The Pied Piper (1972): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1972, The Pied Piper is a fantasy and drama film directed by Jacques Demy, running about 90 minutes. “Come children of the universe, let Donovan take you away, far far away.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. 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.

Who’s in it. The Pied Piper stars Donovan as The Pied Piper, Diana Dors as Frau Poppendick, Donald Pleasence as The Baron and Roy Kinnear as Burgermeister Poppendick, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, The Pied Piper has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Criterion Channel and Bloodstream and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Pied Piper page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Pied Piper tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.