The Sound of Music is Still Heard

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…” Yes indeed. The Sound of Music is one of my favorite things.

My sister who is several years my junior never got to watch the Von Trapp children sing on the lush surroundings of the Austrian alps nor did she learn how the nuns in the convent “solved a problem like Maria”. She just wasn’t a part of that generation who lisped to “do a deer, a female deer” and frankly I felt sorry for her. She did not understand why I liked “My Favorite Things” so much or why I insisted that my students perform “So Long, Farewell” during a school program when they could have just performed something contemporary. So I downloaded a copy of the unforgettable musical movie The Sound of Music and let her watch. I knew she would love it even before she began watching.

Based on a true story of a real musical family who emigrated from Austria to the United States, The Sound of Music is definitely one of the most celebrated and timeless musical films of all time. And it wasn’t only the wonderful music by Rodgers and Hammerstein that captured the world, the storyline itself was captivating.

Although it is said that the musical movie version was fluff compared to the real story of the Von Trapps’ life (the real Baroness Maria pointed this out herself), one can’t help but enjoy it just the same because if truth be told, it is one of the happiest films I have ever watched and I know a lot of people will agree—inspiring to say the least and truly wholesome. Who can resist the fresh-faced Maria singing her way around the alps with Do-Re-Mi or diverting the attention of the Von Trapp children from their fears with Favorite Things? Even the Lonely Goatherd puppet show conducted by Maria and the Von Trapp children was catchy and highly entertaining. I will not deny it that until now I still find myself enjoying the film whenever I remember to view it all over again.

But despite the cheerful and optimistic themes, there are indeed some serious issues tackled in the storyline as well: the Nazi invasion being the biggest and most serious conflict. You can just imagine the patriotic emotion behind the Captain singing Eidelweiss or his righteous anger when he tears down the Nazi flag that was hanging in front of his home when he clearly did not support the invasion to his homeland.   

Once you watch The Sound of Music, definitely it will grow on you and you will never forget it. I should know. It happened to me and not just to me but to many others as well.