How do you solve a problem like maria? (The Sound Of Music (40th Anniversary Collector's Edition, 2 DVDs))

Member Name: lizkempo

Product:	The Sound Of Music (40th Anniversary Collector's Edition, 2 DVDs)
Date:	30/10/06 (1133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great fun film!

Disadvantages: Very dated and over watched!

The Sound of Music, 1965, Running Time 174 mins, Rating U.

This was a huge favourite of mine when I was a child I must have seen this movie about 100 times, recently I have been watching 'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?' Andrew Lloyd Webbers attempt at reality TV.
The show was created to help him find the actress who would go on to Play Maria Von Trapp in his West End stage show 'The Sound of Music'

After to watching this how I decided it was time to re-watch the movie so I dug out my copy and got ready for a night of reminiscing.

The Story:

The basic story is about a trainee nun called Maria who loses her way and in an attempt to help her find herself is sent away from the Abbey to the home of Captain Von Trapp to be a governess for his seven children.
On arrival Maria is shocked by the Captains regimental treatment of his children ranging in age from 5years to 17 years. She challenges him on his methods and defies his orders.
As well as struggling to cope with the Captain she also has to try and win over his children who make it quite clear the do not need a governess.
Through the use of music and dance Maria gets into the children's hearts and helps them to learn to be children and play and have fun.
The children have a great talent for singing and they become the 'Von Trapp Family Singers' much to their fathers distaste.
Warming the heart of the Captain is harder than she thought but it is her own heart that causes her to worry, and she begins to doubt herself once more.

This story is set in Austria around the time of the Nazis power and has an underlying story of the struggle of surviving their rule; it is based on the true story of Maria Von Trapp 1905 - 1987, the real Maria wrote a book called The Story Of The Von Trapp Family Singers that was the inspiration for the musical The Sound of Music.

My Thoughts:

As a child the music and the singing and dancing engrossed me rather than the story itself and I always wanted to be one of the Van Trapp children.
Now that I am older I find the story it's self compelling and think that Maria Von Trapp was a very brave and powerful lady to be able to help the family the way she did, I also believe that the love that her and the Captain shared was true love, it would have to be to take on seven children!
The opening of the film shows the rolling hills and stunning mountains of Austria and it is a radiant piece on cinematography, the opening song 'The Sound of Music' introduces us to the character Maria (Julie Andrews) beautifully.
The next scene is inside the Abbey and we meet Maria's fellow nuns and they sing 'Maria', I really like this song and the characters of the nuns, they are actually quite comical and have a couple of funny moments which helps to take the edge of the seriousness.
I my favourite song is 'I Have Confidence' sung by Maria on her way to take the job at the Von Trapps, this song is full of energy and was written especially for the film, unfortunately it does not appear in the stage show.
Captain Georg Van Trapp is a hard man who since his wife dies has lived his life my rules and regulations and he treats his children as if they were his troupes he is not an easy character to warm to immediately and Maria realises this.
The Von Trapp children are introduced to Maria by answering to their individual whistle sounds, the children include: Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl.
I really like Maria's confidence and cheekiness when she stands up to the Captain and quite obviously defies his rules, I think that is this that helps to win over the children.
The Captain goes away to visit his friend The Baroness Elsa Scharader and leaves Maria with the children
While the Captain is way Maria and the children begin to get along and perform some wonderful songs together: 'My Favourite Things' this is a great song and shows how the children first start to trust Maria and are having fun for the first time in years, 'Do-Re-Mi' is one of the most memorable from the film showing how the children learn to sing again, this has some great choreography and cinematography showing them singing all about the town. Another of my favourites to 'The Lonely Goatherd' a song and puppet show that the children put on for the father and the Baroness, this song is full of liveliness and must have been very hard to sing as it is fast paced and high pitched.
It turns out that the Captain can also sing and with his daughter Lisel he sings the love song 'Edelwiess' this song is truly beautiful and is reprised at the end of the film as well.
The Captain and the Baroness plan to marry and hold a party to celebrate their engagement, it is at this party that Maria begins to doubt her and is confronted by the Baroness.
The songs are wonderful and well written, the story is compelling and the fact that it is based on a true story makes you want to watch it even more. The characters and acting is superb, Julie Andrews does a sterling job and never fails to deliver.
The children are brilliant and also make this musical a great one for children watch.
Young or old this is a great musical classic that is loved by all.

Music:

Rodgers and Hammerstien wrote the music for 'The Sound of Music', it was originally written as a stage show in 1959 and turned into the film version with help from screenwriters Howard Lindsey, Robert Coarse and Ernest Lehman.

Rodgers and Hammerstein also wrote, Oklahoma, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and many more.

Characters/Actors:

Julie Andrews performed the film role of Maria Von Trapp perfectly, Maria is a nun who has lost her way and is sent governess for seven children, and she is a sparkly character full of life and positive energy.
Julie Andrews sings beautifully and really demonstrates a fun and loving bond with the children as well as a brooding romance with the Captain.
Julie Andrews had previously played Mary Poppins in the film musical made in 1964 and had won the hearts of many with that role, she went on to do the same with the character of Maria Von Trapp. She has gone onto perform in many shows on Broadway and on Film, she is still going strong today and is a brilliant actress, most recently I have seen her in 'The Princess Diaries'

Christopher Plummer performs Captain Georg Van Trapp; the Captain is a hard man who has lived his life by rules since his wife died. Widowed and father of Seven the Captain needed someone like Maria to come into his life and help bring music back into his home.
Christopher Plummer gives a strong performance of the Captain, showing a combination of hard and soft. Christopher has appeared in many films including ' The Silent Partner' and 'A Beautiful Mind'

Charmian Carr plays eldest daughter of the Captain Lisel Von Trapp, Lisel is 16 years old and finds it hard to except Maria at first. Lisle is also having a relationship with Ralf a German delivery boy and has a series of emotions to go through.
Charmian Carr didn't stay in the acting word and became an interior decorator, she also wrote a book in the 90's called 'Forever Lisel'.

Nicolas Hammond plays next in line Friedrich Von Trapp, Friedrich is 14 years old and wants his father to notice the man he is becoming.
Nicolas Hammond went on to live and works in Australia and has many parts over there.

Heather Menzies played second eldest daughter Louisa Von Trapp, Louisa is one of the quietest of the Von Trapp family she is the blonde one.
Heather Menzies has stayed good friends with who played Angela Cartwright Brigitta and is godmother to one of her children; she also runs a production company with Kym Karath who played little Gretl.

Dune Chase played youngest son Kurt Von Trapp, Kurt is a fun loving boy who immediately captures Maria's heart.
Dune Chase is no longer an actor and works in computers.

Angela Cartwright plays Brigitta Von Trapp; Brigitta thinks she knows a lot about everything.
Angela Cartwright went on to play Penny Robinson in a TV Series called Lost in Space, which ran for three years.

Debbie Turner played second youngest Marta Von Trapp; Marta is a sweet child aged about seven years.
Debbie Turner now runs a floral design company.

Kym Karath played the youngest child Gretl Von Trapp, at age five Gretl is the youngest and cutest of the Von Trapp children.
Kym Karath carried on with her acting and appeared in varies shows such as Lost in Space, Lassie, My Three Sons and family Affair.

Robert Wise who has also directed some Star Trek films directed the film.


Where Can I see it/Buy it:

The Sound of Music two-disc special edition is available on DVD from Amazon New for £11.99 or New and Used from £11.99.

The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long one Disc DVD is available from Amazon New for £11.99 or Used & New from £9.37.

This musical is available in many different genres:

CD:

You can purchase The Sound of Music CD Soundtrack from Amazon New for £8.99 or Used & New from £5.99.

Stage Musical:

The Sound of Music opens at The London Palladium on the 3rd November this year, the role of Maria will be performed reality TV show winner Connie Fisher. Connie won the role after winning Andrew Lloyd Webbers TV competition 'How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?'
Andrew Lloyd Webber is producing the show and Jeremy Sans is directing it, for ticket information please see: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/venue/278835

Sing-A-Long:

On the 11th of November at Alton Towers you can attend a special Sing-A-Long Sound of Music Show. The film is played on large screen with all the words so that you can 'Sing -A-Long'. You will often find at such events that people will dress up in lederhosen and nun outfits, some maybe draped in curtains.

Summary: Great fun for all the family!