The Sound Of Music is a 1965 American musical drama produced and directed by Robert Wise. The film is based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. The film’s screenplay is written by Ernest Lehman, adapted from the stage musical’s book.
This cheerful tale surrounds the life of a jolly woman named Maria (Julie Andrews) who’s studying at the Abbey to become a nun. She is then sent to the residence of a retired naval officer, Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) as a governess for seven kids. It’s funny because Maria is never quite shown teaching anything apart from well, music, which clearly isn’t why she is hired. The kids; Liesl (Charmian Carr), Friedrich (Nicholas Hammond), Louisa (Heather Menzies), Kurt (Duane Chase), Brigitta (Angela Cartwright), Marta (Debbie Turner), and lastly Gretl (Kym Karath) are at first quite a menace, more so than regular kids. Despite that, Maria wins them over, thanks to her passion for music and perhaps also because she too is a bit childlike. Maria brings music back into the Von Trapp residence and along the way manages to fall for Georg. And luckily so does he, and they live together happily ever after. Nah, kidding. That’s too easy. Georg happens to be engaged to a Baroness (Eleanor Parker) who might be a great wife but is not exactly a fit mother as she plans to ship the kids off to a boarding school. And when Maria leaves without saying goodbye, the kids as well as Georg realise how incomplete and empty their lives become. And when she does come back, Georg confesses to Maria and they both get married. By this time, the political situation in Austria worsens and the Von Trapp family has to face the repercussions of Georg’s contrasting political stance. But don’t worry they do manage to get out of it.
This film, as you might’ve guessed, has a lot of songs. Sixteen to be exact. But they aren’t just put in because it’s a musical. Well, that too. But each song plays a role in not only introducing the characters but also pushing the plot forward. And although The Sound of Music is very similar to the classic Mary Poppins in terms of colour and theme, it is definitely much more engaging. Costumes are very wisely placed in the film, for instance, Maria starts off with hues of charcoal and taupe but as the story progresses she’s seen wearing vibrant and happy shades of yellow and rouge.
While watching the film, there are times where you feel like you’re watching a Broadway performance. The transitions from theatrical to cinematic are very smooth. The swift change in light and frames helps this transition. The unique camera movements which seemingly walk around with the characters, as well as the static frames, add a significant dramatic value. Just like in a theatre, this film’s camera movement seems to work like a spotlight.
Although the political aspect in this film seems a bit forced, it is still of value. The time period in the film is right before the cusp of Hitler’s reign followed by the holocaust which shouldn’t be forgotten. The fact that seven odd decades ago a tiny fascist tyrant was able to brainwash thousands into killing millions of people is outrageously terrifying. And if you think about it seven decades really isn’t that long ago. Who’s to say it won’t happen again? Maybe even we are at that cusp. Nobody really saw the holocaust coming until it really just hit them in their faces.
Many find films like these pleasing and these often end up earning a special place in their hearts. Some find these films seem over the top and often incredibly twee. And well, they’re not entirely wrong. We can’t possibly sing away our problems. If you start singing my favourite things out loud during times of crisis, the only thing it might gain you is bad stares, swear words, or worse a shoe in the face. Or maybe one of them might even join you. Who knows? Try at your own risk.
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