The Sound of Music has been my favorite movie for my whole life (I’m 47). I went to see it twice this week and so glad I did. I can never fail to stifle a sob during the Do-Re-Mi sequence, and when I took 4 of my 6 children to see it on Friday night, the entire theater (which was also a small showing, perhaps 25 people) burst into applause at the end of both Do-Re-Mi as well as the end of the film. (When I went a second time last night, no one save myself applauded.)
There is so much I love about this film, I can’t even enumerate it all. One of my favorite scenes and which is soooo striking on the big screen is when the nuns are praying in their chapel in the second scene of the film (after Maria is introduced singing on the mountain). The way the camera lingers on several of their faces, lost in contemplation, and juxtaposes the peace of these living women with the hundreds of years old architecture of their chapel is breathtaking to me. Juxtaposing it with Maria singing about finding art (and God himself) in creation is a stroke of genius because as you point out, it is part of the harmonious coexistence of civilization and creation, something we are broadly letting go of now. (I do think this can still be found in places like monasteries.)
I honestly could go on and on and wish I could go again tonight (last night of the limited engagement, at least in my city), but alas I have a commitment.
I was THRILLED to see that you had written about The Sound of Music when I opened my email this morning, Henry!
“…as the von Trapps escape over the mountains…” Heading straight for Berchtesgaden. It’s a good thing that, in real life, they left by train. Fun fact: the producers wanted to film inside Schloss Leopoldskron but didn’t get permission. So they built a replica of the ballroom instead.
I was only 5 years old when this film came out, and I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen in its debut run. I remember the experience vividly. Unlike your recent experience, the theater was packed. I had the opportunity to see it on the big screen again in 1990, and I've seen it countless times on various DVD releases and on television. I also saw several Broadway and off-Broadway productions of the musical. Suffice it to say, it's one of my all-time favorite films.
When I first saw it, I had thought the film was going to be "just a musical". I never expected such a lovely, endearing story or an absorbing drama set against vast historical (and historic) spaces. It was a moving, joyful, and suspenseful cinematic experience, offering up wonderful performances and one of the greatest musical scores of all time.
This is a marvellous piece Henry on the importance of re-visiting classics - be they films or books. You have come up with some interesting ideas that I had not thought about before and I must have wtached the film and seen the stage show literally 20 times!!
I’d never really thought about this film with any attention to these themes (I’ve enjoyed it but perhaps never thought much about it at all), but it’s how I feel about It’s A Wonderful Life. Similarly an older ethic is being threatened and while the new one is portrayed as pretty evidently pernicious, it’s hard not to ask if the old one ought to be preserved outright. But as you say, we can value and try to preserve (or even revive!) aspects of the old ways and still make space for them to continue to adapt. You don’t need to be a conservative to think that art and music and culture are important aspects of the human experience. To me, “conservative” means wanting to preserve tradition just because its tradition, ie. safe and familiar. Casting a reflective eye on traditions and thinking about which are valuable, which just harmful, and which in need of reworking is crucial to progress. Anyway thanks for the wonderful essay!
This is a lovely, deeply moving post. And so true that a way of thinking and life can be lost so quickly, it's happening in many parts of the world. Desperately hoping there's a theatrical release in my country!
I much prefer Rodgers and Hart's songs to those Rodgers wrote with Hammerstein, but I admit there's a drama and charm to The Sound of Music even if, to quote Oscar, the corn is as high as elephant's eye.
I’ll never forget watching The Sound of Music as a young girl and being delighted at the clothes Maria makes from the curtains…my mother then telling me that her mother would have been able to do the same thing for her and her five siblings (and often did make their sharp, matched Sunday best). Resourceful practicality and a beautiful attention to detail used to coexist! Oh, how I’ve longed for a return. Alas, I can only do so in my micro-environment, which will have to be enough :)
Bravo!!! The Trapps were principled people who would not collaborate with barbarism. And they were very fine musicians as well!!!
My nonna was an extra in the wedding scene!
omg amazing
The Sound of Music has been my favorite movie for my whole life (I’m 47). I went to see it twice this week and so glad I did. I can never fail to stifle a sob during the Do-Re-Mi sequence, and when I took 4 of my 6 children to see it on Friday night, the entire theater (which was also a small showing, perhaps 25 people) burst into applause at the end of both Do-Re-Mi as well as the end of the film. (When I went a second time last night, no one save myself applauded.)
There is so much I love about this film, I can’t even enumerate it all. One of my favorite scenes and which is soooo striking on the big screen is when the nuns are praying in their chapel in the second scene of the film (after Maria is introduced singing on the mountain). The way the camera lingers on several of their faces, lost in contemplation, and juxtaposes the peace of these living women with the hundreds of years old architecture of their chapel is breathtaking to me. Juxtaposing it with Maria singing about finding art (and God himself) in creation is a stroke of genius because as you point out, it is part of the harmonious coexistence of civilization and creation, something we are broadly letting go of now. (I do think this can still be found in places like monasteries.)
I honestly could go on and on and wish I could go again tonight (last night of the limited engagement, at least in my city), but alas I have a commitment.
I was THRILLED to see that you had written about The Sound of Music when I opened my email this morning, Henry!
“…as the von Trapps escape over the mountains…” Heading straight for Berchtesgaden. It’s a good thing that, in real life, they left by train. Fun fact: the producers wanted to film inside Schloss Leopoldskron but didn’t get permission. So they built a replica of the ballroom instead.
Thank you for this wonderful essay.
I was only 5 years old when this film came out, and I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen in its debut run. I remember the experience vividly. Unlike your recent experience, the theater was packed. I had the opportunity to see it on the big screen again in 1990, and I've seen it countless times on various DVD releases and on television. I also saw several Broadway and off-Broadway productions of the musical. Suffice it to say, it's one of my all-time favorite films.
When I first saw it, I had thought the film was going to be "just a musical". I never expected such a lovely, endearing story or an absorbing drama set against vast historical (and historic) spaces. It was a moving, joyful, and suspenseful cinematic experience, offering up wonderful performances and one of the greatest musical scores of all time.
Thank you. I had no idea it was coming back to cinemas! Searching now for a showing here in London...
Yay go see!!
I'm happy to report that, despite moans about being dragged to to the Everyman in Walton, my teen sons *loved* it :) Thank you again!
I heard that Plummer referred to the film as "The Sound of Mucus"
He recanted in later life though
Thank goodness because he was blessed to be part of this
This is a marvellous piece Henry on the importance of re-visiting classics - be they films or books. You have come up with some interesting ideas that I had not thought about before and I must have wtached the film and seen the stage show literally 20 times!!
Is the Baroness really a closet Nazi? I can’t believe I’d never noticed.
I was surprised by this assertion too but his other piece makes a compelling argument!
Ooooh yes
I always felt she was much misunderstood.
I’d never really thought about this film with any attention to these themes (I’ve enjoyed it but perhaps never thought much about it at all), but it’s how I feel about It’s A Wonderful Life. Similarly an older ethic is being threatened and while the new one is portrayed as pretty evidently pernicious, it’s hard not to ask if the old one ought to be preserved outright. But as you say, we can value and try to preserve (or even revive!) aspects of the old ways and still make space for them to continue to adapt. You don’t need to be a conservative to think that art and music and culture are important aspects of the human experience. To me, “conservative” means wanting to preserve tradition just because its tradition, ie. safe and familiar. Casting a reflective eye on traditions and thinking about which are valuable, which just harmful, and which in need of reworking is crucial to progress. Anyway thanks for the wonderful essay!
Excellent post and perspectives. All in all, I love this movie so much.
This is a lovely, deeply moving post. And so true that a way of thinking and life can be lost so quickly, it's happening in many parts of the world. Desperately hoping there's a theatrical release in my country!
https://open.substack.com/pub/christinamigonebenfield/p/the-sound-of-english?r=47awag&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
La Novicia Rebelde! I had no idea this was what it was called in Spanish! Thank you for posting!
I much prefer Rodgers and Hart's songs to those Rodgers wrote with Hammerstein, but I admit there's a drama and charm to The Sound of Music even if, to quote Oscar, the corn is as high as elephant's eye.
Thank you for this piece. I also love this film— it feels like a sanctuary from our current world. I will take it as inspiration, as you suggest!
I’ll never forget watching The Sound of Music as a young girl and being delighted at the clothes Maria makes from the curtains…my mother then telling me that her mother would have been able to do the same thing for her and her five siblings (and often did make their sharp, matched Sunday best). Resourceful practicality and a beautiful attention to detail used to coexist! Oh, how I’ve longed for a return. Alas, I can only do so in my micro-environment, which will have to be enough :)