The Music Man (2003 film)

The Music Man is a 2003 American television film directed by Jeff Bleckner and starring Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth.

The television production, which was broadcast by ABC on the February 16, 2003, edition of The Wonderful World of Disney, is based on the book of the 1957 stage musical by Meredith Willson, which was based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The musical was adapted for television by Sally Robinson.

It was filmed entirely in Ontario, Canada.

The three-hour presentation was watched by 13.1 million viewers, with a 3.8 rating/9 share in adults aged 18–49. It finished second in the first two hours and fourth in the final hour.

Plot

Professor Harold Hill (Matthew Broderick), a confidence artist who makes a living by selling instruments and uniforms to aspiring musicians he fails to teach once they are delivered, sets his sights on the naive citizens of River City, Iowa, as his latest targets. Hill is sitting on a train in the first scene, playing cards while listening to the passengers on the train talk about him and his cons (Rock Island). Before getting off at River City, an anvil salesman named Charlie realizes who Hill is, but fails to catch him when he gets off the train. Charlie yells out the window of the train "I won't forget your face, Hill!" before the train travels on, while Hill is stepping on to the fresh soil of Iowa.

The Music Man

The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to the naive Iowa townsfolk, promising to train the members of the new band. But Harold is no musician and plans to skip town without giving any music lessons. Prim librarian and piano teacher Marian sees through him, but when Harold helps her younger brother overcome his lisp and social awkwardness, Marian begins to fall in love. Harold risks being caught to win her.

In 1957, the show became a hit on Broadway, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and running for 1,375 performances. The cast album won the first Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and spent 245 weeks on the Billboard charts. The show's success led to revivals, including a long-running 2000 Broadway revival, a popular 1962 film adaptation and a 2003 television remake. It is frequently produced by both professional and amateur theater companies.

The Music Man (album)

The Music Man (full title Jimmy Guiffre and his Music Men Play The Music Man) is an album by American jazz composer and arranger Jimmy Giuffre featuring tunes from Meredith Willson's Broadway musical, The Music Man which was released on the Atlantic label in 1959.

Reception

Scott Yanow of Allmusic states: "this particular set finds Giuffre (tripling as usual on clarinet, tenor and baritone) leading a somewhat conventional band, a seven-horn pianoless nonet. ...The arrangements (all by Giuffre) swing, the beauty and joy of the melodies are brought out, and the leader is in top form. A true rarity".

Track listing

All compositions by Meredith Willson

Music Man

Music Man can refer to: