Product description

The Sound Of Music [1965]

Price: £2.70
RRP: £5.99
Average customer rating: 5.0

Binding : VHS Tape
EAN : 5013037007336
Label : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Publisher : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release date : 2001-04-09
Title : The Sound Of Music [1965]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Universal, suitable for all
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1965-03-29
Running time : 165
Studio : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 1965
Number of discs : 1

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The most widely seen movie produced by a Hollywood studio, The Sound of Music grows fresher with each viewing. Though it was planned meticulously in pre-production (save for the scene where Maria and the children take a dipping in an Austrian lake that nearly cost a life), on each viewing one is struck anew by the spontaneous almost improvisatory air of the acting, notably of Julie Andrews under Robert Wise's direction. There are also the little human touches he brings to, for instance, the scene where Maria leads the children to the hills, over bridges and along tow paths where the smallest boy trips up and momentarily gets left behind: it creates a feeling that most of us have encountered. From the opening pre-credit sequence of muted excitement as the camera roves over the Austrian Alps (photographed in magnificent colour), where little phrases from the wind instruments on the soundtrack are flung as if on the breeze, foreshadowing the title song to follow, the production never puts a foot wrong.

Synopsis
A novice nun becomes governess to a widowed Baron's children. She turns them into a family singing group and escapes with them from Nazi-dominated Austria.

Customer reviews

review by: The Amazon Reviewer date: 2007-07-22 rating:

How musicals should be
If "West Side Story" was the best musical film of the sixties, then "The Sound of Music," adapted from the long-running Broadway musical play about Maria Von Trapp and her singing family, was certainly the most popular...

With a story that includes the right amount of family sentiment (the Von Trapp children never quarrel among themselves), religion (in the Hollywood tradition of serene, kind nuns), romance (actually two romances, one adult, one adolescent), and anti-Nazi feeling (Captain Von Trapp refuses to surrender to the Nazi invaders)--and with director Robert Wise who is in fact a solid, conscientious craftsman and a fluent story-teller mercifully free of grandiose pretensions, "The Sound of Music" is perfect with its sumptuous location photography, immaculate, fluid editing, and splendid tones...

The film does have a justifiably famous opening: the camera sweeps over the Austrian Alps to catch Julie Andrews, as mischievous, warmhearted Maria, exultantly singing the title song as she rushes through the bright green valley... It is an exhilarating moment that the film never really matches again, but there is plenty left in the remaining hours to please the legions of devotees...

There are unquestionably some enjoyable songs and musical numbers specially when the eldest Von Trapp daughter (Charmian Carr) meets her shy beau (Daniel Truhitte) in the family garden, he sings "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" to her, and they do a charming little dance around the gazebo... Maria's music lesson to the children, "Do-Re-Mi," is beautifully staged, set over several days as they amble in and around Salzburg, changing their clothing through camera wizardry... And perhaps the best of the songs is the simplest, "Edelweiss," with a tender lyric and poignant melody that make a fitting last song for Rodgers and Hammerstein...

Another of the film's virtues is Julie Andrew's performance as Maria... She cuts through the thick sentiment with her own sharply honed blade of authority and self-confidence, implying that at least she will get through all the high corn without damaging her self-esteem... It works to balance the tight-lipped stodginess of Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp, the "adorable" posturings of the children, and the artificial airs of Eleanor Parker as the haughty baroness...

review by: date: 2006-01-03 rating:

The Greatest Musical of All Time - Ever!
The Sound Of Music is my favourite musical ever. The film centres on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers, who are forced to flee their Native Austrian Homeland to escape the evil reign of Hitlers Third Riech.

The film begins with a majestic alpine lanscape of the distance mountains, and the views of Austria throughout are breathtaking. Julie Andrews is wonderful in the role of Maria, as is her counterpart Christopher Plummer as the arrogent and Proud Captain Von Trap. Maria is a spirited young Austrian nun whose constant rule breaking gets her thrown out of the abbey to be a governess to 7 mischevious children. However, her warmth and kindness soon wins over not only the children but their father the stern and forebidding Captain (baron) Von Trapp who breaks off his engagement to marry the singing nun!

The Sound Of Music is not only a thrilling, action packed, heartwarming film, but it has also turned out some of the most famous and enduring tunes in the world (I doubt there is one person in Britain who does not know the words to Do Re Me!) If you've had a bad day, put your feet up, stick this film on, and by the end all your cares will be swept away and you'll be singing along with the family. Now, where is the nearest mountain....?

review by: jade_90 date: 2005-01-17 rating:

Beautiful film for all the family
'The Sound of Music' is a classic musical for all the family. Starring Julie Andrews as Maria, a spirited young nun who leaves the abbey to go and governess for Captain Von Trapp's seven children at the start of World War 2.
Widower Captain Von Trapp treats his family like the crew on one of his naval ships, so Maria decides to liven up the seven bored children by taking them to all these different parts of Austria and teaching them to sing.
But as time goes by, Maria realises that she is starting to fall in love with Captain Von Trapp, who is engaged to be married to a wealthy, beautiful woman named Baroness Ella Schraeder.
A touching classic for all the family.

review by: date: 2005-01-05 rating:

Surreal and awe inspiring
This film's got it all - singing nuns, evil Nazis, lederhosen plus Julie Andrews at her most sexiest. Who could ask for anything more ???

review by: cat666999 date: 2004-08-09 rating:

The hills ARE alive
I grew up with this film, so it was inevitable that I would buy it on DVD, and it doesn't dissapoint. The picture quality is superb, the sound even better, and you can always make your own kareoke version by putting the subtitles on!

I never knew that there was an intermission in the film - with all the advert breaks on the tv version I suppose you wouldn't have to, but the DVD includes this, and extended scenes of the Austrian scenery, making you believe that you are truly there, with the VonTrap family as they fight off repression from the Nazi's.

If like me you watched this film as a child, I suggest you get the DVD, not only will it bring back memories of singing in front of the tele regardless of who was there, but it will also recreate the magic that is somewhat lacking from films today. A classic of all time.

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