MPAA rating: G.
Run time: 174 minutes.
Click on thumbnails below for larger images:
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The Sound Of Music |
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MPAA rating: G. Run time: 174 minutes. Click on thumbnails below for larger images:
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Synopsis "Maria, a postulant in a Salzburg Abbey, is distracted from her religious duties by the majestic Alpine landscape and her restless, passionate spirit. The Mother Abbess, believing that Maria's buoyant personality may be incompatible with monastic life, wisely sends her away to discover her true calling. 
Maria is to be the governess for the von Trapp family -- a brood of seven children helmed by Captain von Trapp, a widowed naval officer who educates his children with military discipline. While the children behave well before their father, once out of his sight they are incorrigible pranksters, determined to make their governess miserable. Maria quickly learns that she is merely the latest in a long line of governesses scared away by the children's antics. 
Ignoring the Captain's prescriptions for stern child-raising, Maria wins the children over with her natural warmth and kindness. She fashions them clothes from curtain cloth, takes them for picnics in the glorious Alpine countryside, teaches them to sing -- and they respond to her care with happiness and laughter. 
Together, Maria and the children stage a puppet show to entertain the Captain and his guests. Usually serious, even the Captain is charmed by Maria's contagious personality. Several nights later, the children sing at a dinner party given by the Captain to introduce his friends to his love interest, the Baroness Schraeder. Later in the party, the Captain and Maria perform an Austrian folk dance -- "the Laendler" -- as they look into each others eyes -- they realize they have fallen in love. That night, under the pretext of helping Maria, the Baroness encourages her to leave the Trapp villa. Confused by her new emotions, Maria returns to the Abbey. 
Though the Baroness tries to win the children's affections, they are inconsolable without Maria. They are further depressed by the announcement that the Captain will marry the Baroness. At the same time, Maria confesses her love for the Captain to the Mother Abbess, who encourages her to "climb every mountain" to find her true love. Maria returns to the Trapp villa but is devastated to learn of the Captain's impending marriage. The Baroness, finally unable to deny the Captain's true feelings, gracefully bows out. Now both free, the Captain and Maria make plans to marry. 
While the Captain and Maria are on their honeymoon, the Anschluss takes place and the Nazis occupy Austria. Max Detweiler, a kindly uncle figure, has entered the children in the Salzburg Festival. The Captain returns to find he has been called into military service by the German army. Appalled by the Nazis, he plots an escape and the family packs hastily. While fleeing the Trapp villa, the family is spotted by storm troopers. They explain that they are merely on the way to perform at the local Salzburg festival. The family appears and sings under the watchful eye of the Nazis, planning to flee after the final number, "So Long, Farewell." The Nazis discover their plans, and the von Trapps make a dramatic escape, hiding in the Abbey before escaping to freedom. Slowly, the family makes its way up the mountain into the emerging dawn -- a symbol of their new life of freedom and the importance of staying true to your ideals." 
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Commentary I was introduced to this movie by my mother (it is also one of her favorites). It is a wonderful love story, great comedy and it is a terrific musical filled with beautiful, recognizable songs. Most of the songs are exquisitely performed by Julie Andrews. The Austrian scenery is also a treat for your eyes. This film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 5, including Best Picture. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie! |
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Eleanor Parker -- The Baroness 
Peggy Wood -- Mother Abbess 
Nicholas Hammond -- Friedrich 
Heather Menzies -- Louisa 
Debbie Turner -- Marta 
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Richard Haydn -- Max Detweiler 
Charmian Carr -- Liesl 
Angela Cartwright -- Brigitta 
Duane Chase -- Kurt 
Kym Karath -- Gretl 
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Crew Distributed by: Twentieth Century Fox Director: Robert Wise Producer: Robert Wise & Boris Leven Screenwriter: Ernest Lehman Associate Producer: Saul Chaplin Choreographer: Dee Dee Wood Cinematographer: Ted McCord Composer: Richard Rodgers & Irwin Kostal Costume Designer: Dorothy Jeakins Editor: William H. Reynolds Set Designer: Walter M. Scott Special Effects: L.B. Abbott & Emil Jr. Kosa |
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Awards Academy Awards - 1965 Best Picture Best Sound - Fred Hynes & James P. Corcoran Best Score - Irwin Kostal Best Editing - William H. Reynolds Best Director - Robert Wise Best Actress - Julie Andrews (Nominated) Best Art Direction - Boris Leven, Walter M. Scott (Nominated) Best Cinematography - Ted D. McCord (Nominated) Best Costume Design - Dorothy Jeakins (Nominated) Best Art Direction - Ruby R. Levitt (Nominated) Best Supporting Actress - Peggy Wood (Nominated) Directors Guild of America - 1965 Best Director - Robert Wise (Nominated) Golden Globe - 1966 Best Film Best Actress (in Musical/Comedy) - Julie Andrews National Board of Review of Motion Pict - 1965 Nominated as one of year's 10 Best Films New York Film Critics Circle - 1965 Category Nominee Win/Nominated Best Actress - Julie Andrews (Nominated) American Film Institute - 1998 Chosen as one of the 100 Greatest American Movies |
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Credits Information gathered from numerous websites including: www.yahoo.movies.com www.romanticmovies.about.com www.allmoviephoto.com www.imdb.com www.foxhome.com/soundofmusic/som.html |