The Pied Piper of Hamelin(1957)

movie - first aired/released 1957-11-26 - 87 min - audience 5.7

Music, Fantasy, Comedy, TV Movie

Directed by Bretaigne Windust

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.