The Sound of Music (1965)
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A free-spirited young woman becomes a governess to seven children in the Austrian Alps, leading to a journey of music and escape.
The story
In 1938 in Salzburg, Maria, a free-spirited young woman studying to become a nun, is sent to the villa of retired naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp to serve as a governess to his seven children. The Captain, who has been raising his children with strict military discipline following their mother's death, initially finds the children difficult to manage. However, Maria's patient and kind approach wins the children's trust. As the children begin to flourish under her care, the bond between the family members strengthens, even as the political climate of Austria begins to shift toward the looming threat of the Anschluss.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1938 Salzburg, Maria, a novice at Nonnberg Abbey, is sent to become a governess for the seven children of Captain Georg von Trapp. While the Captain maintains a strict, military-like household, Maria introduces music and kindness, winning over the children. The plot follows their growing bond, the Captain's realization of his feelings for Maria, and their eventual marriage. Following their wedding, the family learns of the Anschluss and the Captain's order to join the German Navy. To escape the Nazis, the family stages a ruse, pretending to be heading to the Salzburg Festival. They are eventually hidden at the abbey and, with the help of the nuns, escape across the border into Switzerland to safety.
- First release year
- 1965
- Runtime (minutes)
- 174
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Wise
- Writers
- Ernest Lehman · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Julie Andrews · Maria; Christopher Plummer · Captain Georg von Trapp; Richard Haydn; Peggy Wood; Charmian Carr; Eleanor Parker
- Genres
- musical; drama
- Themes
- family; faith; escape
- Tone and mood
- romantic; whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; musical; biographical
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1959 stage musical; 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers
- Reception
- The film was a major commercial success and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, despite initially receiving mixed reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 83% · scale: percentage · review count: 78; Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 11
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · Win; Academy Award · Best Director · Win; Golden Globe Award · Best Motion Picture · Win; Golden Globe Award · Best Actress · Win; Directors Guild of America Award · Outstanding Directorial Achievement · Win; Writers Guild of America Award · Best Written American Musical · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was the first to gross over $100 million.; The soundtrack was one of the most successful in history, selling over 20 million copies.; The film was the first American film to be completely dubbed in a foreign language.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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