harold Hill, alongside Shirley Jones as the skeptical librarian Marian Paroo. Featuring the beloved score by Meredith Willson, the production was a major critical and commercial success for Warner Bros., praised for its energetic performances and faithful translation from stage to screen.

Plot

In July 1912, traveling salesman Harold Hill arrives in River City, Iowa, intending to swindle the townsfolk by selling them musical instruments and uniforms for a boys' band he has no intention of forming. He quickly charms the community, including Mayor George Shinn and his wife Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn, but faces suspicion from the local librarian and piano teacher, Marian Paroo. As Hill works to win over Marian and her young brother Winthrop, his schemes are threatened by the arrival of an old associate, Marcellus Washburn, and a genuine anvil salesman from Gary, Indiana. Hill's growing affection for Marian and the town ultimately leads to a climactic confrontation and redemption during the disastrous but heartfelt band concert.

Cast

* Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill * Shirley Jones as Marian Paroo * Buddy Hackett as Marcellus Washburn * Hermione Gingold as Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn * Paul Ford as Mayor George Shinn * Pert Kelton as Mrs. Paroo * Ronny Howard as Winthrop Paroo * Susan Luckey as Zaneeta Shinn * Timmy Everett as Tommy Djilas * Harry Hickox as Charlie Cowell * Charles Lane as Constable Locke * Mary Wickes as Mrs. Squires

Production

The film was produced and directed by Morton DaCosta, who also directed the original Broadway production. Warner Bros. secured the film rights after the musical's tremendous success, investing a substantial budget to recreate the period setting. Key locations included the Warner Bros. backlot and the Main Street, U.S.A. area of Disneyland, which inspired the design of River City, Iowa. Robert Preston was famously cast over bigger box-office names like Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra, as Meredith Willson and DaCosta insisted he reprise his Tony Award-winning performance. The choreography was handled by Onna White.

Music and songs

The film features the complete score by Meredith Willson, with orchestrations by Ray Heindorf and musical direction by Max Steiner. Iconic numbers include Hill's rapid-fire opening soliloquy "Rock Island", the optimistic "76 Trombones", the barbershop quartet standard "Lida Rose", and the romantic ballad "Till There Was You". The Buffalo Bills, who appeared on Broadway, reprised their roles for the film's barbershop sequences. The soundtrack album, released by Warner Bros. Records, became a bestseller and received a Grammy Award nomination.

Release and reception

The film had its world premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 19, 1962. It was a major box office hit, earning approximately $15 million against its $8 million budget. Critics lauded the film, with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times praising its "gusto and brightness" and Robert Preston's "magnificent" performance. The adaptation was widely considered one of the most successful translations of a stage musical to film, retaining the spirit and energy of the original Broadway production while effectively utilizing the CinemaScope format.

Accolades

The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won the Academy Award for Best Scoring of Music - Adaptation or Treatment for Ray Heindorf. Other nominations included Best Art Direction (Paul Groesse and George James Hopkins), Best Costume Design (Dorothy Jeakins), and Best Film Editing (William H. Ziegler). Robert Preston won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance.

Legacy

*The Music Man (1962 film) is regarded as a classic of the American film musical genre. Robert Preston's performance as Harold Hill remains definitive, influencing subsequent stage revivals and a 2003 television film adaptation starring Matthew Broderick. The film is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Its songs, particularly "76 Trombones", have become staples of popular culture and are frequently performed by marching bands and in community theatre productions across the United States.

Category:1962 films Category:American musical films Category:Warner Bros. films