Talk:The Sound of Music (film)

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[edit] Christopher Plummer's opinion

This article suggests that Plummer does not like the movie(s). It repeats the "sound of mucus" line twice, no less. Is it really true? I recently watched the extras for the 40th anniversary DVD and if he hates the movie, he put on a jolly good show of hiding it, contributing interviews, commentaries, etc, all seemingly complementary.... Pcb21 Pete 22:43, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Well it only has one mention now, and balanced with the seemingly contradictory information. Pcb21 Pete 22:52, 28 April 2006 (UTC)
Another thing I want to check out on the DVD, Christopher Plummer does an audio commentary with Julie Andrews. It may not answer the question as he could have participated for the money?Kidsheaven 00:06, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Odd bit of trivia

This seems odd: "The musical itself is virtually unknown in Austria, except in backpacker's hostels in Salzburg, where it is screened daily on DVD. The Ländler dance that Maria and the Captain shared was not performed the traditional way it is done in Austria."

What, they don't have cinemas and see big English language Hollywood blockbusters in Austria?! When I was there Look Who's Talking received much publicity and prominent advertising. Gee, and the The Sound of Music film (which is what the trivia items seems to be referring to, with its mention of DVDs playing) was such a huge hit everywhere else! Asa01 08:43, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Yea Asa, even if it seems unbelievable for you, (young) Austrians are not very happy about this film and it is not very famous in Austria! First of all, because it is just a copy of an Austrian story which was allready used in the Austrian/German film "Die Trapp-Familie" from 1956. So the "big" American film is just a reuse of a story, which was (years before!) allready used in a german-speaking film. The story became famous in the states due to a musical, and the musical-text-writers thereself also took all their inspiration from the book of Maria Trapp (The Story of the Trapp Family Singers) and the allready existing films. But thats not the biggest thing, as many other american films are based on an Austrian story, one of the best is Eyes Wide Shut, the last film of Stanley Kubrick, which is based on a story originally playing in the Vienna of 1900 ... But there is a second explanation, which seems even more important: The film "The Sound of Music" is full of "kitsch", old fashioned stereotypes and complete unrealistic images of Austria. This was also the same in the former Austrian/German-film from 1956, but the first one was only a short episode in the history of Austrian films, while the american film became so famous that many, many people (all over the world!) where influenced by its images of pre-WWII-Austria. It is like everybody in the world would think America is as it is described in Gone with the Wind (film). ;-) ... So we Austrians accept "The Sound of Music" as an important factor for our tourism, but whe didnt fall in love with this film. ... Nice Greetings from Vienna/Austria, Raoul 84.112.157.52 18:20, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
The item said that the film was virtually unknown in Austria. It was that claim I was objecting to. Asa01 18:35, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
Yes, but due to the reasons mentioned above the film IS nearly unknown to most of the people of Austria, except the "older" generation and those people who are linked to tourism or "music-films" history. The film was never really promoted in Austria, as it contains so many stereotypes about Austria and all the songs in the US-film are sung in English, which is quite unrealistic for an Austrian family (a factual error of the american film, due to US-marketing-considerations in the 60s). Also the story is about a very dark period of austrian history, as in the 30s we first had a Austrofascism dictatorship by the catholic-conservatives (who abbolished the parliament in 1933 and even cilled social-democratic senators during the civil war in 1934), and then came Hitler and Nazi-Germany and overtook this "weak" and allready anti-democratic Austria in 1938. So after WWII, "historical" Austrian films concentrated more on "unproblematic" times of Austrian history, by example the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy - so the famous "Sisi"-Films (about "our" Empress Elisabeth) are permanently played in our TV while "The Sound of Music" is played "once in a blue moon". ... Raoul, 84.112.157.52 20:11, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  • in Salzburg - according to what is shown on the DVD it is now a big tourist attraction for the areas used in the film. So Salzburg knows the film, as for the film being correct to the true story. Maria Trapp sold the rights to the Germans and they and others changed a lot of the facts of the actual family. Kidsheaven 00:16, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Filmed in Vermont?

I've been to Salzburg and a tourguide asked to not be asked anything about the Sound of Music because it wasn't filmed there. They said it was filmed in Vermont. This is corroborated with the fact that I've holidayed in a time share in Vermont (near Stowe) where they claimed the von Trappes finally settled. I'm trying to figure all this out in my head but I'm having trouble since it's against what the almighty Wikipedia has said about where the film was filmed. Help me!! 83.67.108.38 22:53, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

Not true. The special features accompanying the DVD has a director's commentary by Robert Wise and interviews with several of the cast members. One DVD even has Charmian Carr's documentary about Salzburg. It is true, however, that the Trapps settled near Stowe after coming to the U.S. MccullarsJ 21:39, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Gwen Stefani?

Is the fact that Gwen Sefani sampled one of the Sound of Music Songs really something people need to know who are interested in the Sound of Music? I mean, who put that in there, her publicist? One might as well link to her in the article of the Sistine Chapel with the comment that she visited there once.

Stephanis "song" (for lack of a better word) really isn't relevant to the topic. She didnt contribute anything to the Sound of Music or its legacy. Her butchering of the delightful R&H tune is something like spray painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa.

LuckyDan 12:39, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Strange Trivia

Was there really two movies made in Germany called "Die Trapp family" and "Die Trapp Family in America?" That seems unlikely, and vandalism if it's untrue... I won't remove it, but is there a source on that?

Yoda921 12:36, 10 February 2007 (UTC)Yoda

It certainly is true; they were made before TSoM. See IMDb for the first and for the sequel. --Fbv65edel / ☑t / ☛c || 18:24, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
Wow.... thanks for the links, Fbv65ede. :)

Yoda921 02:54, 11 February 2007 (UTC)Yoda


Having just watched 40th Anniversary DVD, found it has extensive info to check out. An A&E Biography program along with background info and comparisons of the true story and the musical and film versions. The "real" Maria sold the rights to her book for production into musicals and movies for $9,000 according to one part of the film. It interests me to check out this info and update, some trivia addition could be made of this? The Trapp family needed money, but Maria was not good at negotiations. According to the movie later she received from Rogers and Hammerstein production 7/8ths of 1% royalty. At the end of Biography mention was made of surviving family members of the Trapps in a court case battle over $2 to $3 million US. I don't know if that is what comes of the R&H royalties?Kidsheaven 00:02, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Article is Inconsistent

The article starts with a synopsis of 2 Acts. However further on, the trivia tels how the Germans cus and restored Act 3. Can someone make the Acts consistent throughout the article.

Also, the story of the Korean theatre owner cutting out the musical numbers, is probably false. This story has surfaced many times, but usually in different countries. 20.133.0.14 11:43, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Necessity of Link

I removed this link:

because it seemed to be only a commercial placement. The site only glosses over the von Trap family and uses that as a way to interest tourists. It has no significant relation to the article. Cikoykip 05:32, 27 May 2007 (UTC)


Removed this link as well:
Cikoykip 05:36, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cut Scene?

I remember a long time ago I saw a scene on the The Sound of Music (SOM) that I have not seen or mentioned since. The scene involves a Nazi asking the Mother Superior if the Von Traps were at the monastery. The Nazi said he had heard that the Mother Superior was rumored to have never told a lie in the life. The Mother Superior told the Nazi she had not seen the Von Traps and the Nazi satisfied, left. Later The Mother Superior told Maria that she had just told her first lie to which Maria said "I'm sure God will forgive you."

Either I keep missing this scene or it is another movie I remember, but I don't think so.Septagram 04:34, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

It's in there. I have the 40th Anny. DVD. They might've cut it out for time reasons in TV showings. SkittlzAnKomboz 15:30, 18 September 2007 (UTC)
I don't think this scene exists (and I have the 40th anniv DVD as well). Remember, the Nazis did not leave "satisfied". They left attempting to pursue the von Trapps after Rolf sounded the alarm. I wonder if you are thinking of the scene where two of the sisters admit to the Mother Abbess that they have sabotaged the Nazi's vehicles to allow the von Trapps to escape. MccullarsJ 18:19, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Sound of Music DVD Cover.jpg

Image:Sound of Music DVD Cover.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 07:30, 29 September 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Grammar Issue

Under the Heading "Singing Voices Dubbed" I find this string of words: "Since Nixon had dubbed My Fair Lady after Andrews had played Eliza in the stage version and was not selected for the film." I have a suspicion about the sentence that this string of words aspires to be, but I'm not sure enough to correct it myself. Can somebody with knowledge of this subject fix this? Kjdamrau 04:30, 15 October 2007 (UTC)kjdamrau

[edit] Authorship of "I Have Confidence"

On the 40th Anniversary DVD there are interviews with Saul Chaplin where it is strongly suggested that he -- not Rogers -- wrote the bulk of the song "I Have Confidence". A book by Marni Nixon makes the same claim. It seems to have been at the very least a collaborative effort between Chaplin and Rogers, although contractually Rogers had to receive writing credit. Would someone like to take a stab at addressing this in the main article? MccullarsJ 18:26, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Sound of music.jpg

Image:Sound of music.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 08:01, 15 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Television airings / final airing?

"Final Airing" or last time the movie was aired on television? Master Redyva ♠

[edit] Critical Reception

The article says that this movie had lukewarm to cold reviews when first released, how could this be if it won the best picture award at the Oscars? I realize that the Oscars aren't everything but there must have been some good reviews on its release. S7ilver (talk) 17:35, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

  • Robert Wise also won the Academy Award for best director for the picture & the cast album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. It would appear these are good signs the picture had a little more than a "lukewarm" reception. Master Redyva ♠ 12:29, April 12, 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Naval Commander?

Captain Von Trapp is a naval commander but Austria has no coastline. Has anyone else noticed this discrepancy and can anyone explain it please?  SmokeyTheCat  •TALK• 20:23, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Climb every mountain...sail every sea! :) Check this out..[1] Postoak (talk) 21:29, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
I see. Thanks.  SmokeyTheCat  •TALK• 14:30, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Origins & sources

The article about the stage musical currently states "After viewing Die Trapp-Familie (The Trapp Family), a 1956 German film about the von Trapp family, and its 1958 sequel, Die Trapp-Familie in Amerika (The Trapp Family in America), stage director Vincent J. Donehue thought that the project would be perfect for his friend Mary Martin".

This article about the US film should reflect the origins and sources of the US film, which I believe are, in chronological order: 1. The historical events of the von Trapp story; 2. Maria von Trapp's book; 3. The German films; 4. The US stage musical.

I would also be intersted in how much the stage musical & US film are based on Maria's book, and how much on the German films. When I saw the German films on youtube I was struck by how similar they are to the US film in mood, setting, color, characterisation, story sequence, and so on. --123.243.100.160 (talk) 14:27, 4 June 2008 (UTC)