One of the most popular movies of all time and certainly one of the greatest Hollywood musicals, The Sound Of Music was nominated in 1965 for ten Oscars and finally won five- including the Best Picture, Best Director (Robert Wise) and Best Music (Richard Rodgers). The ‘singing’ heroine of the film Julie Andrews lost out in the Oscar race that year, but still such was the magic of this role of hers that it even managed to surpass her Oscar-winning debut role as Mary Poppins (1964). For most movie-lovers, the name ‘Julie Andrews’ only means one thing- ‘the Sound of Music girl- Maria’.

 

Andrews literally carries this film on her shoulders, playing a Tomboyish girl Maria who has this infectious zest and love for music. She first tries unsuccessfully to become a nun but instead is ordered by her superior to become a nanny. In this capacity, she enters Von Trappe family- a gang of seven children, who are practically raised with iron-hand by their widowed father – a naval officer Captain Von Trappe (Christopher Plummer). With her wit, compassion and music, Maria not only manages to endear herself to the children but also wins over the tough (and already engaged!) captain’s heart. Just then, the Nazis invade Austria and the captain- a staunch Austrian patriot soon becomes a target for arrest. How the Von Trappe family, under the guise of giving a musical performance, finally manages to give slip to the Germans and escapes to safety makes for an intriguing climax.

 

Humor, drama, religion, politics and music- this movie uses every element of the story in a telling manner. If its songs like I am Sixteen, My Favourite Things and Do- Re- Mi are plain cute and cuddly candy-floss stuff , then the cinematic portrayal of Maria’s gradually changing relationships and her coming to terms with her own evolution from a carefree young girl into a mature woman is a fascinatingly complex study in human emotions.

 

Based on a Broadway musical by the same name, which in turn was based on the real life story of an Austrian lady Madam Von Trappe, The Sound Of Music is a truly wonderful movie for all times.