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“A comfortable old age is the reward of a well-spent youth. Instead of its bringing sad and mela...
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“A comfortable old age is the reward of a well-spent youth. Instead of its bringing sad and melancholy prospects of decay, it should give us hopes of eternal youth in a better world."...R Palmer
Member since:13.03.2001
Reviews:33
Members who trust:68
13 July 2006
Days have passed into oblivion, since I wrote the review on 'The Sound of Music', on the Ides of March, 2001. I must have watched The Sound of Music umpteen times, but still I enjoy it as if it is for the first time. So much has this movie influenced me that with every viewing I enjoy it more like an old wine. The evergreen songs make me feel younger. A few days back, I came across the 40th Anniversary Edition of the DVD of this movie, a set of two DVD's. I bought the DVD's from a Dubai shop and I am proud to own the set, as I think that no DVD collection would be complete without the addition of this new set.
The picture and sound qualities of the 40th Anniversary release are excellent. The bright and clean images are supplemented by sharp and well defined colours. A Dolby Digital 2.0 track is included. An option for Dolby Digital 5.0 with surround sound is also available, with English and Spanish sub titles.
*The Movie*
My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds That fly from the church on a breeze To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over stones on its way To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray I go to the hills when my heart is lonely I know I will hear what I've heard before My heart will be blessed with The Sound of Music And I'll sing once more
Maria (Julie Andrews) sings in the Austrian Alps, with Nature in its full bloom, the trees, the flowers, the blue sky with white clouds resembling bundles of pure cotton; all singing with her. The Sound of Music echoes in the mountains reverberates in your hearts. This is the opening scene of the movie The Sound of Music, the best musical of the 20th Century, and a gift of the year 1965.
The direction of Robert Wise, the camera of Ted D McCord blotting the scenic
beauty, the musical adaptation of Irwing, and the sound effects of James Corcoran and Fred Hynes; have made this a great musical extravaganza.
Maria the inmate of a Salzburg Abbey gets distracted from her missionary duties as the Alpine landscape fills her spirit with restless passion, to sing as free as the wind, as fresh as a morning flower, spreading the fragrance around, when dewdrops fall making sounds like the notes of a piano. The Mother Abbess (Peggy Wood) rightly understanding the incompatibility of Maria for such a life in the monastery, sends her as a governess to the von Trapp family.
Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), a naval officer and a widower, blessed with a band of seven children, wants to educate them with military discipline. But the incorrigible brood, of mischief-mongers, drives their governesses crazy, who flee the house to safety, scared by their uncouth behaviour. Maria is smart enough to learn the antics of the children and she changes the medicines of the Captain. She showers them with love and kindness and takes them out on picnics in the beautiful Alpine countryside. The children bask in the newly found freedom and happiness and reciprocate the love and affection of Maria. She teaches them to sing. They respond to her care with happiness and laughter. The song fills the atmosphere and our moods.
DO a deer, a female deer RE a drop of golden sun MI a name I call myself FA a long, long way to run SO a needle pulling thread LA a note to follow so TI a drink with jam and bread That will bring us back to DO
Maria and the children stage a puppet show and her charms captivate the father. The Captain wants to introduce his love to the Baroness Schraeder (Eleanor Parker). In the party the Captain and Maria perform a dance. They are tied together in Cupid's chains.
The Baroness tricks Maria to go back to the Abbey and tries in vain to win the affection of the children. Maria comes back with the support of Mother Abbess. The Captain, true to his love, makes plans to make her his life partner. The finale is filled with suspenseful happenings, which develop into an adventurous climax.
The movie is full of songs and dances. Julie Andrews' portrayal of Maria won her many laurels and her singing capability surfaced above to the full appreciation of music lovers. Christopher Plummer as the disciplined and the helpless father has excelled in his performance. The seven children have equally done their part to steal a place in the viewers' hearts.
The movie was nominated for ten Academy Awards of which it swept the awards for the following:
The Best Picture The Best Direction The Best Musical Adaptation The Best Cinematography The Best Film Editing The Best Sound.
This speaks volumes of the greatness of this musical masterpiece. Based on a true life story, and written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein, the movie will go down in the annals of history as a legend with a well cherished mixture of laughter and tears with the most memorable music ever written and dances choreographed by husband-and-wife pair Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood.
*The cast*
Julie Andrews - Maria Christopher Plummer - Captain Georg Von Trapp Eleanor Parker - The Baroness Richard Haydn - Max Detweiler Peggy Wood - The Mother Abbess Charmian Carr - Liesl Heather Menzies - Louisa Nicolas Hammond - Friedrich Duane Chase - Kurt Angela Cartwright - Brigitta Anna Lee - Sister Margaretta Portia Nelson - Sister Berthe Ben Wright - Herr Zeller Daniel Truhitte - Rolfe Gruber Norma Varden - Frau Schmidt Gil Stuart - Franz Marni Nixon - Sister Sophia Evadne Baker - Sister Bernice Doris Lloyd -Baroness Ebberfield
*Disc One - Special Features*
The first disc starts as Julie Andrews introduces the film with her statements of what exactly makes "The Sound of Music" the most memorable and enduring movie of the by-gone century. The main menu then displays and features a film clip, looping, of Julie Andrews and the kids singing. You can either go to the main movie or
1. Audio Commentary by Julie Andrews ****************************************** Julie Andrews travels down the memory lane to narrate scene-specific details of the movie. Christopher Plummer and some of the other actors, including those who acted as children, of the movie also stop by to reminisce their memories.
2. Audio Commentary by Director Robert Wise ************************************************** He throws light on numerous aspects of the film and the information provided by him will be of great use to the fans, especially taking into account the fact that Mr Wise is no longer with us.
3. Singalong Option ********************** There is a singalong option with lyrics displayed in English, French or Spanish.
4. Songs only chapter list **************************** All the 24 songs of the movie can be watched by song selection. This is a very worthwhile feature.
*Disc Two - Special Features*
1. My Favourite Things: Julie Andrews Remembers ******************************************************** Julie Andrews leads a featurette of one hour on the making of the film with Christopher Plummer, Robert Wise, choreographer Dee Dee Wood and Johann von Trapp, the youngest son of Maria von Trapp (in real life). Old memories together with useful information are shared in this.
2. Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer: A Reminiscence ****************************************************************** The two stalwarts join together in a chat for twenty minutes about their scenes together in the film. The sense of humour in Plummer's conversation is a treat to hear.
3. On Location with The Sound of Music ******************************************* Charmain Carr leads a tour of Salzbug, the hometown of Mozart to many of the locations of the film, for twenty minutes.
4. From Liesl to Gretl: A 40th Anniversary Reunion ****************************************************** The seven actors who played the von Trapp children are reunited in an interview for half hour. They discuss about their casting in the movie and other tense moments during the picturisation. They talk about their never ending friendship during the last forty years and they declare that they are a real family.
5. When You Know the Notes to Sing: A SINGALONG Phenomenon ******************************************************* These are the highlights from the Singalong held at the Hollywood Bowl. 18,000 people sang songs from the film for fifteen minutes, with all the grown up children of von Trapp family.
6. Biography- The Von Trapp Family: Harmony and Discord **************************************************************** This is an awesome insight into the real life family of von Trapp who had inspired the production of the movie.
7. Restoration Comparison ****************************** This is a really interesting technical feature which shows previous and present images.
8. Mia Farrow Screen Test ***************************** This is a one and half minute feature showing Farrow auditioning for the part of Liesl when she was very young.
9. Trailers and TV Spots ************************** Seven trailers are shown in this in a span of fifteen minutes.
10. Still Galleries ******************* These are three sections - Storyboard Gallery, Behind-the-scene Gallery and Lobby Cards and One Sheets Gallery. ***************** A favourite with all generations, let this saga refresh our spirits. The Sound of Music will always play in our hearts for many generations to come.
The DVD's are available at amazon.co.uk
Happy Viewing.
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Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
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