The Music Man

PLOT:

On a train leaving Rock Island, Illinois, Charlie Cowell and other travelling salesmen in the car begin a heated argument about credit (“Rock Island”). Charlie and another salesman tell the others about a con man known as “Professor” Harold Hill, whose scam is to convince parents he can teach their musically disinclined children to play musical instruments. He takes pre-paid orders for instruments and uniforms with the promise that he will form a band, and then he skips town, leaving the parents with the instruments on order, and moves on to the next one before he’s exposed. The train arrives in River City, Iowa, and a stranger on the train stands up and declares, “Gentlemen, you intrigue me. I think I shall have to give Iowa a try.” He picks up his suitcase clearly labelled “Professor Harold Hill”, and exits the train.

The townspeople of River City describe their reserved, “chip-on-the-shoulder attitude” (“Iowa Stubborn”). Marcellus, Harold’s old friend, tells him that Marian Paroo, the librarian who gives piano lessons, is the only one in town who knows about music. Marcellus informs him that a new pool table was just delivered to the town’s local billiard parlor, and as a part of his scheme, Harold convinces River City parents “that game with the fifteen numbered balls is the devil’s tool” (“Trouble”). Harold follows Marian home and flirts with her, but she pays no attention to him. At home, Marian gives a piano lesson to a little girl named Amaryllis while arguing with her mother, Mrs. Paroo, about her “standards where men are concerned” after telling Mrs. Paroo that a stranger followed her home (“Piano Lesson/If You Don’t Mind My Saying So”). Marian’s self-conscious, lisping younger brother Winthrop arrives home, and Amaryllis, who secretly likes him, asks Marian who she should say goodnight to on the evening star since she doesn’t have a sweetheart. Marian tells her to just say goodnight to her “someone” (“Goodnight, My Someone”).

The next day is Independence Day, and Mayor Shinn is leading the morning festivities in the high school gym, with the help of his wife, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn (“Columbia, Gem of the Ocean”). Harold Hill interrupts the proceedings and announces to the townspeople that he will prevent “sin and corruption” from pool table by forming a boys’ band. He soon excitedly leads them with “Seventy-Six Trombones”. Mayor Shinn, who owns the billiard parlor, tells the bickering school board to get Harold’s credentials, but Harold teaches them to sing as a Barbershop Quartet instead (“Ice Cream/Sincere”). Harold also sets up Zaneeta, the mayor’s oldest girl, with Tommy Djilas, a boy from the wrong side of town, and persuades Tommy to become his assistant. Marian rejects Harold again, and he explains to Marcellus that “The Sadder But Wiser Girl” is the one he wants. The town ladies are very excited about the band and the ladies’ dance committee Harold plans to form. He asks them about Marian, and they intimate to him that she had an inappropriate relationship with old miser Madison, who gave the town the library; they also warn Harold that she advocates dirty books (“Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little”). The school board arrives to collect Harold’s credentials, but he leads them in singing “Goodnight, Ladies” and slips away.

The next day, Harold walks into the library, but Marian ignores him. He declares his unrequited love for her, leading the teenagers in the library in dance (“Marian the Librarian”). For a moment, Marian forgets her decorum and dances with Harold. He kisses her, and she tries to slap him. He ducks, and she hits Tommy Djilas instead. Harold signs up all the boys in town to be in his band, including Winthrop (“Gary, Indiana”). Mrs. Paroo likes Harold and tries to find out why Marian is not interested. Marian describes her ideal man (“My White Knight”). She tries to give Mayor Shinn evidence against Harold that she found in the Indiana State Educational Journal, but they are interrupted by the arrival of the “The Wells Fargo Wagon”, which delivers the band instruments. When Winthrop forgets to be shy and self-conscious because he is so happy with his new cornet, Marian begins to fall in love with Harold. She tears the incriminating page out of the Journal before giving the book to Mayor Shinn.

The ladies rehearse their classical dance in the school gym while the school board practices their quartet (“It’s You”) for the ice cream social. Marcellus and the town’s teenagers interrupt the ladies’ practice, taking over the gym as they dance the “Shipoopi”. Harold grabs Marian to dance with her, and all the teenagers join in. Regarding Winthrop’s cornet, Marian later questions Harold about his claim that “you don’t have to bother with the notes”. He explains that this is what he calls “The Think System”, and he arranges to call on Marian to discuss it. The town ladies ask Marian to join their dance committee, since she was “so dear dancing the Shipoopi” with Professor Hill (“Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little” (reprise)). They have reversed their opinions about her books, and they eagerly tell her that “the Professor told us to read those books, and we simply adored them all!”

That night, the school board tries to collect Harold’s credentials again, but he gets them to begin singing “Lida Rose” and slips away. Marian, meanwhile, is sitting on her front porch thinking of Harold, and, in counterpoint, asks herself, “Will I Ever Tell You?”. Winthrop returns home after spending time with Harold and tells Marian and Mrs. Paroo about Harold’s hometown, “Gary, Indiana”. As Marian waits alone for Harold, Charlie Cowell enters with evidence against Harold, hoping to tell Mayor Shinn. He has to leave on the next train, but stops to flirt with Marian. She tries to delay him so he doesn’t have time to deliver the evidence, eventually kissing him. As the train whistle blows, she pushes him away. Charlie angrily tells Marian that Harold has a girl in “every county in Illinois, and he’s taken it from every one of them – and that’s 102 counties!”

Harold arrives, and after he reminds her of the untrue rumors he’s heard about her, she convinces herself that Charlie invented everything he told her. They agree to meet at the footbridge, where Marian tells him the difference he’s made in her life (“Till There Was You”). Marcellus interrupts and tells Harold that the uniforms have arrived. He urges Harold to take the money and run, but Harold refuses to leave, insisting, “I’ve come up through the ranks… and I’m not resigning without my commission”. He returns to Marian, who tells him that she knows he’s a fraud, but she still loves him. He said he was a graduate of Gary Conservatory, Gold-Medal Class of ’05, but the town wasn’t even built until ’06! Harold walks her home, and she sings “Goodnight my Someone” while he sings “Seventy-Six Trombones”. Harold realizes that he is in love with Marian, and each sings the other’s song.

Meanwhile, Charlie Cowell, who has missed his train, arrives at the ice cream social and denounces Harold Hill as a fraud. The townspeople begin an agitated search for Harold. Winthrop is heartbroken and tells Harold that he wishes Harold never came to River City. But Marian tells Winthrop that she believes everything Harold ever said, for it did come true in the way every kid in town talked and acted that summer. She and Winthrop urge Harold to get away. He chooses to stay and tells Marian that he never really fell in love “Till There Was You” (reprise) as the constable handcuffs Harold and leads him away.

Mayor Shinn is leading a meeting in the high school gym to decide what to do with Harold, asking, “Where’s the band? Where’s the band?” Tommy enters as a drum major, followed by the kids in uniform with their instruments. Marian urges Harold to lead the band, and when he does, he is rewarded with unanticipated redemption: uncritical parents marvel and cheer as the River City Boys’ Band performs the Minuet in G. The play ends as Harold is released into Marian’s arms.

REVIEW:

This is another of my all time favorite musicals. I didn’t care too much for the remake, but the original stands alone.

Robert Preston reprises his role as Harold Hill from the original Broadway production. I never saw him on Broadway, but if his performance here is any indication, I imagine he didn’t lose a step.

Shirley Jones looks radiant as Marian the librarian. I read somewhere that she had just found out that she was pregnant when filming started and her costumes ahd to be adjusted accordingly. That had to be interesting. Her performance is top notch, especially in the later parts of the move as she lets her guard down and shows some emotion.

Ron Howard and Buddy Hackett also make memorable appearances.

The songs in this film are extremely memorable. My favorites are “Marian, the Librarian” and “76 Trombones”. There are a couple of truly gorgeous pieces as well (“Till there was You” and “Goodnight My Someone”).

As much as I love this musical, I have to say that the end when the anvil salesman comes into town specifically to expose Hill annoys me. Why would someone go out of their way to make someone look bad?

On another note, I love the fact that this is set in a simpler time when townspeople all knew each other, there were city meetings, and there weren’t buildings overrunning the land.

For a fan of musicals, this is one of the must-sees. Even if you’re not a fan of musicals, you should see this. It’s a very enjoyable film!

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

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