The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music, motion picture about a religious young governess who brings music and happiness to a widower’s large family, set in Austria during World War II (1939-1945). Released in 1965, this box-office hit earned Academy Awards for best picture, best director, best film editing, best sound, and best musical score. Julie Andrews stars as Maria, the governess who takes a job in Captain Von Trapp’s (played by Christopher Plummer) household caring for his seven children. Maria teaches the children to sing, and she and the captain begin to fall in love. When the Germans invade Austria, Von Trapp and his family flee the country. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the songs, including 'Do Re Mi' and 'My Favorite Things.'

Director

Robert Wise

Cast

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

Awards

Academy Award for Best Picture (1965) Academy Award for Best Director (1965): Robert Wise Academy Award for Best Film Editing (1965): William H. Reynolds Academy Award for Best Music—Scoring of Music Adaptation or Treatment (1965): Irwin Kostal Academy Award for Best Sound (1965): James P. Corcoran (20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department), Fred Hynes (Todd-AO Sound Department) Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture—Musical/Comedy (1966) Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture—Musical/Comedy (1966): Julie Andrews

Quotes

Maria (to Captain Von Trapp, when she meets him for the first time): “You don’t look at all like a sea captain, sir.” Von Trapp: “You don’t look like a governess.”

Housekeeper Frau Schmidt (to Maria): “The Von Trapp children don’t play. They march.”