The Sound of Music. . . Behind the Scenes

Everybody loves a feel good movie, the Sound of Music epitomises the concept. A singing nun, a Nazi captain with seven children, a future wicked stepmother. . . and you still feel like a million bucks after you’ve seen it. But life was not so pretty on the set of The Sound of Music. . . Here’s why;

 

Spoiler Alert

 

Christopher Plummer (The Captain) has compared working with Julie Andrews (Maria) on set as being hit in the face with a giant Valentines day card on a daily basis (although they remain close friends to this day).

Maria and Captain Von Trapp appear in a family talent show.

 

Charmian Carr (Liesl) and Christopher Plummer had a flirtatious relationship as a result of mutual attraction, despite the fourteen year age difference. Plummer insists that their relationship did not exceed the flirtatious nature.

Charmian Carr plays Liesl Von Trapp, The Captain’s 21 year old daughter.

 

Julie Andrews almost rejected the role of Maria of fear that it would be too soon and too similar to the role that she played in Mary Poppins (which was still in post-production when The Sound of Music started filming).

 

Julie Andrews turned out to be quite the children’s entertainer.

 

Christopher Plummer admits on the dvd commentary that he was intoxicated for the music festival scene.

 

The music festival scene.

 

 

And finally, the saddest truth of them all. . .  The Sound of Music was based on a true story. Although the ending was happy, they escaped into the mountains and evaded the ferocious Nazi army, the thought that all along these seven children were laughing and singing Do a Deer, their father was a part of the largest most murderous regime in history.

 

The Von Trapp family singing together

 

Although the behind the scenes of The Sound of Music turned out to be slightly sordid, the movie itself is a beautiful tale of love, overcoming obstacles and the value of having a great song in your heart. It’s the best feel good movie of all time and it’s great for all ages.