Pied Piper, The
Date: 1972
Director: Jacques Demy
Production Company: Sagittarius Productions, Goodtimes Enterprises
Stars: Jack Wild, Donald Pleasence, John Hurt, Donovan
Location(s): Bavaria (West Germany)
Region(s): Germany
Storyline:
As plague threatens the land, the Burgermeister of an impoverished city hires a wandering minstrel to solve their rat infestation but then refuse to pay for his services.
Additional Information:
Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson
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Northern Germany, at noon on midsummer day in the year 1349. The year of the Black Death.
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On their way to Hanover, Mattio and his Family of players approach a remote hamlet.
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Finding the place deserted, Mattio (Keith Buckley) opens the door to a dwelling as his son Karl (Paul Hennen) stands next to him.
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The Gypsy leader spots the skeletal remains of two people surrounded by rats before shouting “Plague”.
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Having been joined by a Pilgrim (Peter Eyre) from the hamlet and a minstrel, known as The Pied Piper (Donovan), on the road, the band of travellers approach the town of Hamelin.
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Mattio is stopped at the city gate where a Guard explains that no one may enter due to a forty day quarantine against the plague.
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The Baron's son Franz and his Cohorts ride towards the gate where they are admitted without question.
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Inside the city wall, construction of the Cathedral continues.
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Tilting down, the camera finds Franz as he charges into the square.
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The three Horsemen come to a stand outside the Burgermeister’s house where Lisa, Franz’s betrothed, lies ill in bed.
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Recovering after the intervention of the Minstrel, Lisa (Cathryn Harrison) walks in the garden before Gavin, the Alchemist’s assistant, calls to her.
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Following Kulik (David Leland), Burgermeister Poppendick (Roy Kinnear) leaves his house to go to the castle.
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On the eve of his wedding to Lisa, Franz and Kulik ride through the town where they come upon Mattio and his family putting on a show.
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After the city is overrun by rats, the Pied Piper agrees with the Burgermeister to get rid of them for a thousand guilders.
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As the Piper walks through the streets playing his flute, the rats follow the tune towards the river.
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The rats scurry into the water as the Piper continues to play.
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Helped by a Charcoal Burner, Gavin (Jack Wild) leaves the city and heads for the castle to find Lisa.
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Mattio, his Family and the Piper hear the Town Crier proclaim that Melius the alchemist is to be burned at the stake.
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Being offered just fifty guilders for ridding the city of rats, the Piper plays a tune and the Children of Hamelin begin to follow.
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Followed by Gavin, the Piper leads the Children into the countryside. In the distance stands Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria, West Germany. The town appears in several productions including ‘Royal Flash’, ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and ‘The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm’.
- Capture 21
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In a blink, Gavin sees the Piper and the Children disappear.