September 16, 1933 – The Silly Symphony The Pied Piper is Released to Theaters
“In the town of Hamelin, many years ago, the citizens were crying out a tearful tale of woe…”
On September 16, 1933, the Silly Symphony The Pied Piper was released to theaters. The short is based on the German tale The Pied Piper of Hamelin, which has been written by the likes of the Brothers Grimm and Robert Browning. The short was directed by Wilfred Jackson, and the score was done by Leigh Harline.
The short begins in the German town of Hamelin, which is under an infestation of rats. The people try all sorts of means to rid themselves of the rats, but to no avail, and the rats begin to devour every bit of food they can find. The citizens complain to the mayor, who agrees that they must get rid of the infestation. As he declares that he will give a large sack of gold to anyone who can get rid of the rats, a Pied Piper, who has just strolled into town, takes on the challenge. The mayor promises him the gold, and the Piper begins to play his instrument. The rats, mesmerized by the tune, follow him away from the town, dancing happily.
The Piper takes the rats skipping out of town, thanks to his magic pipe
The people cheer as he sends the rats on their way, and the Piper makes the rats disappear into an illusion of a giant block of cheese. The Piper heads back to Hamelin to collect his gold, and the mayor refuses to pay, since all the Piper did was “pipe a tune.” Angered, he calls the town dishonest and ungrateful, and declares that he will save the children of the town from becoming such horrible adults. The mayor believes him to be bluffing, but the Piper pipes his magic pipe, calling all the children of the town to leave their chores and follow him. Happily, the children follow him, including two babes just brought by the stork. The townspeople watch in horror as the kids are lead away to the mountains, and the Piper leads them to a place for children called Happyland. They disappear into the mountain, never to be heard from again.
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