Product description

The Sound Of Music [1965]

Price: £4.63
RRP: £15.99
Average customer rating: 4.5

Binding : DVD
EAN : 5039036016629
Label : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Publisher : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release date : 2004-03-08
Title : The Sound Of Music [1965]
Actor : Array
Audience rating : Universal, suitable for all
Format : PAL
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1965-03-29
Region code : 2
Running time : 165
Studio : 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Theatrical releaseDate : 1965-12-25
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.

On the DVD: On the first disc the film itself has never looked or sounded better since its original presentation in Todd AO (prints of which are said to have disappeared forever). The disc also contains a separate audio guide that takes the viewer through the film sequence by sequence, with director Robert Wise commenting on the weather, the production design by Boris Leven, the sequences filmed on location and in Hollywood (like the interiors of the Von Trapp villa), and the naming of other actors who were eager for the lead roles, notably Doris Day and Yul Brynner.

On the second disc there are the documentaries. "Salzburg Sight and Sound" was Charmian Carr's own record of her time on location in the summer of 1964, playing Liesl, the eldest Von Trapp daughter. "From Fact to Fiction", running two hours, begins with the birth of Maria in 1905 who inspired the film, charts her subsequent marriage to Captain Von Trapp, their escape from Nazi Germany not across the Alps but via a train across the Italian boarder, their home in Vermont and thence to the German film of the family that was brought to the attention of Rodgers and Hammerstein as an ideal vehicle for a stage musical. A second group of documentaries covers previews, television and radio commercials and a 1973 interview with Wise and Andrews. Overall, this is a marathon package but in its way is as compelling as the film itself. --Adrian Edwards

Customer reviews

review by: digital oldie date: 2008-11-05 rating:

The Sound of Music: the 20th Century Fox issue on VHS
I had to return my borrowed 'original' VHS tape and I didn't want the DVD (high up in a recent survey of most wanted gadgets: a button on a DVD remote labeled "Just play the goddam film"). When I received the tape I was disappointed to see "DIGITALLY MASTERED FOR SUPERIOR SOUND AND PICTURE QUALITY". Why do they lie like this? Luckily the sound has survived but the picture is awful compared to the very old, much played borrowed tape. The picture has a brownish tinge and soft focus all the way through.
The reason the tape is digitally 'mastered' is presumably the same as with digitally mastered LP's; so as not to show up the limitations of the new CD's and DVD's. However I can remember enough of the borrowed tape to continue to enjoy this wonderful film.

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 ???

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