Review of The Music Man (1962) by Stuart M — 21 Jun 2015

I'm not sure why this film is so highly rated. It has some good scenes and an entertaining setup, but in general it doesn't take advantage of the plot it sets up. The songs are generally mediocre, possibly due to Robert Preston's (the lead) limited singing voice. But that's the worst thing I'll say about him because in all other respects his performance is magical. In fact, he's a good part of the reason I rank this film as high as I do.

This is a seminal work too. You've seen a grifter film you've seen a work based on this film. Remember that time Springfield built a monorail? This film. I've never studied the history of con man films but this must date somewhere near the beginning.