MovieChat Forums > The Pied Piper (1942) Discussion > Read the book, avoid the movie

Read the book, avoid the movie


CONTAINS SPOILERS, I'M AFRAID

Everybody who's wtitten anything here seems to love this film. I'd like to warn you to read the book first, or indeed instead of, seeing this movie.

The problem is one fatal flaw. Someone in the production company had heard that conflict is at the heart of drama, so they made the protagonist, the old man who performs the rescue, dislike children. It robs him of any kind of motivation, and besides, if you're up against the Wermacht and the Gestapo, how much additional conflict do you need?

The original book is beautifully-written, was a huge hit at the time and though its charm and craftsmanship survives this bungled dramatization, it deserves much better treatment.

The book is out of print, but you should be able to get it from your library's vault or a goodwill shop.

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I bought the book at Amazon.com and although the book is a great read, don't beat up on the movie. Monty Wooley and the rest the cast are great in a classic WWII melodrama.

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Read the book, see the movie, avoid the OP. :)

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"If you ever work in an office, look out for the fat cows."

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>>Read the book, see the movie, avoid the OP. :)

It's 2:52 AM Christmas Eve, my brain has mostly shut down for the night except for sugar plums and suchlike dancing, so I can't figure out what OP means.
Please help.
What are sugar plums like, anyway?

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OP = original post / original poster.
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Try and catch the 1990 remake, which seems to be listed here as "Crossing to Freedom". Peter O'Toole plays the part as it was written: John Howard is a man who is shy around children, he doesn't dislike them.

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The copy I have (VHS) with Peter O'Toole is called the Pied Piper. A favourite of mine, but I would like to have seen the original movie. But thanks to the OP, I will seek out the book.

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...b/c remakes and OPs on IMDb are always good sources.

horses + water = drinks? Not necessarily.

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Read the book and see the original 1942 movie if you can find it anywhere. They are both worth your time, I assure you.

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It's On YouTube.

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