Synopsis of Movie

"The hills are alive, with the sound of music..."

Thus begins the most successful movie musical of all time, as the camera closes in on Maria twirling on a mountain top, singing her signature tune as she revels in the beauty of the Alps.

The Sound of Music debuted in 1965, but its legacy and popularity have endured to the present day. The film was based on the real-life story of the singing Von Trapp family, who fled Austria during World War II and came to America. Known as the Von Trapp Family Singers, they made their living touring and performing across the country. Their story was made into a musical, scored by the legendary duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The success of the musical led to the creation of a film version, and The Sound of Music hit theaters in 1965.

Maria is a young nun at Salzburg Abbey who seems more interested in enjoying the wonders of nature than her religious duties. Recognizing that Maria is a free spirit and not cut out to be a nun, the Abbess sends her to be the latest in a long line of governesses at the home of Captain Von Trapp. The Captain, still grieving over the loss of his beloved wife, treats his seven children as if they were soldiers in his command. When Maria arrives, she is stunned by his treatment of them (he even has a special whistle command to summon each child), and she tries to invest some joy into their lives by teaching them how to sing.

At first the Captain is enraged that Maria takes his children gallivanting around the city and the mountains singing songs, climbing trees and wearing clothes made out of green curtains. But eventually the Captain softens towards Maria when he sees how she has made his children so happy. Maria, however, feels that she is no longer needed by the Von Trapp family, as the Captain has become engaged to the wealthy Baroness.

But the children do not like the icy Baroness and do not want to lose their governess. The Von Trapps are also in danger of losing their father, because the Nazis want him to fight in their military against his wishes. Somehow, Maria and the Captain must reconcile their feelings for each other and find a way to keep the Von Trapp family safe and together.

Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote several memorable songs for the Von Trapps to sing, including "Do Re Mi," "My Favorite Things," "The Lonely Goatherd" and "Edelweiss." Children of all ages learned (and still know) these songs, and they are a major reason for the film's continued popularity. The Sound of Music was an international commercial success, also garnering five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Movie Release History

1965 - The Sound of Music

Movie Sub Categories

live-action
drama
musical

Movie Studio

20th Century Fox

Cast

Maria Julie Andrews
Captain von Trapp Christopher Plummer
The Baroness   Eleanor Parker
Max Detweiler  Richard Haydn
Mother Abbess   Peggy Wood
Liesl von Trapp   Charmian Carr
Louisa von Trapp  Heather Menzies
Friedrich von Trapp   Nicholas Hammond
Kurt von Trapp   Duane Chase
Brigitta von Trapp   Angela Cartwright
Marta von Trapp   Debbie Turner
Gretl von Trapp   Kym Karath
Sister Margaretta   Anna Lee
Sister Berthe  Portia Nelson
Herr Zeller   Ben Wright
Rolfe   Daniel Truhitte
Frau Schmidt   Norma Varden
Franz  Gilchrist Stuart
Sister Sophia   Marni Nixon
Sister Bernice   Evadne Baker
Baroness Ebberfeld   Doris Lloyd
Captain von Trapp (singing voice)   Bill Lee
Extra  Maria von Trapp

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