July 23 - The Music Man (1962)

Here is a film with a scene that happens today – July 23. I hope you enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

THE MUSIC MAN

On a train to River City, Iowa a group of traveling salesmen both condemn and are in awe of Harold Hill, a con man who thrives by selling a town band instruments,  but after collecting the money, skips town, leaving them with instruments they can’t play. When they reach the town, it is revealed that Hill was on the train as he exits. In River City he meets a former associate of his Marcellus Washburn, who now lives there. He convinces the citizens that the arrival of a pool table in town will cause an increase in juvenile delinquency, but that a boy’s band will avoid this problem.  He dodges a request to produce his credentials by the school board by convincing the four men they are a fantastic singing quartet.   Hill starts signing up townspeople to buy instruments and uniforms. He tries to worm his way into the affections of Marian, the town’s librarian, her mother and her lisping brother Winthrop. She discovers evidence that he is fraud, but just then the instruments  arrive and the usually withdrawn Winthrop becomes very effusive. Marian hides the evidence as Hill tells his pupils that if they think about the music they want to play they will be able to do so. Hill also encourages romance between the mayor’s daughter and Tommy Djilas, who’s from the wrong side of the tracks. On July 23, 1912 [1:28:23 to 1:39:52] Prof. Harold Hill gets his overdue hotel bill and deflects another request for his credentials. Marian realizes she’s falling in love with Harold. Charlie Cowell, an anvil salesman shows up and convinces the citizens that Hill is a fraud. Marian and Marcellus beg him to leave, but Harold realizes he’s in love with Marian and won’t run out on her. The townspeople want to tar and feather him but at a town meeting were Marian speaks in his defense minds are changed. The boys band has learned to play Beethoven’s Minuet in G (very badly) on their instruments, but their parents are ecstatic. Harold stays in town and with Marian’s help the band becomes first rate.  

A piece of pure musical fluff. The songs are all right, but the long dance numbers seem somewhat dated today. Still if you’re looking for pure escapist entertainment this film will certainly fill the bill.

Date given in film on bill at 1:37:40

Producer - Morton DaCosta

Director - Morton DaCosta

Awards – The film won the Best Musical Score Oscar. It was also nominated for the Best

                 Picture, the Best Color Costume, the Best Color Art Direction, Best Sound and

                 Best film Editing Oscars at the 35^th Academy Awards.   

Screenplay - Marion Hargrove

Runtime - 2 hours 31 minutes 

Released - June 19, 1962

Starring -

Robert Preston as Harold Hill

Shirley Jones as Marian Paroo

Buddy Hackett as Marcellus Washburn

Paul Ford as Mayor George Shinn

Hermione Gingold as Eulalie Mackechnie Shinn

Pert Kelton as Mrs. Paroo

Vern Reed as Jacey Squires

Al Shea as Ewart Dunlop

Bill Spangenberg as Olin Britt

Wayne Ward as Oliver Hix

Timmy Everett as Tommy Djilas

Susan Luckey as Zaneeta Shinn

Ron Howard as Winthrop Paroo

Harry Hickox as Charlie Cowell

Charles Lane as Constable Locke

Adnia Rice as Alma Hix

Peggy Mondo as Ethel Toffelmier

Mary Wickes as Mrs. Squires

Sara Seegar as Maud Dunlop

Ronnie Dapo as Norbert Smith

Jesslyn Fax as Avis Grubb

Monique Vermont as Amaryllis