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Matthew Broderick, Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber, Debra Monk, Molly Shannon ... see more see more... , David Aaron Baker , Cameron Monaghan , Clyde Alves , Cameron Adams , Patrick McKenna , Megan Moniz , Richard Fitzpatrick , Pete Luciano , Marty Beecroft , Joe Heslip , Glenn Coulson , Janine Theriault , Tannis Burnett , Jenni Burke , Janet Van de Graff , Sharron Matthews , Derwin Jordan , Timm Zemanek , Juan Chioran , Jeff Pustil , Cliff Saunders , Gerry Quigley , Greg Ellwand , Sheri Godfrey , Boyd Banks

A hit Broadway musical in 1957 and an equally successful Hollywood film in 1962, Meredith Willson's The Music Man was again brought before the cameras in this lavish made-for-TV adaptation. Standing i... read more read more...n for the original's Robert Preston is Matthew Broderick as "Professor" Harold Hill, a glib traveling salesman who descends upon the town of River City, IA, in the weeks just prior to the Fourth of July celebration of 1912. Persuading the populace that the youth of River City is in great danger of being corrupted by the presence of a new pool table, Hill convinces them that their only hope for salvation is the organization of a boy's band, with himself as a leader. Naturally, this will require the parents to shell out good money for band instruments and uniforms, and in exchange, Hill promises to teach the kids how to make music by utilizing his revolutionary "Think System." There's only one problem: Harold Hill is an out-and-out con artist, who doesn't know one note from another. Even so, he manages to win over everybody in town except local librarian/music teacher Marian Paroo (Kristin Chenoweth) and thick-eared Mayor Shinn (Victor Garber). Ultimately, however, Marian joins Hill's camp -- mainly because he has brought her sullen brother, Winthrop (Cameron Monaghan), out of his shell -- but as July Fourth approaches, Hill faces exposure and arrest thanks to a vengeful anvil salesman named Charlie Cowell (Patrick McKenna). A meticulously faithful rendition of the Broadway original, The Music Man happily includes all of the show's wonderful songs, among them "Ya Got Trouble," "Seventy-Six Trombones," "The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl," "Lida Rose," "Marian the Librarian," "Pickalittle," "Til There Was You," and "My White Knight" (which was not used in the 1962 movie adaptation). Though some critics found Matthew Broderick a bit too lightweight and Jeff Bleckner's direction a tad gimmicky, no one could fault the full-bodied vocal renditions, nor the consistently inventive choreography of Kathleen Marshall. Produced by the same team responsible for the 2003 movie smash Chicago, The Music Man debuted February 16, 2003, as an "expanded" episode of ABC's Wonderful World of Disney anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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62% liked it

5,976 ratings

G, 2 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Jeff Bleckner

Release Date: February 16, 2003

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DVD Release Date: November 11, 2003

Stats: 296 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (296)

  • spielberg00
    September 27, 2011
    spielberg00
    Ouch! Matthew Broderick tries to imitate Robert Preston, but he brings out his asinine side instead. It's obvious that he was much better in FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF and WARGAMES. And he makes the line "76 trombones led the big parade/with 110 cornets close at hand" sound like... read more "76 trombones led the stampede/with 110 humans coming up from behind to request that Robert Preston come back and take over this awful, awful 'Disney Channel Original Movie'".
  • purplemegan
    February 23, 2007
    purplemegan
    The original version was soooo much better. I didn't see much of it but I saw the scene in the library where they turned Marian into a princess and that was horrible.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 29, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    decent flick
  • guitarfoolkristy
    September 25, 2009
    guitarfoolkristy
    I'm a big fan of Matthew Broderick, and I thought that this movie was right up there with the original '62 version. Perhaps some of the actors could have been replaced, or more potent. But all in all, it's a thumbs up. For modern.
  • songbee
    August 18, 2008
    songbee
    once i have seen this movie i have not stopped thinking about at least ONE song from this movie! it's very catchy and very family friendly and Matthew Broderick did a really good job in this movie. he had too much fun lol!
  • kryptontim1984
    June 7, 2008
    kryptontim1984
    Although Matthew Broderick is the weakest part of this film., everything else seemed to work.

    Movie made me fall in love with Kristin Chenoweth. Brilliant casting!
  • quoththeravennevermore
    March 9, 2008
    quoththeravennevermore
    saw a clip of it. i love that opening scene. sounds like it would take the music man a ridiculous amount of time to master all those lines--it's like a jason mraz song.
  • flutterbaybee
    February 14, 2008
    flutterbaybee
    This is one of My Favorite Musicals, and I have to say for a remake they did Great! Kept to the story, didn't "Hollywoodize" it that much, Great Job!
  • mrceagle
    September 10, 2007
    mrceagle
    The music is fun and catchy but this recant installment of the musical dose not hold itself compared to the original movie. though Kristin Chenoweth was perfect for Marian the librarian.
  • Choiboy525
    June 4, 2007
    Choiboy525
    They sort of kicked the classic in the butt. Broderick ends up looking more like a stalker than Harold Hill, and Kristin Chenoweth ends up looking like a whore. I do not recommend watching this.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
February 17, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Fun and tuneful, but not up to Robert Preston original. Still, Broderick is very good.

David Nusair
January 30, 2006
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...never quite becomes as accessible as one would imagine it's meant to be. Full Review

Bill Gibron
August 30, 2005
Bill Gibron, DVDTalk.com

Prof. Harold Hill may believe the "think" system will teach his..."band" to play. But no amount of brainpower could make...this Music Man ...anything but derivative. Full Review

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The Music Man Trivia

  • In what movie did Matthew Brodrick play a con man pretending to be a music proffesor?  Answer »
  • According to the constable, what was the first mistake that professor hill make in the music man?  Answer »
  • Shirley Jones was pregnant during the filming of which film?  Answer »
  • Hermione Gingold played the part of the Mayor's wife in which film?  Answer »
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