The Music Man

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Overview

This is a five-star DVD release of a four-and-a-half-star movie. Meredith Willson's The Music Man was something of a miraculous release in its own era, coming at a time when studios were pulling back from doing big-budget productions of this kind. Not only did Warner Bros. spend nine months making The Music Man but, after flirting with the notion of using Frank Sinatra in the title role, they went with Robert Preston, who had originated the role on Broadway, and also lined up the original director and ...
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More About This Product

Overview

This is a five-star DVD release of a four-and-a-half-star movie. Meredith Willson's The Music Man was something of a miraculous release in its own era, coming at a time when studios were pulling back from doing big-budget productions of this kind. Not only did Warner Bros. spend nine months making The Music Man but, after flirting with the notion of using Frank Sinatra in the title role, they went with Robert Preston, who had originated the role on Broadway, and also lined up the original director and choreographer and many of the other principal cast members from the theatrical version to make the movie. In the process of expanding the play from the stage to the screen, director Morton Da Costa did an unexpectedly fine job, considering that he'd hardly done any film work at all. The DVD is worth the measure of the film. The main virtue of the disc release is an impeccable transfer from a restored edition of the movie, displaying wonderful luster and clarity and deep, rich color. Not only has the image been captured perfectly, but the sound has been remixed for stereo, which adds to the spaciousness inherent in watching it, even on a small screen. The film is accompanied by a 1998-vintage documentary, "Right Here In River City," in which most of the key players who are still around (Ron Howard was the only one who didn't make it) discuss how the movie was made. Shirley Jones (who replaced Barbara Cook from the Broadway show), Susan Luckey, Buddy Hackett, and choreographer Onna White give warm, thorough accounts of various aspects of the production. The menu pops up manually, and is easy to read and navigate, and the film opens with a short introduction by Jones.
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Special Features

"Right Here in River City: The Making of Meredith Willson's The Magic Man"; Introduction by Shirley Jones; Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1; Interactive menus; Production notes; 2 theatrical trailers; Scene access; Subtitles: English, Français
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Donald Liebenson
Meredith Wilson’s 1957 Broadway smash The Music Man was a big, brass-band valentine to small-town America at the turn of the 20th century. And the film, which followed five years later, is among the most exuberant, old-fashioned delights from the waning days of the Hollywood musical’s golden age. Robert Preston conducts himself splendidly as Prof. Harold Hill, a traveling salesman with a scheme to form a boys' marching band and sell River City yokels the uniforms and gear. Alas, the town’s lovely librarian, Marian Shirley Jones, smells a rat; and Hill’s efforts to charm her by drawing her awkward little brother Ron Howard out of his shell lead to the ersatz professor’s unlikely delivery from the dark side. The film’s impeccable cast includes Paul Ford as River City's confounded mayor, Hermione Gingold as his "Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little" biddy of a wife, and Buddy Hackett as Hill's former partner in crime. "76 Trombones" leads the big parade of showstoppers, including "Till There Was You," "Marian the Librarian," “Gary, Indiana," and "Trouble." Speaking of trouble right here in River City, the revealing making-of documentary included on the Special Edition DVD notes that Jones was pregnant during most of the production, necessitating various shoot-arounds. Another fun fact from the 30-minute documentary: The studio wanted Frank Sinatra for the title role, but the musical's composer, Meredith Wilson, insisted that without Preston, who made the role his own on Broadway, there would be no movie. Like the wish-fulfilling contents of "The Wells Fargo Wagon," The Music Man remains something very, very special.
All Movie Guide - Leo Charney
The Music Man is among the best movie musicals, transforming Meredith Willson's Broadway hit into an energetic slice of Americana. Robert Preston's virtuoso portrayal of con man Harold Hill transfers from the stage (despite the studios' nervousness about casting no-name Preston), and the result is one of the most explosively vital performances in any movie musical. Until the very end, Preston never sugar-coats or softens Hill's rapacious self-seeking, nor does Shirley Jones downplay the stubborn snobbishness of his love interest, Marian Paroo. The portrayal of the River City townfolk is memorably caustic: "You can have your fill of the all the food you bring yourself!" runs only one of the snide remarks in their introductory song, which offers, "Glad to have you with us -- even though we may not ever mention it again." The film's embrace of small-town American life is not confined to its sentimental, sickly-sweet aspects (the movie's hero, after all, is a con man, whom Preston's vigorously charming performance dares us to like), and this dimensionality makes the movie as distinctive dramatically as it is musically. Preston carries the movie, but he receives memorable support from Jones, Ron Howard as her brother Winthrop, Buddy Hackett as his sidekick, and such stalwarts as Paul Ford, Hermione Gingold, and Pert Kelton among the River City townspeople. The underrated score includes "Till There Was You," later covered by The Beatles and often mistaken for one of their songs. Made at the acme (yet last gasp) of the blockbuster movie musical in the first half of the 1960s, The Music Man can hold its own among such better-known contemporaries as West Side Story (1961), My Fair Lady (1964), and The Sound of Music (1965).
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 2/23/1999
  • UPC: 085391676829
  • Original Release: 1962

    • Rating:

  • Source: Warner Home Video
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Wide Screen
  • Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Language: English
  • Time: 3:01:00
  • Format: DVD

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Robert Preston Harold Hill
Shirley Jones Marian Paroo
Buddy Hackett Marcellus Washburn
Pert Kelton Mrs. Paroo
Ronny Howard Winthrop Paroo
Hermione Gingold Eulalie MacKechnie Shinn
Paul Ford Mayor Shinn
Susan Luckey Zaneeta Shinn
Harry Hickox Charlie Cowell
Charles Lane Constable Locke
Mary Wickes Mrs. Squires
Oliver Hix Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills Jacey Squires; Olin Britt; Ewart Dunlo
Buffalo Bills Jacey Squires; Olin Britt; Ewart Dunlo
Natalie Core Truthful Smith
Ronnie Dapo Norbert Smith
Roy Dean Gilbert Hawthorne
Timmy Everett Tommy Djilas
William Fawcett Lester Lonnergan
Jesslyn Fax Avis Grubb
Percy Helton Conductor
Rance Howard Oscar Jackson
Delos Jewkes Harley MacCauley
Ray Kellogg Harry Joseph
Anne Loos Stella Jackson
Therese Lyon Dolly Higgins
Natalie Masters Farmer's Wife
Peggy Mondo
Milton Parsons Farmer
Barbara Pepper Feril Hawkes
Max Showalter
Monique Vermont Amaryllis
Hank Worden Townsman
Peggy Wynne Ada Nutting
Technical Credits
Morton Da Costa Director, Producer
Gordon Bau Makeup
Robert Burks Cinematographer
Paul Groesse Production Designer
George Groves Sound/Sound Designer
Marion Hargrove Screenwriter
Ray Heindorf Score Composer, Musical Direction/Supervision
George James Hopkins Set Decoration/Design
Dorothy Jeakins Costumes/Costume Designer
Onna White Choreography
William H. Ziegler Editor
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Scene Index

Jump to a Scene
0. Jump to a Scene
1. Main Title (Credits). [2:34]
2. Rock Island. [3:22]
3. Charley Cowell's tirade. [1:45]
4. Iowa Stubborn. [3:55]
5. Meeting Marcellus. [2:13]
6. Mrs. Shinn on dirty books; Hill's right angle. [3:03]
7. Ya Got Trouble. [4:18]
8. First impressions. [1:51]
9. Piano Lesson. [1:58]
10. Winthrop comes home. [1:49]
11. Goodnight, My Someone. [3:45]
12. July 4th exercises-and disruptions. [4:34]
13. Seventy-Six Trombones. [7:38]
14. That man's credentials; reforming Tommy. [3:38]
15. Sincere. [3:22]
16. A pass, a pitch and a play. [3:17]
17. Say yes, Mrs. Shinn. [2:10]
18. Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little and Goodnight, Ladies. [2:51]
19. The Sadder-but-Wiser Girl. [2:58]
20. Marion the Libarian. [7:42]
21. Soliciting Mayor Shinn and Mrs. Paroo. [4:14]
22. Gary, Indiana. [4:20]
23. Being in Love. [4:46]
24. "Indecent" plans. [1:20]
25. Wells Fargo Wagon. [4:48]
26. Dance and band practice. [3:32]
27. The Candy Kitchen. [5:10]
28. Lida Rose and Will I Ever Tell You? [5:30]
29. Gary, Indiana reprise. [2:14]
30. Cowell: two to tango. [4:17]
31. Lida Rose reprise. [:58]
32. Rumor exchange. [4:18]
33. Think System in action. [2:01]
34. Shipoopi. [6:41]
35. Grecian urns. [1:02]
36. Footbridge podium. [1:36]
37. Till There Was You. [3:42]
38. Who's selling whom? [2:25]
39. It's You; gunning for Hill. [2:51]
40. Seventy-Six Trombones and Goodnight, My Someone reprise. [2:45]
41. Caught in the door (Till There Was You reprise). [4:11]
42. Standing up for Prof. Hill. [2:47]
43. The band. [2:35]
44. River City on parade (Seventy-Six Trombones reprise). [2:14]
45. The Cast. [1:55]
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Menu

Main
   Menu Group #1 with 45 chapter(s) covering 02:31:15
Special Features
   Cast & Crew
      Robert Preston
      Shirley Jones
      Buddy Hackett
      Hermione Gingold
      Paul Ford
      Meredith Wilson
      Marion Hargrove
      Morton DaCosta
   River City
      Right Here In River City
      Intro by Shirley Jones
      The Music Man Trailer
      The Unsinkable Molly Brown Trailer
   Behind the Scenes
   Winthrop Paroo
   Awards
Select Languages
Reel Recommendations
Play Movie
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 23 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(15)

4 Star

(5)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(0)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 23 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Good musical, but not my favorite

    Robert Preston is good in the part of the Music Man, but does as much talking as singing in his "songs". Shirley Jones is wonderful, being the same actress from Oklahoma, Carousel, and others. Ron Howard sings his one and only song "Gary Indiana" like no one else his age could--priceless!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    One of the Best Movies

    I love movies that you can watch with the whole family. It is nice not to have to censor. We need more musical movies like this one. It is a classic.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Classic Americana

    This is a movie that holds a special place in many people's hearts, and is a favorite of people who don't normally enjoy musicals...this must be because the story is so funny and the performances are still so fresh. The film is an accidental time capsule of sorts, as it depicts so beautifully the early part of twentieth century small-town life. Beautiful to see, hear and share.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Classic Musical

    This is a great musical! I first saw it in my early 20's and I am pleased it is still available. My wife never saw the movie so we are looking forward to receiving our copy.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    One of the best musicals of all time!

    Definately one of my all time favorites - it can't be beat for excellance of performance, production values, and plain enjoyment. If you don't have a smile of your face at the end of this movie, you're probably dead!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Professor Harold Hill stays to face the music of 76 trombones.

    Yes, my friends, we got trouble. Right here in River City. Professor Harold Hill (the sensational Robert Preston) has come to sell musical instruments and uniforms and lessons, only he doesn't know one note from another. So what does he do? He makes trouble. Right here in River City. He makes trouble for the mayor (Paul Ford) by urging the townspeople to boycott his pool hall. He makes trouble for the mayor's wife (Hermione Gingold) and her school board ladies by urging them to sing with the barbershop quartet. He makes trouble for Winthrop (yes, it's Ron(ny) Howard) by urging him to sing songs with S's in them (he's got a TERRIBLE lithp!) He makes trouble for the boy's sister, Marian the librarian (Shirley Jones) by urging her to--well, as she tells her mother (Pert Kelton)--"you'll find it in Balzak." Now the professor's got trouble . . . but to look at the lovely Miss Jones, it's really no trouble at all. [filmfactsman]

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Sweet and Comedic

    This is definitely one of my favorites. The music really sticks with you. I've gotten teased about it because I coincidentally share a name with the composer! Anyway, this is a very funny musical, and it keeps you entertained. :) Robert Preston and Shirley Jones did an excellent job.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Music Mania!

    The Music Man is the best musical movie I think any one has heard! Not only that but I think its the greatest movie ever! I watch it every week! You can never get to old to watch The Music man.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Never Gets Old

    This is truly a terrific masterpiece. This film (based on the musical by Meredith Willson) is about a con man named Harold Hill who always tries to lead a boy's band. He comes to River City, Iowa and falls in love with the librarian. Don't even bother renting this movie, because once you see it you'll want to watch it again and again. Forget the Disney version, this film is way better.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    MUSIC MAN ROCKS!!!!

    Hello! Ok. I am 13 years old and The Music Man is my favorite musical of all time. I did it as a school play in May 2003. Since, then I've been in love with it. I really recomend it to anyone who likes musicals. If you saw the Disney version on ABC this one is A LOT better. Enjoy!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Different and Cute.

    When watching the Music Man for the first time, you will see the difference in it from the other musicals. The difference is, it takes place in a town, which is small, and has not had anything exciting come there. This salesman comes, and charms the town, and even the librarian. The songs, are catchy, and very well known if you hear them. Like the famous one, ''Till There Was You.'' Which was made later by the Beatles. The reason why I took a star off, is because, I cannot stand the song ''Shapoopi''. I find it utterly anoying.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Get the real thing

    If all you know about Wilson's ''The Music Man'' is based on the TV version, buy this disc. From set design, choreography and costuming to the brilliant soprano of Shirley Jones, you can't beat this for entertainment. Why ABC didn't air this masterpiece, instead of demean it with a cheap copy, is beyond belief.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    BARBER SHOP HARMONIES

    Reading the other reviews, no one seems to be focusing on the great barber shop quartet in the film and their contribution to its success. Playing the role of the city's councilmen attempting to get Prof. Hill's credentials, the group adds a constant musical background to the film that will have you bouncing in your seat during the movie. Their version of ''Lida Rose'' will have you humming it the next day, guaranteed. Robert Preston has never been better as con man/Professor Harold Hill, especially with his showstopping song, ''Trouble.'' Forget the TV version and see the original!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Not too Shabby for Shirley

    This musical is a classic. I have never seen it performed as well as it was on the video. It was korny at some parts but it held it weight to earn 5 stars.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Way beyond a musicial.

    This movie is flawless on about five levels,you just cant get sick of it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    You Ought To Give The Music Man A Try

    I have seen The Music Man many times over and every time I watch I'm amazed at the talent and hard work that went into creating this remarkable movie. Every generation can watch this musical and appreciate the humor, wit and charm of America's best-loved con artist, Professor Harold Hill, as he steals the hearts and pocketbooks of River City, Iowa.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 4, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 5, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 15, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 8, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 23 Customer Reviews