The Pied Piper
Seen it?1972 | 90 min | Fantasy, Drama
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (44% on Rotten Tomatoes) and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for fantasy fans. If you loved The Crow, start here.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 30 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1972: an older pace and style.
Greed, corruption, ignorance, and disease. Midsummer, 1349: the Black Death reaches northern Germany. Minstrels go to Hamelin for the Mayor's daughter's wedding to the Baron's son. He wants her dowry to pay his army while his father taxes the people to build a cathedral he thinks will save his soul. A local apothecary who's a Jew seeks a treatment for the plague; the priests charge him with witchcraft. One of the minstrels, who has soothed the Mayor's daughter with his music, promises to rid the town of rats for the fee. The Mayor agrees, then renigs. In the morning, the plague, the Jew's trial, and the Piper's revenge come at once.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
44% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 11K people sought it out in the past year
More like this
The Crow
Saturday SpecialAnother revenge fantasy film, and a Saturday Special.
The Dark Crystal Saturday SpecialAnother fantasy film, and a Saturday Special.
Conan the Barbarian Weeknight WatchAnother fantasy film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Byzantium Weeknight WatchAnother drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Willow Weeknight WatchAnother fantasy film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Jacques Demy
- DonovanThe Pied Piper
- Diana DorsFrau Poppendick
- Donald PleasenceThe Baron
- Roy KinnearBurgermeister Poppendick
- John HurtFranz
- Michael HordernMelius, Alchemist
- Jack WildGavin
- Peter VaughanBishop
- Keith BuckleyMattio
- Cathryn HarrisonLisa