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Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood ... see more see more... , Charmian Carr , Heather Menzies , Nicholas Hammond , Duane Chase , Angela Cartwright , Debbie Turner , Kym Karath , Anna Lee , Portia Nelson , Ben Wright , Daniel Truhitte , Norma Varden , Marni Nixon , Evadne Baker , Doris Lloyd , Gilchrist Stuart , Dan Truhitte

One of the most popular movie musicals of all time, The Sound of Music is based on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers. Julie Andrews stars as Maria, a young nun in an Austrian convent who regu... read more read more...larly misses her morning prayers because she enjoys going to the hills to sing the title song. Deciding that Maria needs to learn something about the real world before she can take her vows, the Mother Superior (Peggy Wood) sends her off to be governess for the children of the widowed Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). Arriving at the Trapp home, Maria discovers that her new boss is cold and aloof, and his seven children virtual automatons-at least, whenever the Captain is around. Otherwise, the kids are holy terrors, as evidenced by the fact that Maria is the latest in a long line of governesses. But Maria soon ingratiates herself with the children, especially oldest daughter Liesl (Charmian Carr), who is in love with teenaged messenger boy Rolf. As Maria herself begins to fall in love with the Captain, she rushes back to the Abbey so as not to complicate his impending marriage to a glamorous baroness (Eleanor Parker). But the children insist that Maria return, the Baroness steps out of the picture, and Maria and the Captain confirm their love in the song "Something Good." Unhappily, they return home from their honeymoon shortly after the Nazis march into Austria. Already, swastikas have been hung on the Von Trapp ancestral home, and Liesl's boyfriend Rolf has been indoctrinated in the "glories" of the Third Reich. The biggest blow occurs when Von Trapp is called back to active duty in the service of the Fuhrer. The Captain wants nothing to do with Nazism, and he begins making plans to take himself and his family out of Austria. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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86% liked it

533,554 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

50 critics

G, 2 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Robert Wise

Release Date: March 2, 1965

Keywords: family

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DVD Release Date: August 21, 2000

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Stats: 40,797 reviews

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Julie Andrews & Peggy Wood in The Sound of Music It's about time! The Sound Of Music As Maria in the sound of music Do-Re-Mi The Sound of Music The Sound of Music The Sound of Music My Favourite Things High on a hill with a lonely goatherd Sound of music Maria The Hills are alive with the Sound of Music The Von Trapp children Julie Andrews von Trapp family singers Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music Edelweiss
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Flixster Reviews (40,797)

  • spielberg00
    September 20, 2011
    spielberg00
    Despite the feeling of some that THE SOUND OF MUSIC is overrated, I truly believe it is slightly underrated, if anything, and as for the length, it suits the film perfectly. I can admit that the opening scene in which Julie Andrews is spinning around in the fields, singing, "The... read more hills are alive with the sound of music," is pretty corny, and is a tedious scene to be brought on from time to time as "memorable". But overall, this film is wonderful, and a great family musical, with better songs than even MARY POPPINS.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 15, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A classic musical, very cool and fun, a all time american movie, I love it.
  • moonrivers
    June 26, 2011
    moonrivers
    There are two parts to this movie: the first is the blossoming romance between a Austrian baron and the governess of his seven children, and the second part's about Nazi encroachment into Austria. For years I've avoided this ever-so-famous musical and for just that very reason (... read morehow could anything so popular be any good?) but I write now to say that I was wrong. About a family coming together? Yes. And in difficult times? Yes. Inspirational? Yes.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    A childhood favourite and a classic!
  • coollala0910
    February 16, 2011
    coollala0910
    Such a wonderful film! It must be me but I personally believe that "The Sound of Music" has the marks of being a perfect movie. Yes, I think this is a perfect movie! For a movie to be perfect, it has to include these elements:

    -Drama
    -Plenty of comedy
    -Action (if necessary) ... read more
    -Edge-of-your-seat moments

    "The Sound of Music" has three of those elements. So to me, its a perfect movie. The plot follow an Austrian woman named Maria whose job as a nun comes to an end after the Reverend Mother learns of her extreme love for music and singing. She is then picked to be a governess for the Von Trapp family. The father of the family runs a real tight ship and the seven children never have time for fun. However when Maria comes to stay, fun and music runs into the family's heart. And in the viewers as well.

    The film has some of the most memorable performances in cimema. Julie Andrew's performance as Maria is outstanding. Christopher Plummer's performance of Captain Von Trapp is outstanding and powerful. Nowadays, it is very hard to find a movie in where there are no weak supporting actors. There is none in "The Sound of Music". The child actors are so fantastic in this film! This is when children used to act, folks! Now they just put them in movies and TV because of their cute faces. Little do they know they have no talent. The children are believable, realistic, and wonderul, lovable, and memorable.

    It is a musical, my friends. The songs have some of the catchiest tunes and top-notch and uplifting lyrics I have heard in a film's soundtrack. Every song is great! EVERY SINGLE ONE!

    "The Sound of Music" is one of the best family films and one of the best films, period. This is one of those movie that are perfect from beginning to end like "The Godfather" or "Up". You're a sinner if you don't show love for this one.

    "I want to show her my finger."
  • smith44
    January 3, 2011
    smith44
    A stroke of pure cinema and musical genius by two of Hollywood's greatest musical composers Rodgers and Hammerstein, who's names have become synonymous with the Hollywood musical. From the famous opening shot of Maria daydreaming, standing arms open wide on top of a mountain sing... read moreing one of the greatest songs in cinema "The Sound of Music" through the Von Trapp family, the romance and marriage and the war to the end credits of the family escaping over the mountains The Sound of Music is filled with a mixture of comedy, love, romance, suspense and the most wonderful collection of songs one film has ever held. Such songs as the incomparable "The Sound of Music", "Maria," "My Favorite Things," "You Are Sixteen, Going On Seventeen," "Climb Every Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi," and "Edelweiss." The Sound of Music stands as the monumental musical, imitated but never duplicated, a musical masterpiece that celebrates music of every kind from a symphonic waltz to a simple guitar, epic and intimate. Not only a musical milestone, The Sound of Music has become a cultural event, as such I have been on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, Austria, one of the highest grossing films of all time and certainly one of the most popular films ever. A personally much loved classic that strikes a note in every heart. Winner of my Best Film from the 1960's.
  • thmtsang
    December 31, 2010
    thmtsang
    Execellent movie based on a true story about the VonTrapp Family. Love the music. Julie Andrews voice is angelic. Christopher Plummer as Captain VonTrapp is very dashing. Movie about a governess who falls in love with her employer and his 7 children. Set in Austria just before WWI.
  • ajv2688
    December 5, 2010
    ajv2688
    There are way too many good things I could say about this movie, but I'll just say that this is one of the best musicals ever made, period.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 21, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    i hate this movie. i hate all the songs. its really boring. F
  • ythelastman89
    June 4, 2010
    ythelastman89
    A bizarre Nazi musical with dozens of blond children running around singing about their fears, it makes no logistical sense but can be a lot of fun. Who ever knew that music was the weakness of the Third Reich? I can't really say that this is a bad movie, it's not, the sets and s... read morehots are well done and some of the grandest for a musical. However, it's ridiculously lengthy and one-noted most of the time. The story didn't warrant a three hour running time and it honestly ruins what could have been something much better. Without all those cheesy heart felt scenes, this could have been "THE" WWII musical.

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Critic Reviews

February 20, 2009
TIME Magazine

In dialogue, song and story, Music still contains too much sugar, too little spice. Full Review

Dave Kehr
December 13, 2006
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Every audience sniffle and tear has been taken into account. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

The septet of blond and beaming youngsters who have to act like so many Shirley Temples and Freddie Bartholomews when they were young do as well as could be expected with their assortedly artificial r... Full Review

Michael Wilmington
November 4, 2001
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

The movie has almost everything: music, romance, kids, spectacular scenery, religion, sentiment, comedy high and low, and, at the end, intrigue and adventure. Full Review

February 13, 2001
Variety

A warmly pulsating, captivating drama. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 29, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Outstanding family film features glorious music. Full Review

Peter Canavese
November 7, 2010
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

The Sound of Music is high-fructose corn-syrupy, built on simplistic psychology, unnaturalistic acting and historical inaccuracy. It's also well-nigh irresistible. [Blu-ray] Full Review

James Plath
November 4, 2010
James Plath, Movie Metropolis

The Sound of Music has one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's best scores, and that's saying something. It's a warm and wonderful movie that has "timeless" written all over it. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
March 8, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It grows on one like edelweiss. Full Review

January 28, 2008
Film4

Escapist films about, well, escaping, don't come any better than this. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Herr Zeller: I've not asked you where you and your family are going. Nor have you asked me why I am here.
    • Captain Von Trapp: Well, apparently, we're both suffering from a deplorable lack of curiosity.
    • Mother Abbess: Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live.
    • Kurt: I wonder what grass tastes like.
    • Captain Von Trapp: You brought music back into the house. I had forgotten.
    • Frau Schmidt: The Von Trapp children don't play. They march.
    • Captain Von Trapp: If the Nazis take over Austria, I have no doubt, Herr Zeller, that you will be the entire trumpet section.
    • Kurt: Only grown-up men are scared of women.
    • Maria von Trapp: When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.
    • Maria von Trapp: Maria: I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel.
    • Maria von Trapp: When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.
    • Baroness Ebberfeld: Somewhere out there is a lady who I think will never be a nun. Auf Wiedersehen, darling.
    • Captain Von Trapp: Fraulein, is it to be at every meal, or merely at dinnertime, that you intend on leading us all through this rare and wonderful new world of... indigestion?
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The Sound of Music Trivia

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  • Which of the following movies does not have a remake?  Answer »
  • in the sound of music, where were the children when baroness schrader arrived?  Answer »
  • What movie are the characters Liesl, Friedrick, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl in?  Answer »
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