The Sound of Music (film)
"The Sound of Music" is a classic musical film released by Twentieth Century Fox, based loosely on the true story of the Von Trapp family in Austria. The story follows Maria, played by Julie Andrews, a spirited young novice who is deemed unsuitable for convent life and is sent to be a governess for the seven children of Captain Georg Von Trapp, portrayed by Christopher Plummer. Despite initial challenges in winning over the children and the strict Captain, Maria's charm and warmth foster a deep bond with the family, ultimately leading to a romantic relationship with the Captain.
As their love story unfolds against the backdrop of Austria's annexation by the Nazis, the film showcases the family's daring escape from oppression. "The Sound of Music" features memorable songs such as "Do-Re-Mi," "My Favorite Things," and the titular "The Sound of Music," contributing to its status as a cultural phenomenon. While it has faced criticism for being historically inaccurate and emotionally manipulative, the film’s enduring appeal lies in its uplifting themes of love and resilience. It is widely regarded as one of the finest musical adaptations, reflecting the success of the Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration. The film continues to resonate with audiences, celebrated for its music, storytelling, and heartwarming messages.
The Sound of Music (film)
Released 1965
Director Robert Wise
One of the most successful, profitable, and popular motion picture musicals ever produced. The film made $79 million on a budget of $8.2 million and, in 1965, was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five, including awards for Best Picture and Best Director.
Key Figures
Robert Wise (1914-2005), film director
The Work
The Sound of Music is based loosely on the true story of the Austrian Von Trapp family. In the film, the young novice, Maria (Julie Andrews), is training to become a nun at an Austrian abbey but is obviously unsuited to a life of quiet obedience. She is persuaded by the Mother Abbess (Peggy Wood) to leave the convent and take a job as governess to the children of the widowed Austrian navy captain, Baron Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). The seven Von Trapp children have managed to drive away several previous governesses, but Maria wins them over with her charm, common sense, and good humor. At first, the authoritarian Von Trapp, who calls his children by blowing a whistle, is skeptical of Maria’s methods; but eventually, her charm wins him over, and he realizes that he is in love with her and not with his baroness fiance (Eleanor Parker). The baroness scares Maria at first and sends her running back to the abbey in alarm, but Maria realizes that she is in love with Von Trapp and returns to marry him. Immediately following their wedding, the Nazis invade Austria and annex it, and the baron is under pressure to serve the Third Reich. With the aid of the baron’s friend, Max Detweiler (Richard Haydn), who is in charge of the acts at the Salzburg Folk Festival, and the nuns of Maria’s former abbey, the Von Trapps escape the Nazis and flee Austria.
Impact
The Sound of Music was an enormous financial success for Twentieth Century Fox, exceeding all expectations. The film achieved a permanent place in popular culture with such songs as “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” and the title song, “The Sound of Music.” It is perhaps the best film of a musical by the composer team Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II not only because of its remarkable box-office earnings but also because of its success in converting a musical stage production into a film. Two criticisms of the film are that it is historically inaccurate and emotionally manipulative, but its feel-good lyrics and sense of wholesomeness have made it a classic among musical films.
Related Work
Director Wise’s first successful and critically acclaimed motion picture musical, West Side Story (1961), which he codirected with Jerome Robbins and for which they received the Academy Award for Best Director, prepared him for the making of The Sound of Music. Like The Sound of Music, this film also won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Additional Information
For a detailed description of the history and filming of The Sound of Music, see the sections on the film in Rodgers and Hammerstein (1992), by Ethan Mordden, and Oscar A to Z (1995), by Charles Matthews.