The Sound of Music

About The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical drama film produced and directed by Robert Wise, with script by Ernest Lehman. The film is an adaptation of the 1959 stage musical of the same name, composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The film's screenplay was written by Ernest Lehman, adapted from the stage musical's book by Lindsay and Crouse. The plot is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.

Set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, the film centers around Maria, a woman who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the seven children of a widower and naval officer with a stern demeanor, Captain von Trapp. Her kindness, understanding, and love of music eventually soften the Captain's heart and they fall in love. The family's bliss is short-lived when the Nazis annex Austria and they have to make a daring escape.

Making / Production

20th Century Fox bought the film rights to the stage musical for $1.25 million. Filming of The Sound of Music began in 1964 and it was shot on location in Salzburg, Austria, and the state of Bavaria in West Germany, as well as at the 20th Century Fox Studios in California. The Sound of Music had a budget of $8.2 million and made over $286 million at the box office.

Actors

• Julie Andrews as Maria: She perfectly embodied the character's warmth and buoyancy and showcased her impressive vocal talents.
• Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp: He added a stoic and stern demeanor to his character, which contrasted and yet complemented Maria's lively spirit.
• Eleanor Parker as The Baroness: She portrayed a sophisticated and worldly woman vying for the Captain's affections.
• Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler: He played the comedic role of the musical promoter and family friend with aplomb.
• The von Trapp children: Charmian Carr, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, Kym Karath played the Captain's seven children and made audiences worldwide fall in love with them.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The gazebo scenes in the movie had to be shot at a studio in Hollywood because it was too small to accommodate the crew.
• The children fell into the water in the boat scene because the boat was purposely capsized by the crew for a more authentic reaction.
• The youngest actress, Kym Karath, couldn't swim and was terrified during the filming of the boat scene.

Awards

The Sound of Music was a major critical and commercial success and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Quotes

• "The hills are alive with the sound of music..."
• "I go to the hills when my heart is lonely. I know I will hear what I've heard before."
• "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window."

Music, Soundtrack

• "The Sound of Music"
• "My Favorite Things"
• "Do-Re-Mi"
• "Sixteen Going on Seventeen"
• "Something Good"
• "Climb Ev'ry Mountain"