THE SOUND OF MUSIC

US, 1965, 170 minutes, Colour.
Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn.
Directed by Robert Wise.

The Sound of Music is, as everybody knows, one of the most popular films made. For instance, on first release in Sydney, it ran from April, 1965 to October 1968 in the city alone. Critics did not like it and attacked its too pretty sentimentality, yet it won the Oscar for the Best Film of 1965 and Robert Wise won the Oscar for the Best Director. Despite all the possible critical comments, audiences the world over loved it, its music, scenery, humour, excitement, charm.

Robert Wise incorporated authentic settings beautifully into the film and used it then, with good editing, to illustrate the music. Each song, and its reprises, could well be examined to see how they have been effectively used in cinema.

This is Julie Andrews' warmest performance. Usually proper, she comes alive under Wise's direction. (They worked together for Star, 1968). The Sound of Music has probably been seen by most audiences, but millions had no objection to seeing it again.

1. What aspects of the film have made it the most popular film of our times? Why did so many individuals the world over see it dozens of times? Was the music responsible for much of the popularity? Julie Andrews' performance? The children? The scenery?

3. Did the historical setting of Austria at the time of the German takeover at the Anschluss add to the interest and strength of the film? How?

4. Since the film was entitled The Sound of Music, the music was important. What did it contribute by way of mood, humour, sentiment, dramatic point to the story? E.g., "The Sound of Music" to move the Captain, "Edelweis" for patriotism, "Goodbye" for the escape.

5. How was the scenery used and the authentic Austrian settings -how did they give an atmosphere and colour to the film - e.g. the opening, the singing of "Doh, Re, Me"?

6. Why had Maria joined the convent? Was it evident that she was not suited to life at the Abbey? Her singing, talking, love of nature, immense capacity for love? Did you like the nuns' singing? Why? Does it look somewhat quaint? How did the nuns come across in the film?

7. Why did Captain Von Trapp run his house like a ship? Why didn't he understand his children? Why did they say they played pranks to get his attention? Did you like the children? Were they presented sentimentally, especially five-year old Gretel? Were they all too cute?

8. How did Maria win their confidence and bring them to happiness? How much did play and the sound of music contribute?

9. Did you like the Baroness? Why? Why did she desperately want to marry the Captain? Why did he want to marry her?

10. Did you like Max? What role did he play in the film?

11. Why did the Baroness manipulate Maria's emotions and get her to go back to the Convent? Was the Abbess right in telling Maria not to use the Convent as a refuge but to face her problems? Why?

12. Why did the Captain break off his engagement? (How did the sequence of the children playing ball with her and the announcement of the marriage prepare for this?) What reasons did the Baroness give for the marriage not working? Was she right?

13. Were you glad that Maria and the Captain married? Why?

14. How was the political theme introduced into the film and developed? Rolf, the Anschluss, the flag and telegram to go to Bremen?

15. How was the concert and escape sequence handled?

16. What role did Rolf play in the film - his early song with Lisel, romance, yet belonging to Hitler youth, his uniform and warning to the Captain, his not shouting to the Captain, his calling the soldiers?

17. Critics called the film sentimental, mushy etc. Was it? Why? Even if it was sentimental and pretty, does that destroy its value as a film? Now that you have discussed the film, can you better why it has been so popular?