The Pied Piper [Import]

First, I would like to say that this movie has a 'British' rating of G. Their ratings are a bit different than American and this movie may be a bit off-putting for younger children (there is a seen where rats have eaten the faces of some people in a cottage and a burning - not graphic - at the stake).
But the important thing about this movie, is that is really a great retelling of The Pied Piper. Although, the acting is surprisingly stiff considering the calibur of actors, the scenes are realistic for the times. Filmed in Germany, itself, the countryside is gorgeous. The costumes are really funny, especially the hats!!
Donovan does two really pretty songs, but this is not a musical by any means. He plays a small role, even though he is the Pied Piper (and he plays a real guitar instead of lute). Jack Wild does the best acting job (a very underrated actor). He plays the crippled boy who is left behind. But unlike the written version, where the boy is crying "wait for me!", Jack's character is on the verge of becoming a man and realizes that he has a new life ahead of him and accepts being left behind.
Unless you know the real story, it is not really clear why the Piper takes all the children and it ends without the adults realizing the children are even gone.
This is a more adult-centered version of 'The Pied Piper', and the story and the color are well worth the price, even if only for the historical value of a young Donovan, the late Jack Wild and a celebration of the 70s!

Not what you'd expect, this movie comes off as something between "The Seventh Seal" and "Monty Python & the Holy Grail". And that's a good thing! Perhaps the strangest 'children's movie', with a grim and cold style, moments of horror, a distant and creepy Donovan floating through the movie not being the nicest singer in the world, not to mention the dirt, filth and grime. Add the Plague, a child bride, and one of the good guys getting burned at the stake - not to mention a very ambiguous ending - and it would be a rare child indeed who wouldn't be traumatized by this film.

However, if you've ever read 'The Brother's Grim', you might recognize the authenticity. This ain't no Disney version! There are some great actors involved, especially Donald Pleasant and Michael Hordern. Even Donovan has the right 'vibe' for the story. The whole thing has an early 70's feel, where anything can happen, and to some degree it does.

This is much better than "The Model Shop". I suspect the director was more comfortable in medieval Germany than in hip Los Angeles. Add great costumes, good songs, and excellent acting, and you get a pretty unique experience. If you are up for something a little different - something that certainly could never be made today, with no happy ending - this movie could be very entertaining and memorable

Donovan has said he had a hard time working on this film, he had little interaction with the director, etc. It was his only major starring role in a film (he had previously appeared in a cameo role in If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
In response to it not being a musical or a children's film, it was originally intended as a children's film (according to Maltin) and Donovan did write five or so songs and had he written seven it would have been a musical. He does a beautiful rendition of "Sailing Homeward" (here retitled "Riding Homeward" written a year earlier for his Open Road documentary) It is a crime that Donovan didn't release a soundtrack for this nor Brother Sun Sister Moon released two years later. Not a bad film, although I brought it just to see Donovan.