The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Overview

The singing, rhyming citizens of Hamelin hope to win a competition with rival towns for royal recognition. To this end, the mayor outlaws play (which is a bit hard on the children) and refuses to help a rival town when it's flooded. But rats (seen only as shadows), fleeing the flood, invade Hamelin in droves; a magical piper, whose music only children (and rats) can hear, strikes a bargain...which, once the rats are gone, the Mayor and council renege on, to their subsequent regret.

Cast

Van Johnson

Pied Piper / Truson

Claude Rains

Mayor of Hamelin

Lori Nelson

Mara

Jim Backus

King's Emissary

Kay Starr

John's Mother

Joseph Sargent

Doodles Weaver

First Counselor (uncredited)

Stanley Adams

Second Counselor (uncredited)

Oliver Blake

Leading Citizen (uncredited)

N/A

Rene Kroper

Paul (uncredited)

William H. O'Brien

Townsman (uncredited)

Carl Benton Reid

Mayor of Hamelout (uncredited)