The Sound of Music
By-
Thrity Dalal
Rating
The Sound of Music is one of the classic musical movies released in 1965 based on the memoir of Maria Von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers published in 1949. I remenber seeing it when I was in school at the Regal Cinema in Mumbai and I was fascinated. It was such a rage in those days that there were people who watched it 10 to 15 times and yet went back for more. Wikipedia informs that by 1966 it had become the highest grossing movie of all times with its box office collection was $286.2 million, won 5 Academy Awards , 2 Golden Globe Awards,….wow. So what was it that made it such a rage, lets find out.
The movie traces the story of the Von Trapp family consisting of Captain Von Trapp and his seven children and Maria, a free spirited woman in Austria in 1938 just before the rise of Hitler and his impact on Austria. It takes you straight into the old world of Austria where charm and beauty reign. Maria is studying to be a nun at the Nonberg Abbey in Salzburg .But due to her free spirit, is sent by the Mother Abbess to be governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp. The Captain is a widower and has raised the chidren is strict military discipline. His entire world turns upside down with Maria’s entry. The rest of the story is how she brings love and music into their lives, how the Captain falls in love with Maria and marries her and how due to the rise of Hitler and his influence on Austria, the freedom loving and hugely patriotic Austrian Captain and his family escape from Austria.
The heart and soul of the movie are its soulful and beautiful songs including the hugely popular “Do Re Mi”, “My Favourite Things” , “Edelweiss”, “Sound of Music”, ” I am sixteen going on Seventeen”….. the list is literally endless.
The movie has an impressive cast lead by THE Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp(who recently passed on in February 2021 at the age of 91) and THE Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp, ably supported by Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood , Eleanor Parker. It is directed by Robert Wise and it is top notch with an outstanding screenplay by Ernest Lehman complimenting it pretty well.
The Sound of Music is a heart warming, feel good movie that will transport you into a world completely different from our so- called modern world. Go watch it and enjoy.
Disclaimer: The above review solely illustrates the views of the writer.