Rating of
3.5/4
The Sound of Music
SteelCity99 - wrote on 04/22/18
What is it that makes The Sound of Music one of the greatest and most inspirational musicals ever made in motion picture history? More than attributing the credit to the delicate and magical approach of Robert Wise to such an enchanting tale and the overall cathartic empathy its worldwide audience acquired through this exceptional tale, the magic of this musical comes from the beautiful lyrics written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. However, there is still an abundant number of reasons, most of them universally accepted.
The Sound of Music is based on the book written by Howard Lindsey and Russel Crouse and on Maria von Trapp's book "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers", and tells the beloved story of Maria, a former nun who leaves a covenant under the orders of Mother Abbess so she can become the new governess of a wealthy Austrian widower whose rules have erased all signs of fun and music in his family of seven children: the von Trapp children. The film received 10 Academy Award nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color, Best Cinematography, Color, Best Costume Design, Color, Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Director and Best Picture, winning the last five awards.
When this musical is seen, its spectator can't do anything else but to literally love this film to pieces. It is one of those rare, magical films that completely erase its 3-hour running time and transforms it into a wonderful visual concert full of songs that evoke happiness and the simplicity of life itself. It is plagued with vast and wonderful scenarios depicting the hills and mountains of Salzburg, Austria while the lyrics of the film elevate their rhythm and charm over the clouds so they can finally reach the people's hearts. Consequently, the cinematography is spectacular, with an unexpectedly astonishing opening sequence.
The performances throughout were extremely talented, and Julie Andrews acting seemed so natural that she instantly became in an inspirational cinematic icon. When the title The Sound of Music is spoken, the biggest probability is that one may think on Maria's character spinning around the grassy hills of Salzburg. A religious perspective is shown throughout the film which is used as a motor for dividing the film into two main parts: the von Trapp family and the depiction of the difficulties World War II had prepared for the aforementioned family. However, the ending sequence portrays a new beginning, a message of life itself, whispering to the soul that the human attitude should always be grateful towards the gift of life itself and the blessings resulting from submitting our existence to the merciful will of God.
A The Sound of Music review cannot leave the songs unnoticed. Seeing Julie Andrews singing is a visual delight and magic for the ears. Seeing her perform songs with the von Trapp children makes you wish to have a mother like her, a wife like her, a family like them. The "Do-Re-Mi" song, along with the opening sequence and song of the film, must be the most famous scenes among the history of American adaptations of musicals to the big screen. You just feel in the right place at the right time before suddenly realizing you've been singing with the characters all along.
Its charming simplicity and predominant delight are unprecedented. This musical was released at the right time, reminding Hollywood that the Golden Age of both cinema and musicals were not dead yet since it held (and still holds) a heartwarming and nostalgic resemblance to older iconic musicals, such as The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Singin' in the Rain, among dozens others. Differing significantly from his previous musical film West Side Story (1961), this is the last great musical that deeply moved masses and invited them to perceive life differently, just before Bob Fosse (Cabaret [1972], All That Jazz [1979]) conquered the big screen with a whole new meaning of the gene. Magic has been revived.
89/100
