The Sound of Music

The sound of music, the sound of von Trapp Family singing, the sound of Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer performing, the sound of Rodgers' music and Hammerstein's lyrics, the sound of one of the best musicals ever made, I believe is beyond introduction.

Based on the true story of captain von Trapp and a young nun Maria, Robert Wise manages to manipulate and harmonically combine music, picture and plot. The result is a wonderful, romantic musical which still captures all ages and leaves everyone mumbling the first three notes of its unforgettable songs. Julie Andrews at her very best, makes a commendable performance, leading the film to win 5 Oscars, including best music and sound.

Explore the "sound"...
Theatrical trailer
Sound of Music - 40th Reunion


Meet the children...

Charmian Carr is... Liesl

She runs an interior design business.

Nicholas Hammond is... Friedrich

He continues to work as an actor, director and screenwriter in Sidney, Australia.

Heather Menzies is... Louisa

She works as a producer and a part time actress. She is also the founder of the Robert Urich cancer foundation.

Duane Chase is... Kurt

He designs computer software for geologists in Seattle, Wasinghton.

Angela Cartwright is... Brigitta

She is an art photographer and lives in California.

Debbie Turner is... Marta

She runs a floral design business and she also designs collectible Santas. She lives in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

Kym Karath is... Gretl

She is an actress and lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Did you know that... Debbie Turner (Marta) had many loose teeth during filming. When they fell out, they were replaced with false teeth.

The sound of Karaoke music...

The sound of music
Maria
Sixteen going on seventeen
My favorite things
Do - Re - Mi
The lonely Goatherd
So long Farewell
Climb Ev'ry Mountain
Something good
Edelweiss

Do you remember the Lonely Goat Herd and his "family"?

Want to see where they are now?

The puppets appeared in the film were made and performed by Bill Baird, an american puppeteer. These very same marionettes are on exhibit at the Charles H. Macnider Museum in Mason City, Iowa.

Did you know that... Maria never uses the Captain's first name, "Georg", in the film. Instead, she calls him Captain, Sir and Darling.


The costumes of the actors are now spread all over the world either on museum exhibitions, famous cafe-restaurants or private collections.

- Maria' s peasant dress was sold at a memorabilia auction in 2002 to Hollywood Motion Picture Museum

- Maria's "I Have Confidence" vest: Hard Rock Cafe (London)
- Maria's blue dress : Private Collector (U.S.)
- Maria's Ländler dress: Planet Hollywood Restaurants
- Gretl sailor dress: Fox Studios
- Kurt Curtain Shirt: Private Collector (U.S.)
- Friedrich Curtain Lederhosen: Private Collector (U.S.)
- Louisa Curtain Dresses: Private Collector (U.S.)
- Brigitta Curtain Dress: Private Collector (Australia)
- Liesl's "16 Going on 17" Dress: Private Collector (U.S.)
- Liesl's "Do-Re-Mi" dress: Private Collector (U.S.)
- Liesl's Curtain dress: Planet Hollywood Restaurants
- Gretl's party dress; Planet Hollywood Restaurants
- Marta's party dress; Planet Hollywood Restaurants

Did you know that... Charmian Carr (Liesl) sang "16 Going On Seventeen" for the movie when she was nearly 22.

If you want to see behind the scene photos of the Sound of Music, visit Julie Andrews Forum where you'll discover very interesting stuff about the film and about Julie of course.

Did you know that... Kym Karath (Gretl) couldn't swim, so the original idea was to get Julie Andrews to catch her when the boat tips up and they all fall in the water. However, during the second take the boat toppled over so that Andrews fell to one side and Karath fell to the other. Heather Menzies (Louisa) had to save her instead. Andrews stated later she felt guilty about this for years.

The von Trapp family villa near Salzburg was announced to open as Villa Trapp hotel in July 2008. However, the hotel never operated due to the locals' fear of increased bus traffic in the area.

Did you know that... Christopher Plummer admitted that he ate and drank heavily during filming to drown out his unhappiness with making the picture, and found plenty of opportunities to do both in Austria. His costume eventually had to be refitted for his extra weight.

Real Maria von Trapp appears twice in the film! You can see her crossing the street during the shooting of "I have confidence" and sitting behind Julie in the bus.

Did you know that... The first scene filmed was the scene in Maria's bedroom where Frau Schmidt brings the dress material, and later Liesl sneaks in through the window. One of the last scenes filmed was the "You are Sixteen" number, which appears in the film right before the scene in Maria's room. The two scenes were shot about 4 months apart.

Daniel Truhitte, Rolfe, was originally turned down for the role, because his hair was brown. He asked for a second shot, when he performed ''sixteen going on seventeen'' with great success. He now lives in North Carolina, father of three children, one of which is a famous operatic tenor.

Did you know that... Though the film is virtually unknown in Austria, due to the international popularity you can visit the places were the filming took place with a special tour. Furthermore in many hotels in Salzburg the movie is played non-stop on TV for the tourists.

...These are a few of MY favorite things...

The Sound of Music in Amazon

DVD
The Sound of Music: (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition)
The Sound of Music: (Five Star Collection)

CD
The Sound of Music (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
The Sound Of Music: An Original Soundtrack Recording (1965 Film - 30th Anniversary Edition)
The Sound Of Music: Original London Cast
The Sound Of Music: (1987 Studio Cast)
The Sound of Music: (1998 Broadway Revival Cast)

Books

Memorabilia - Photos

Sheet music
The Sound of Music: Complete Vocal Score
The Sound of Music: Souvenir Folio (Vocal Selections)
The Sound of Music Vol.10 Piano Duet Play-Along BK/CD
The Sound of Music for Female Singers: Pro-vocal Vol. 34 Bk/Cd (Pro Vocal) (v. 34)
The Sound Of Music - Vocal Selection with Martha Wright
The Sound of Music for Jazz Piano
The Sound of Music: Sing with the Choir Volume 12
The Sound of Music: E-Z Play Today Volume 76
THE SOUND OF MUSIC SELECTION FOR ALL ORGANS SPINET & LARGE MODELS
The Sound of Music: Arranged for mixed chorus (S.A.T.B.) by Clay Warnick, etc
The Sound of Music Selection for Hammond Organ

and many more...

The Sound of Music