BOOTLEG FILES 089: “The Pied Pier of Hamelin” (1957 made-for-television musical)
LAST SEEN: Available for online viewing at Net Broadcasting System http://www.onnbs.com/drama_pied_56k.html
AMERICAN HOME VIDEO: No official release, but plenty of bootlegged dupes.
REASON FOR DISAPPEARANCE: The film’s copyright expired into the public domain.
CHANCES OF SEEING A DVD RELEASE: No chance of an official, restored release.
BOOTLEG OPPORTUNITIES: In abundance!
Get the bootleg in part two of THE BOOTLEG FILES: “THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN”>>>
2/11/15
RobGems.ca Wrote:
Why else would NBC show “The Pied Piper” in Living Color in 1957 at a time when black & white was still a dominant force? They knew that color was the future, and it would eventually sell, though it wouldn’t be until 1966 when the network went full force in color broadcasting. They didn’t have their house designer John J. Graham design the NBC Peacock for nothing, they knew their feathered mascot would have a future. As for Jim Backus playing over the top, I can believe that. He’s perfect in his scene-stealing role. Van Johnson playing Thurston Howell the 3rd or voicing Mr. Magoo? No way.
Jim Backus provided narration for some silent comedy shorts. Ben Turpins’ A Small Town Idol” and Snub Pollard i “Corner Pocket”. At least those are the ones that I am aware of.