Review of The Sound of Music (1965) by Seth Y — 21 Dec 2013

Thanks to excellent acting and catchy songs, The Sound of Music remains one of the all-time classic films.

Maria (Julie Andrews) is a young nun in Austria who doesn't quite fit in with the rest of them. She's late to prayers and frequently goes missing from the convent because she enjoys going to the hills to sing. Deciding that Maria needs to learn about the real world before taking her vows, the Mother Superior (Peggy Wood), sends her off to the mansion of Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). She is being assigned to serve as governess for the widowed captain's seven children. At first, both the captain and his children don't take kindly to Maria, knowing that she is the latest in a long line of failed governesses. However, after she incorporates music into the household, they slowly start to warm up to her. Meanwhile, as Nazis begin their march into Austria, Captain Von Trapp wants nothing to do with it and begins making plans to remove himself and his family out of Austria.

There's no doubt The Sound of Music is one of the most popular films of all-time, and it completely deserves to be. What can you say about Julie Andrews? She's one of the most beloved actresses to ever live and there's nobody that could criticize her performance here. Complimenting her perfectly is Christopher Plummer, who fits perfectly into the role of Captain Von Trapp. The seven young actors featured as the Von Trapp children are terrific; resulting in what is probably the most famous instance of child acting in cinematic history. Casting directors should always refer to this film....everyone is perfect.

You don't have to be a musical sap to enjoy The Sound of Music. In fact, I usually stray away from the genre. However, this film is so much more. Yes, the songs are catchy and well-written, but beneath all that is fantastic story that incorporates serious political history. This movie is as popular as ever all these years later, and I imagine it will stand the test of time and always be a significant film. The Sound of Music is one of the few "must see" movies for any fan of cinema. 5 stars.