Greed, corruption, ignorance, and disease. Midsummer, 1349: the Black Death reaches northern Germany. Minstrels go to Hamelin for the Mayor's daughter's wedding to the Baron's son. He wants her dowry to pay his army while his father taxes the people to build a cathedral he thinks will save his soul. A local apothecary who's a Jew seeks a treatment for the plague; the priests charge him with witchcraft. One of the minstrels, who has soothed the Mayor's daughter with his music, promises to rid the town of rats for the fee. The Mayor agrees, then renigs. In the morning, the plague, the Jew's trial, and the Piper's revenge come at once.
Donovan
as The Pied Piper
Diana Dors
as Frau Poppendick
Donald Pleasence
as The Baron
Roy Kinnear
as Burgermeister Poppendick
John Hurt
as Franz
Michael Hordern
as Melius, Alchemist
Jack Wild
as Gavin
Peter Vaughan
as Bishop
Keith Buckley
as Mattio
Cathryn Harrison
as Lisa
Peter Eyre
as Pilgrim
David Leland
as Officer
