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
as Pied Piper / Truson
Claude Rains
as Mayor of Hamelin
Lori Nelson
as Mara
Jim Backus
as King's Emissary
Kay Starr
as John's Mother
Joseph Sargent
as
Doodles Weaver
as First Counselor (uncredited)
Stanley Adams
as Second Counselor (uncredited)
Oliver Blake
as Leading Citizen (uncredited)
Rene Kroper
as Paul (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien
as Townsman (uncredited)
Carl Benton Reid
as Mayor of Hamelout (uncredited)
