The Music Man

Morton DaCosta's lavish 1962 screen version of Meredith Wilson's hit musical comedy stars Robert Preston, reprising his Broadway performance as double-talking con-man Harold Hill, and Shirley Jones as Marian, the local piano teacher and prim librarian he woos while making his pitch to the less savvy citizens of River City, IA. The Music Man boasts considerable charms: memorable songs (“Seventy-Six Trombones,” the romantic standard “Till There Was You,” and the con-man rap “Trouble”); engaging early-20th-century nostalgia in its evocation of small-town, middle-America innocence; bright costumes (everyone is dressed to impress in every scene); and frequent diversions into barber-shop harmonies. But it's Preston who really powers the effort, bounding through every scene with a showman's energy as he hawks band instruments with snake-oil salesman patter and a sly smile. Funnyman Buddy Hackett sings “Shipoopi” and adds comic support as Harold's old pal, Marcellus Washburn, while cute little Ronnie Howard plays the adorably shy Winthrop, who whistles when he talks (and when he sings). An American musical theater evergreen and favorite choice of community and high school drama troupes, The Music Man will make a fine addition to any movie musical collection (and it is far superior to the 2003 made-for-TV remake with Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth). Blu-ray extras include an introduction by Jones and the “making-of” featurette “Right Here in River City.” Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)