The Sound of Music (1965)

Rating: 8.7/10

"The Von Trapp children don't play. They march."

The ULTIMATE feel-good family-movie!

How can anyone review a masterpiece such as this film?!? Not only this film is the ultimate classic, it surpasses anyone's expectations when we look at today's musicals.

'The Sound of Music':

The story involves some nuns, a governess, a captain, some Nazis and a large family of kids that sings and dances. Pretty straightforward story: "A young woman trained to be a novice, leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the seven children of a Naval officer widower." (www.imdb.com)

I'm sure there's plenty of governesses stories out there, although this one is slightly different. There is indeed a lot of singing involved and quite a bit of dancing, as there is a lot of pranks and heartfelt performances. This film is a special treat for the whole family, because it takes you step by step into this gloomy household and its transformation into a house of laughter and singing. Imagine a more mature Mary Poppins type of film.

The newly-Academy-awarded Christopher Plummer and the always astounding Julie Andrews give a bedazzling performance and really pour their heart and soul into bringing their characters to life. Although rumours may suggest what a struggle it had been for Plummer to really connect with his character, having to do all that singing, he found it a sheer joy to be pummeled day in and day out with the passion and the stamina of Andrews. Their on-screen chemistry as master and governess at the beginning and their growing likeness towards each other as the film progresses really give the audience feel at ease and  joyful to watch this on-screen couple. Both actors apply the performing girth into full gear, especially when it came to their vocal numbers they leave one breathless with their heartfelt emotion that they put into their songs.

Of course the key ingredient in all of this is the music, and the children. Nothing would have been made possible without these two elements. A combination that truly makes any family member involved. Each vocal number for the children was definitely a challenge but all seven of them did a superb job with both their hilarious acting as well as their singing. Considering that for some of these kids, this film was their debut into the acting world, one can't help but admire their fantastic energy and enthusiasm that they bring in this film. But like I mentioned before, nothing also would not be the same without the exquisite original music score of Irwin Kostal, who has the audience still singing the songs of the film forty-seven years after its making. What a wonderful achievement that must be for a music composer.

This film would be suggested mostly for the families, the people who love musicals and singing in general, but I would recommend it to people who enjoy a good performance, a good subtle story of an estranged family and people who like to relish on classic cinematography. I mean look, the shot of having Julie Andrews at the beginning of the film singing in the Austrian mountains (which I've checked it's quite real I guarantee you) is one of the most unique shots in all of cinema history, and that's not an exaggeration. I mean beat that today, without any visual effects and CGI. Very few can!

This film is full of heart and soul, and above all some exquisite, original, authentic music!

Enjoy the VonTrapp family my lovely cinema-goers!


The Sound of Music (1965)