The Pied Piper *** (1942, Monty Woolley, Roddy McDowall, Anne Baxter, Otto Preminger, J Carrol Naish Lester Matthews, Jill Esmond, Peggy Ann Garner ) – Classic Movie Review 7910

Director Irving Pichel’s 1942 The Pied Piper stars Monty Woolley, who plays Mr John Sidney Howard, a child-hating old Englishman on a fishing holiday in eastern France in World War Two when the Germans attack. It was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (Edward Cronjager).

Mr Howard sets off to try to get back home and, despite being a child-hating old curmudgeon, nevertheless agrees to help the two Cavanaugh children (Roddy McDowall, Peggy Ann Garner) get over to England with him. They are later joined by several other refugee children, with Nicole Rougeron (Anne Baxter) on his side and (at first) German officer Major Diessen (Otto Preminger) against him.

Woolley’s brio performance of grumpy charm and humour sees the story through the movie’s sticky patches. Nevertheless, the 1942 The Pied Piper tells a pleasant tale though, based on Nevil Shute’s novel. The appealing cast and 20th Century Fox’s careful, handsome production are both big assets too.

Also in the cast are J Carrol Naish, Lester Matthews, Jill Esmond, Ferike Boros, Merrill Rodin, Maurice Tauzin, Fleurette Zama, William Edmunds, Marcelle Corday and Marcel Dalio.

The Pied Piper is directed by Irving Pichel, runs 87 minutes, is made and released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Nunnally Johnson, based on Nevil Shute’s novel, is shot in black and white by Edward Cronjager, is produced by Nunnally Johnson, is scored by Alfred Newman and is designed by Richard Day and Maurice Ransford.

It was remade for TV as Crossing to Freedom (1989) aka The Pied Piper.

Director Jacques Demy tells the Pied Piper story beautifully in his 1972 The Pied Piper.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7910

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