Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. & Saturday, December 7, 12:00 p.m. | In the delightful and thoroughly entertaining big-screen adaptation of Meredith Willson's smash hit Broadway musical, THE MUSIC MAN stars Robert Preston as traveling con artist Harold Hill, who arrives in small town of River City, Iowa, with a scheme to sell the townspeople on the idea of starting a boys’ marching band (sinister!). Hill’s plans take a turn when he finds himself falling for the community and the people he initially tried to deceive, including River City’s skeptical and whip-smart librarian, Marian (Shirley Jones). Chock full of catchy songs (you’ll be humming them long after the credits roll), including “Seventy-Six Trombones,” and “Gary, Indiana,” THE MUSIC MAN is a charming celebration of small-town Americana that will have you tapping your toes and believing that you “really ought to give Iowa a try!”


Awards & Nominations

Nominee - Best Picture, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Editing, Academy Awards 
Winner - Best Score, Academy Awards


HeartlandFlyover country, the third coast, the rust belt. The American Midwest has plenty of nicknames, and is arguably more difficult to outline on a map than the east or west coasts. Despite its ambiguous footprint, the Midwest is often defined by its people: hard working, sympathetic, and “nice.” With Heartland, we search for the Midwest's cinematic definition—how is middle America defined by big screen style and story, and when the lights go down, do we like what we see of our cinematic selves (however realistic or fantastical) reflected back at us? Read more


The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu