The Sound Of Music - Von Trapp Family

The hills are alive with the Sound Of Music, with songs they have sung for a thousand years ... the hills fill my heart, with the Sound Of Music ...

Robert Wise produced it. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II composed the music. Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer starred in it. Millions all over the world watched it.

The Sound Of Music was advertised in our city as a must for children, with the foot-note that parents should treat their children to this movie and that parents themselves should expect a treat when doing so.

The local media was buzzing with advertisements, and billboards were set up at many important locations in the city promoting the film, and these advertising campaigns succeeded in generating a great deal of interest in all age groups.

Quite appropriately, the response from "all age groups" was indeed enormous. Getting tickets was not such an easy task at all.

This concept of children's movie arose from the fact that the film did feature children, had lots of "clean" music and no "bang-bang."

The children in this movie were in focus, while music and the history attached to the story that the movie presented being the main attraction.

These children belonged to Captain Von Trapp, a retired navy veteran.

His wife had passed away leaving him the task of bringing up seven children all by himself.

The opening stages of the movie introduces you to the magnificent landscapes and the breathtaking scenes in the areas which contain the alps in the vicinity and around the city of Salzburg.

Skillfully blending the zooming actions of the camera with the variations in music and tempo, the viewer is transformed into being a temporary visitor to that era.

With such an introduction to a totally new dimension a sense of wanting is generated. Longing for an environment which is totally different, magnificent, awesome ... and the movie is just starting!

Watching the movie makes you long for the alps of Austria, to climb those mountains and get lost there and never come back.

Quite apart from all this, the very sight of children running all over the tops of mountains, and singing away to their hearts' content, free to do so, is enough to evoke revolutionary emotions in the hearts of many a city kid.

I was a mere city kid at that time and the buzz over this movie, the advertisements over the airwaves, in the local newspapers, and the radio constantly playing music from the soundtrack of the Sound of Music teasingly and crudely kept reminding us that the box had an outside as well.

The music from the soundtrack was a treat for those who had already watched the movie, and a reminder for those who hadn't.

The kids who had watched this movie had a strange air of accomplishment surrounding them as compared to those who had not.

Soon fortune struck me and I joined the ranks too. The rest of the kids in the neighbourhood and school friends too caught up pretty fast.

Bringing up seven kids is a task totally alien to an ex navy man. Most suited for this would be a governess. He needs one, and he does get one, Maria.

Straight from the abbey where she is qualifying to become a nun. Maria, eventually becomes the turning point in Captain Von Trapp's life.

The governess sets about her tasks in bringing up the seven children. She gradually introduces music into their lives and this delights the Captain. He too seems to have had a musical background.

However, after the death of his wife, the circumstances did not provide opportunities to involve music in his lifestyle.

There is a scene in the movie in which he spontaneously joins in with Maria and the children and sings along, much to the delight of everyone.

At this time, the Captain is engaged to a wealthy baroness. Maria's involvement and attachment with his children, her immense talent for music and her total dedication towards her task makes Maria qualify more than the baroness to be a confirmed and permanent occupant of his mansion.

Conveniently, he also finds Maria more suited for the "post of wife!" So he duly calls off the engagement with the baroness.

The marriage takes place between Captain George Ritter von Trapp and Maria, and they commence living "happily ever after" ... for a short while.

The interference comes from the Third Reich. When the Third Reich takes over in Austria and there is a compulsion for Von Trapp to re-join the services. But, Captain von Trapp has other ideas.

Yes ... other ideas.

The Salzburg Music Festival is around the corner. The von Trapp family has some kind of an obligation to participate.

The musical talent of Maria, the children who have been coached by her for many months, and the musical background and capability of the Captain himself further underlined this obligation.

The family does participate, much to the delight of everyone. They are well applauded by an appreciative audience.

It the end of their performance, the family of nine, as previously planned, totally unnoticed get about the task of making a getaway.

Their escape plan had been worked out with near precision.

However, there were a few setbacks. But who cares about it right now? Their mission was a success!

In the darkness of the night, they trek their way to safety.

Slowly but cautiously the Von Trapp Family make their exit. Every single step bringing them closer.

To Switzerland, over the Alps, and there in Switzerland to start afresh.

The adventure part of the film is, the plot which enables them to escape and how this plan was carried out.

Of course there were a few hiccups which threatened to interfere with the escape plan.

However, the plan was superior, designed by none other than the nuns of the convent.

The very convent in which Maria was studying to become a nun.

This film was liked very much by children as well as adults.

The film's haunting music was of course the main attraction, engaging the full versatility of the famous duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

The title track, the song "Edelweiss" and almost all the tracks from the movie, are as good as any of the best tracks in the music of the sixties.

The Sound Of Music and the Von Trapp Family will remain in the memories of everyone who watched the great movie and the very mention of the Swiss Alps is certain to flick a switch in your mind ... that turns on the music ... the Sound of Music.

... concluded