The Pied Piper of Hamelin
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.
Van Johnson
Pied Piper / Truson
Claude Rains
Mayor of Hamelin
Lori Nelson
Mara
Jim Backus
King's Emissary
Kay Starr
John's Mother
Joseph Sargent
Doodles Weaver
First Counselor (uncredited)
Stanley Adams
Second Counselor (uncredited)
Oliver Blake
Leading Citizen (uncredited)
Rene Kroper
Paul (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien
Townsman (uncredited)
Carl Benton Reid
Mayor of Hamelout (uncredited)
Amzie Strickland
Leading Townswoman (uncredited)
Judith Woodbury
Townswoman (uncredited)
Cyril Delevanti
James Gonzalez
Citizen
Jess Kirkpatrick