The Pied Piper

Jacques Demy's The Pied Piper is neither musical (though there are three songs) nor children's film, more an almost resigned fable about the foibles of human nature. The Piper isn't even the main character. Rather it's an ensemble piece, with the town of Hamelin, with all its pettiness and everyday corruptions, that takes centerstage. It's the kind of film that could only have been made in the 70s, set in a vividly realised medieval world that at times threatens to make Monty Python and the Holy Grail look glamorised, though it doesn't revel in the filth or the grotesque. Aside from the travelling players, almost everyone is out for whatever they can get - even Donovan's piper, for all his hippie folkie songs (and there are only three of them) wants a thousand gilders for a spot of pest control he knows won't prevent the plague from coming to Hamelin, while Donald Pleasance's baron won't pay up because he's bankrupting himself buying his way out of Hell by building a cathedral for the Church. The Church would much rather he provided them with troops for another civil war ("The Pope wants a new emperor because the emperor wants a new Pope."). Even the nominal love interest is far from a Disney princess, but the Burgomaster's bored young daughter bartered to the baron's callous son (John Hurt) for political power by her father (Roy Kinnear) and for a bit of adultery with the husband-to-be by her mother (Diana Dors). It's not so much a portrait of superstition versus reason as one of superstition versus superstition with the hint of the seed of reason that may take generations to flower: as Michael Hordern's Jewish alchemist tells his inquisitors, where once he had hoped the world would learn from his discoveries, now he can only hope the world learns from their mistakes.The film isn't entirely successful by any means, but it's constantly fascinating and even manages not to seem as clumsy as most Euro-puddings - in this case an English picture (one of David Puttnam and Sandy Lieberson's first) directed by a Frenchman and shot in Bavaria on some excellent locations - probably because it keeps the cast almost entirely British so there's no jarring clash of accents. Donovan's not exactly a great actor but he's mostly harmless as the Piper (although his wardrobe isn't terribly pied), though he's infinitely less hopeless than Patsy Puttnam in a thankfully brief role as the player's wife. Jack Wild shows his limitations as the most famous cripple in fairy tales, Richard Eyre has a nice turn as an increasingly disillusioned pilgrim, Peter Vaughn brings the church into disrepute as a pragmatic Bishop and it's strangely appropriate to see John Hurt playing Pleasance's son considering the way his career has evolved into a modern-day Pleasance's as a stock feature in undemanding low-budget movies.Long out of circulation, Legend's extras-free Region 1 NTSC DVD isn't a great transfer but it's acceptable enough considering the film's rarity and Paramount's disinterest in releasing it themselves. In France the film is available in an English-friendly 10-disc boxed set of Demy's features. Very unusual and worth a look.

I'm a bit mystified by some previous comments about this film being "dated" -- it's certainly of its time, but that's one of its many strengths. Period films set in the Middle Ages had a particularly authentic look & flavor when made in the late 1960s/early 1970s, a certain grimy reality made all the more pointed by the 60s/70s tone of the filmmakers. It was an ideal allegorical window for not only examining the ignorance & fanaticism of the past in scathingly satirical detail, but an equally ideal way of commenting on the present as well. Because of course everything that the film says about religious intolerance, political squabbling, greed, bigotry, the love of power, the abuse of the poor & helpless, anti-intellectualism -- in short, every aspect of humanity at its worst -- is just as applicable to the present day. Some might even say more so.Having said that, let me add that it works just as superbly as a faithful retelling of the classic tale, without any pandering to the audience or a false happy ending. Donovan, who wrote the music & songs as well as playing the titular character, is good in his role -- his fey, otherworldly persona suits that of the Piper to perfection. And he's ably surrounded by fine actors: in particular, a very young John Hurt, playing a nasty & vicious young German nobleman; Donald Pleasance as his father, obsessed with building a great cathedral to ensure safe passage into Heaven; and Michael Hordern as the Jewish doctor/alchemist, the wisest & most sensible man in Hamelin, who pays a terrible price for being humane & decent.It seems to me that director Jacques Demy was influenced more than a little by Ingmar Bergman -- as in "The Seventh Seal", there's a traveling family of players, in many ways the POV characters for the audience; and the atmosphere of constant paranoia, dread, and looming despair is quite similar. There's also a strain of dark humor that emerges at unexpected times, adding to the ominous tone. And all of this without any CGI or inhumanly sculpted bodies in slo-mo! It's a film that really deserves to be much better known -- most highly recommended!

Wonderful to watch

Not what you'd expect, this movie comes off as something between "The Seventh Seal" and "Monty Python & the Holy Grail". And that's a good thing! Perhaps the strangest 'children's movie', with a grim and cold style, moments of horror, a distant and creepy Donovan floating through the movie not being the nicest singer in the world, not to mention the dirt, filth and grime. Add the Plague, a child bride, and one of the good guys getting burned at the stake - not to mention a very ambiguous ending - and it would be a rare child indeed who wouldn't be traumatized by this film.However, if you've ever read 'The Brother's Grim', you might recognize the authenticity. This ain't no Disney version! There are some great actors involved, especially Donald Pleasant and Michael Hordern. Even Donovan has the right 'vibe' for the story. The whole thing has an early 70's feel, where anything can happen, and to some degree it does.This is much better than "The Model Shop". I suspect the director was more comfortable in medieval Germany than in hip Los Angeles. Add great costumes, good songs, and excellent acting, and you get a pretty unique experience. If you are up for something a little different - something that certainly could never be made today, with no happy ending - this movie could be very entertaining and memorable

Hadn't seen it for 48 years

Perfect

I read the fairy tales of the Grimm brothers but not this one, so I didn't wait for a special touch.But I was a fan of Donovan thinking of his music and his image appropriate of this character, really in tune of "the pied piper".Example; "For little ones" from "A gift from a flower to the garden"Main character but not really in the foreground that is suitable for a novice in motion picture. He is quite good.Jacques Demy and his musicals and "Peau d'ane" put the story in a simple way as it has to be: the poor and the rich, the innocence and the evil ones, two parts among this black plague and the rats.After the healing of the village by the pied piper, the leaders don't want to pay, magician lead away the children.And marks of plague appear again on the face of the burgomaster.And at the end the hesitation of the one-legged child is easily allegoric.Simple and enlightening as an excellent fairy tale.

alles bestens danke h.k.

Big Jack Wild fan here , loved every minute of this movie .