60 years after its preliminary launch, The Sound of Music stays an enthralling consolation watch that’s as related as ever. Debuting in theaters in 1965, the beloved musical follows Maria (Julie Andrews) as she falls in love with curmudgeonly naval Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). This leads her to place apart her dream of changing into a nun.
Maybe much more than the Captain, although, Maria falls in love along with his seven kids and reignites a love of music and enjoyable in them that died with their late mom.
The Sound of Music acquired combined evaluations when it was launched, with some critics discovering it corny and too candy. Nonetheless, time has been lots kinder to the film; it gained 5 Academy Awards, and, for a number of years, it was the highest-grossing movie of all time.
As is the case with many older films, nostalgia definitely performs a task in how The Sound of Music is seen now. Rising up, each the film and soundtrack have been in fixed rotation at my home, and whilst an grownup, I watch the movie at the least annually.
Each time, I’m impressed by simply how nicely it holds up. With The Sound of Music at the moment in theaters for its sixtieth anniversary, it’s an incredible alternative to revisit it or maybe watch it for the primary time.
The Sound Of Music Boasts Dynamic Characters & Performances
Of all The Sound of Music‘s characters, Maria is the most-revered, due to an absurdly charming efficiency by Andrews, contemporary off her flip as Mary Poppins.
In one other actor’s arms, Maria may very well be over-the-top, however Andrews provides her a beautiful depth, significantly as she wrestles together with her emotions for the Captain. Her present for bodily comedy shouldn’t be neglected, both, and that’s to say nothing of her once-in-a-generation voice.
Whereas Plummer wasn’t shy about his dislike for The Sound of Music early on, it doesn’t cease him from giving a successful efficiency. Whereas the Captain is harsh at first, Plummer fully sells his transformation as Maria brings out his softer aspect. The change feels plausible and earned as an alternative of jarring.
The nuns aren’t simply boring rule followers, and even the Baroness is way extra complicated than a romantic impediment or evil stepmother is often allowed to be.
Admirably, The Sound of Music eschews stereotypes for its supporting characters. The youngsters are humorous and charming, every with their very own character. The nuns aren’t simply boring rule followers, and even the Baroness is way extra complicated than a romantic impediment or evil stepmother is often allowed to be.
Stunning Surroundings & Music Make For A Fully Engrossing Expertise
A lot of The Sound of Music was filmed in Austria, the place the real-life von Trapp household lived throughout the occasions depicted within the film. Director Robert Clever takes full benefit of the placement, showcasing the gorgeous mountains within the film’s iconic opening sequence.
The scenes on the von Trapp home are a deal with as nicely, with the house’s grandeur successfully dwarfing Maria when she first arrives.
In fact, the music contributes to simply how watchable the film is as nicely. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s spectacularly catchy songs really feel very lived-in, a pure extension of the story and the right option to evoke the characters’ feelings.
The Sound Of Music Holds Up Thanks To Its Timeless Themes
Maybe the largest motive The Sound of Music stays common to this present day is that its themes are as related as ever. The politics of the film are sadly nonetheless in play, even a long time later. Nonetheless, lots of its different themes are common as nicely: grief, coming-of-age, romance, and extra.
If the film has a damaging, it’s that, with a runtime of 174 minutes, the story can’t assist however drag a bit, particularly close to the tip. On the entire, although, the whole lot else The Sound of Music has going for it far outweighs any flaws. It’s an enormously pleasurable watch that I’m certain I’ll proceed to revisit within the years to return.
The Sound of Music, remastered in 4K, is in theaters from Friday, September 12 to Wednesday, September 17. Showtimes can be found at Fathom Leisure.
The Sound of Music
9/10
- Launch Date
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March 2, 1965
- Runtime
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174 minutes
- Director
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Robert Clever
- Writers
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Ernest Lehman, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse