The Sound of Music

"Oh, there's nothing wrong with the children. Only the governesses."

Austria prior to WWII. Maria (Andrews) lives in a convent, but the Mother Abbess (Wood) and the other Sister Superiors feel that she is not ready to be a nun, so they send her to the von Trapp household as their governess. Capt. von Trapp (Plummer) has seven children who have gone through multiple governesses, even though he has them trained to report like Navy soldiers. Liesl (Carr) is the oldest and not interested in a governess, she is more interested in Rolfe (Truhitte) the paperboy she flirts with. The children enjoy tormenting their governesses until they quit, leaving little gifts such as live animals in their clothing and pine cones on their chairs.

Despite the odds Maria manages to win over the children and shares her love of music and life with them in preparation for the surprise their father is bringing home: his girlfriend. With friend Max (Haydn) and Elsa (Parker) in tow, the Capt. learns what family truly means.

Ok, so it's not the best summary of the film...but really, are their people who have never seen this film? I grew up watching it because my mom loves Julie Andrews...and I love R&H musicals. The Sound of Music, while not my favorite R&H or even my favorite musical, holds a special place in my heart and has proven time and again it's lasting power since it is still regularly shown on television. The story is based (loosely) on the real von Trapp family, and if you buy the 40th Anniversary DVD they talk about the family (and there are also books written about them). Regardless we will always sing about our "Favorite Things", wish we could play with a huge puppet theater, try to learn the dances, and feel the power of the final scene (despite the "wind" from the helicopter the camera was in)...and will we still "Climb Every Mountain" until we find our dreams!!

The Sound of Music (1965) 174 minutes

Director: Robert Wise

based on the stage musical by Rogers & Hammerstein

Starring: Julie Andrews as Maria

Christopher Plummer as Capt. Georg von Trapp

Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler

Peggy Wood as Mother Abbess
Ben Wright as Herr Zeller
Daniel Truhitte as Rolfe
Charmian Carr as Liesl von Trapp

Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich von Trapp

Heather Menzies as Louisa von Trapp

Duane Chas as Kurt von Trapp

Angela Cartwright as Brigitta von Trapp

Debbie Turner as Marta von Trapp

Kym Karath as Gretl von Trapp

Eleanor Parker as Baroness Elsa Schraeder