Pied Piper of Hamelin (1957) (All Regions) [2002]

This is a made for television film purporting to be of Browning's version of the story.It is NOT re-mastered, so the sound quality is poor; the picture quality likewise.As an entertainment it is fine when judged by the standards of most television programmes of the 1950s. I dare say it was ambitious and well funded by those standards.As a film it looks low budget [A small cast, a few small and unconvincing sets, slightly under-rehearsed - to judge by some of the performances - with some amateurish dancing.]Claude Rains looks uncomfortable in his role as a corrupt and avaricious Mayor. I felt sorry for him.Van Johnson plays the central character; a school teacher as well as the Piper, but I am not sure why this doubling was done. It leads to some confusion and adds no deeper meaning. The opening of the film, with the Piper snaking his way out of a tree seemed to recall the serpent of Genesis, but nothing was made of this, and the Piper remained a weak figure; merely magical, without the power of his personality in the Browning poem.Something of a pantomime I would say. Enjoyable, but for the kiddies only.

Entertaining, with veteran Claude Rains and Jim Backus on fine form. I'm not sure why the music is adapted from Grieg, but it seems to work, although, despite some clever lyrics, there are too many songs. A lot of the dialogue is doggerel (note the contrast with the few lines of the Browning original), and is sometimes painful on the ear. The ending is a copout - very cowardly. An interesting piece - one of a number of decent 'old' films that have recently become available on Prime, all worth exploring, and some are outstanding.

If you like musicals, like Grieg, and can tolerate adaptations of legends, then this film will appeal, albeit Claude Rains seems somewhat miscast as the not too clever mayor.... Regardless, the adaptation of Grieg's music is well done, the performances adequately tounge-in-cheek, and the sets pleasing. There is a fault on the recording - the editing has gone a bit astray during the 'prestige' song and a second or so is repeated - but if you blink you may well miss it, and it doesn't really detract.

I WAS STATIONED IN HAMELN FOR 3 YRS IN THE SEVENTIES. AND IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS THERE .(HA HA) ( FOR YOUR INFO, THE( FIFER) LED THE CHILDREN UP (DER CLUITE) WHERE THERE IS A TUNNEL THAT IS BLOCKED OFF( AS LEDGEND HAS IT,) TO STOP CHILDREN TRYING TO FIND THE PIED PIPER.

This story told in the form of a poem has always been a favourite of mine and although the film does not follow the exact same story line it is nevertheless fine colourful entertainment with many well known stars of the era (mid fifties) and featuring the beautiful music of Grieg's Peer Gynt and some fine singing from Van Johnson, Kay Starr and others. Highly enjoyable and worthwhile to watch.

A Musical Movie where the deliverance of even the spoken word is Rhymed.If you're an Amazon Prime Member, it's one of Amazon's Free Movies, but it's still rubbish.

Great family entertainment. A must watch!.