Rating: 
Summary: Shirley Jones as Marian....Madame Librarian
Review: This good old-fashioned, stand-up-and-cheer musical stars Shirley Jones as Marian, an Iowa spinster librarian and piano teacher in the early 1900s. Her whole town is turned upside down with the arrival of the flashy "Music Man" - salesman Harold Hill (Robert Preston,) who sells band instruments and uniforms; tiny Ronny Howard, as Marian's brother, overcomes his shyness with his new coronet. Despite her best intentions, stiff Miss Marian falls in love with the slick, fast talking con artist. He's smitten, too, and the whole town celebrates in song.
Shirley Jones was never lovelier and has a beautiful voice in songs like Til There Was You and Goodnight, My Someone. Robert Preston makes a memorable flim-flam man with a heart of gold, and his big song, "Trouble in River City," is a show-stopper. Paul Ford and Hermione Gingold almost steal the show as the very funny mayor and his wife.
The film is a beautifully filmed celebration of Americana, and you just have to love a musical that can find a rhyme for "librarian"! This is splashy, feel-good, wholesome entertainment you'll enjoy over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Among top musicals of all times
Review: Before I complain I liked the Music Man. It is one of the most light hearted and charming movies I have ever seen and it does have good music. In the days of West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, and The Sound of Music, somewhere in their is The Music Man. It failed to be better than all the films I have mentioned above. It was more slapstick and mediocre, and somewhat reminded me of some of the musicals MGM did in the 30s and 40s. All the performances were average but not something to hand out an Oscar for. Robert Preston, Ronnie Howard, and Shirley Jones did well. All in all it is enjoyable and very likeable, but it just did live up to the other film musicals of the 1960s. I do reccomend this film.
Rating: 
Summary: Renee from Florida
Review: A film by Morton DeCosta"The Music Man" has the feel of a traditional music. What I mean is that it fits the stereotypical movie musical: a little cheesy, characters ready to burst into song and dance at any moment, and with backgrounds that look like they were painted in. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, "The Music Man" works. The premise of "The Music Man" is that a traveling salesman, Harold Hill (Robert Preston) comes to River City, Iowa with the intent to con the town into buying instruments and uniforms to form a boys marching band. Harold Hill just has to convince the town that they both need and want a marching band. He begins to win over the town, despite not having any musical ability, and has nearly everyone conned except for the librarian, Marian (Shirley Jones). To win her, he tries to woo her. He is incredibly charming and smooth, but it isn't until the kids begin being excited about music that Marian even begins to crack. There are some very good songs in this musical. "76 Trombones" is a classic, but my favorite was "Marian the Librarian". There is a certain amount of sweetness and nostalgia to this movie. It is definitely an old time movie that the whole family can watch together. The one thing that surprised me the most was a young Ron Howard was in this movie (he was the kid with the lisp). I can't say that this is one of my favorite movies, but this was a good musical and a good movie and it is family friendly.
Rating:
Summary: A true classic musical; go for LETTERBOX!!!!
Review: I could wax lyrical about this film for ever but I won't! In my opinion, the greatest movie musical ever produced, 'The Music Man' is lttle heard of in my native Britain. I caught it when it was shown on TV in the small hours of the morning around 15 years ago and have loved it ever since.
Robert Preston IS Harold Hill and proves that he is a fantastic screen actor whose film credits are depressingly few - although if you haven't already seen it, check out 'Victor/Victoria'. Shirley Jones gives a performance that, after 'Oklahoma!' and 'Carousel', shows that she CAN act! All of the supporting players are excellent too, with emphasis on Paul Ford and Hermione Gingold (again too few movie appearances) as the Shinns, Pert Kelton as Mrs. Paroo and The Buffalo Bills as The All-Singing All-Harmonizing School Board.
Working much better as a film than a stage show, Meredith Willson's ode to his Iowa childhood is perfectly captured by Morton DaCosta, whose direction is as stagey as it was on 'Auntie Mame' but which fits very well with the slightly unreal nature of the plot.
Musical highlights are virtually every song but a short list would include 'Trouble', '76 Trombones', 'Marian the Librarian' and 'The Sadder But Wiser Girl'.
Rating:
Summary: A family musical even a curmudgeon can love
Review: OK, I have to be honest here: I don't like "family entertainment." If I go to Blockbuster, I usually avoid the Family section entirely for something a bit edgier or darker. And although I love Fred Astaire and most Gene Kelly, I am not at all a fan of Hollywood musicals from the fifties and early sixties, when they were becoming more "epic" as the movies tried to provide something that television could not. Nonetheless, I find THE MUSIC MAN to be one of the most thoroughly enjoyable pieces of light entertainment ever. Primarily there are two reasons for this. First, there is the great score, the most famous tune notwithstanding (maybe I have heard it too often, but "Seventy-Six Trombones" really leaves me cold). But nearly every other song is utterly delightful, especially the magnificent "Till There Was You." Am I a dork if I confess that I love the barbershop quartet numbers (I was second tenor in a high school quartet)? But as fine as the score is, take away Robert Preston and you have at best an average, forgettable film. Preston today is remembered almost exclusively for his role as Professor Harold Hill, which is a reflection not so much on his prior career as on the extraordinary job he did in performing this role. There is a similar parallel with Rex Harrison, who despite a long career on stage and screen, is primarily remembered for MY FAIR LADY. Interestingly, in both MY FAIR LADY and THE MUSIC MAN, other actors were considered for the lead role, although both Preston and Harrison created the roles for Broadway. Interestingly, Cary Grant was considered for both films (though Grant very famously responded that he wouldn't star in the film and if Preston weren't cast in the lead, he wouldn't even go see it), though Warners first choice was Frank Sinatra. Luckily, things worked out, and Robert Preston "owns" the role of Professor Harold Hill like few actors own a role. The film is also helped by a rich supporting cast. Shirley Jones was her usual excellent self in the film (though it is well known that she was pregnant during the shooting), and the film provided the late Buddy Hackett with one of his finest screen roles. Paul Ford, best known as the colonel on the Phil Silvers Show, turns in a nice screen performance as the Mayor. Hermione Gingold, who spent most of her career on stage and had as a result a surprisingly small screen career, excels as the mayor's wife and the leading light for culture in the town. But mainly, this is a great, great vehicle for a great leading man who has utterly nailed a great role. If Frank Sinatra or Cary Grant had been enticed to play the lead, perhaps we would still be watching this film today, but for some reason I am sceptical. But I am certain that this is one family film that all but the hardest of hearts will enjoy.
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