The Music Man

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The Music Man

G

1962

2h 31m

Musical

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

94%

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17 Reviews

85%

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25,000+ Ratings

When Harold Hill, a traveling con man, arrives in River City, he convinces the locals to start a band by purchasing the uniforms and instruments from him. His intention is to flee as soon as he receives the money. Librarian Marian Paroo suspects Harold is a fraud but holds her tongue since her moody brother, Winthrop, is excited about the band. As Harold begins to develop feelings for Marian, he faces a difficult decision about skipping town.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 28, 2010

5/5

Glorious production, with gorgeous music, dancing.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jul 4, 2022

5/5

The Music Man might not be remembered as highly as its movie musical contemporaries but the film is still a fan favorite.

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Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Jul 21, 2012

4/5

A treat to re-watch, almost 50 years from its original production date.

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John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

Jan 22, 2010

10/10

...a quintessential slice of Americana, featuring wonderful music, engaging characters, and an uplifting story.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jan 31, 2007

B-

The music is glorious, but as a movie, this is a photographed play, a nostalgic evocation of small-town American that was congruent with Kennedy's New Frontier; within a year, though, Kennedy would be assassinated and the optimistic mood would vanish

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Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies

Sep 29, 2006

1.5/5

One of the most obnoxious musicals ever to be staged for movie cameras.

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Robert P

@Superbad 9 hrs ago

The Music Man = a 4,5 Movie!

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Russ L

@Russell55 Jul 3, 2026

So much to love about this movie! Robert Preston embodies the character of Spellbinding salesman. The Buffalo Bills are wonderful barber shop harmony. Don Ford is priceless as the mayor. Shirley Jones is so talented. We watch it every year on Independence Day.

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Daryn B

@RT75836451 Apr 26, 2026

I Absolutely loved the film. Truly a great and wonderful movie that will continue to stand the test of time.

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Jeffrey L

@RT87735785 Dec 10, 2025

Brilliant, funny, witty, one of a kind AND.. all sorts of great music

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Russ G

@RT78760655 Mar 12, 2024

Wake me up when the remake, showing Harold Hill in handcuffs, being thrown in prison for FRAUD, is released. You can keep this hokey, over-long, and quite preposterous musical. Just as "Oklahoma" allowed self-styled New York sophisticates to look down their noses at Oklahomans, this movie gives them the same smug satisfaction over Iowans.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Nov 10, 2023

While it's often associated with sub par high school and community theatre productions, "The Music Man" can work really well if it's done right and this film adaption is the best example of that. It's success is probably due to the fact that just about everyone who crafted the original Broadway productions worked on it. Although the most important element was keeping Robert Preston as the lead (like Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire", its the perfect marriage between performer and role) because no one else could have and still hasn't played this part so well.

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Morton DaCosta

Director

Robert Preston

Harold Hill

Shirley Jones

Marian Paroo

Buddy Hackett

Marcellus Washburn

Pert Kelton

Mrs. Paroo

Ron Howard

Winthrop Paroo

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Synopsis

When Harold Hill, a traveling con man, arrives in River City, he convinces the locals to start a band by purchasing the uniforms and instruments from him. His intention is to flee as soon as he receives the money. Librarian Marian Paroo suspects Harold is a fraud but holds her tongue since her moody brother, Winthrop, is excited about the band. As Harold begins to develop feelings for Marian, he faces a difficult decision about skipping town.

Director: Morton DaCosta
Producer: Morton DaCosta
Screenwriter: Meredith Willson, Franklin Lacey
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: G
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 1962, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 2h 31m

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