The town of Hamelin, plagued by rats, hires a mysterious and magic flutist (Van Johnson) to rid the streets and their homes of rodents. The Piper agrees, on the promise that he'll be paid a fee of 50,000 guilders. But when the mayor (Claude Rains), on the advice of his unscrupulous town council, reneges on his promise of payment, the Piper lures all of Hamelin's children into the mountains. The delightful songs, adapted from the music of Edvard Grieg make this fine family entertainment.