Meredith Wilson's tune-filled Broadway hit about a shady confidence man (Robert Preston, reprising his acclaimed stage performance) who travels from town to town duping residents into backing musical bands featuring no-talent youngsters. Stylish in widescreen, energetic to a fault, and capped with Preston's irrepressible performance, "The Music Man" is old-fashioned fun. The song score is rather disappointing (uninspired both lyrically and musically) and the supporting players are brash without being engaging (with the exception of charming Ronny Howard as Shirley Jones' son). There are many colorful, memorable sequences however, and director Morton DaCosta provides a jaunty pace. Ray Heindorf won an Oscar for his musical direction; Preston might have won one too, but perhaps it was felt he was too theatrical without adding any fresh nuances for this medium. **1/2 from ****
Review of The Music Man
