The Sound of Music

Released: April 1, 1965

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Genre: musical/romance

Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 163.21 Worldwide: ?

Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: 1397.92 Worldwide: 2884.00

Directing: Robert Wise

Screenwriting: Ernest Lehman

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Peggy Wood

Review:

Music, comedy, romance, and drama “are woven perfectly into this beautiful film” ^VD “adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical,” ^A7 which, in turn, was based on the true story of the von Trapp family. Maria (Andrews) is a restless nun prone to daydreaming and, as seen in the memorable opening, roaming the hills and belting out the title song.

When it becomes clear the Abbey isn’t for her, she’s assigned as the governess to the von Trapp family. The seven children, ages 5 to 16, “have a well-deserved reputation for scaring off caretakers, but Maria wins them over” ^FS with their shared love of music through songs like “Do-Re-Mi” and “My Favorite Things,” which became iconic because of the movie.

It takes a bit more effort, but she also warms the heart of their stern, widowed father, Captain von Trapp (Plummer). Their blossoming romance, however, is overshadowed by the impending threat of Nazi occupation in their native Austria. Maria and the von Trapps have to find a way to escape before their country is invaded.

Sources:

^A7 American Film Institute (2007). “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition”
^FS Filmsite.org “100 Greatest Films”
^VD Video Detective (1997). “Top 100 Films of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists:

Dave’s Movie Database Lists:

Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists:

Box Office:

Oscars:

Wins: 5 – including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Adapted Score, Best Film Editing

Nominations: 10 – including Best Actress (Andrews), Best Supporting Actress (Wood), Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Color Costume Design