

The Pied Piper
“It's all heart and thrills!”
Synopsis
Englishman Mr. Howard is on a fishing holiday in eastern France when the Germans invade in 1940. Setting off to try and get back home he is persuaded to take along the two Cavanaugh children, and as his journey progresses his family keeps growing in size. Once in German-occupied northern France a new problem arises — the risk of being heard speaking English.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Monty Woolley
John Sidney Howard
Roddy McDowall
Ronnie Cavanaugh
Anne Baxter
Nicole Rougeron
Otto Preminger
Major Diessen
J. Carrol Naish
Aristide Rougeron
Lester Matthews
Mr. Cavanaugh
Jill Esmond
Mrs. Cavanaugh
Ferike Boros
Madame
Peggy Ann Garner
Sheila Cavanaugh
Merrill Rodin
Willem
Maurice Tauzin
Pierre
Fleurette Zama
Rose
William Edmunds
Frenchman
Marcel Dalio
Focquet
Marcelle Corday
Madame Bonne
Odette Myrtil
Madame Rougeron
Jean Del Val
Railroad Official
Rudolph Anders
Lieutenant
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 21, 1942
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Irving Pichel
- Screenplay & Story
- Nunnally Johnson
- Original Score
- Alfred Newman
- Original Title
- The Pied Piper
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, French
- Runtime
- 1h 27m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox, Franco London Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Irving Pichel
Nunnally Johnson, Nevil Shute
Alfred Newman
Edward Cronjager
Allen McNeil
Nunnally Johnson, Darryl F. Zanuck
Department Leadership Roster
Irving Pichel
Director
Nunnally Johnson
Screenplay
Allen McNeil
Editor
Alfred Newman
Original Music Composer
Nunnally Johnson
Producer
Edward Cronjager
Director of Photography
Dolly Tree
Costume Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Pied Piper.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Pied Piper.
War: World War II
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Movies categorized under War
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Best Picture Nominees
Best Picture Nominees (updated 8/6/26)
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Pied Piper
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Pied Piper about?
Englishman Mr. Howard is on a fishing holiday in eastern France when the Germans invade in 1940. Setting off to try and get back home he is persuaded to take along the two Cavanaugh children, and as his journey progresses his family keeps growing in size. Once in German-occupied northern France a new problem arises — the risk of being heard speaking English.
Who directed The Pied Piper?
The Pied Piper was directed by Irving Pichel.
Who stars in The Pied Piper?
The principal cast of The Pied Piper includes Monty Woolley, Roddy McDowall, Anne Baxter, Otto Preminger, J. Carrol Naish.
When was The Pied Piper released and how long is it?
The Pied Piper was released in 1942 with a total runtime of 1h 27m.
Who composed the musical score for The Pied Piper?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Pied Piper was composed by Alfred Newman.
Is The Pied Piper based on a book or true story?
The Pied Piper is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Nevil Shute".
