The Sound of Music: Analysis of the Film
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the film The Sound of Music. Specifically it will discuss the music and theme of the film. The Sound of Music is one of the most classic Hollywood musicals, and is still a family favorite today, even though it was first released in 1965 to movie theaters. It is a heartwarming story that tells the story of the rise of Nazi power in Austria in the 1930s, and how one family coped with the historic and frightening events swirling around them.The film tells the story of the Van Trapp family, an Austrian family made up of Captain Georg Ritter von Trapp, his seven children, and their governess. Essentially, the story is true, it is taken from real occurrences, and the Von Trapp family was real. Maria, the governess was real, too. Her name was Maria Augusta von Kutschera, and she did belong to the Nonnberg Abby in Salzburg. However, the Abby sent her to the von Trapp's to help Captain von Trapp nurse his eldest daughter, who had rheumatic fever. She stayed a year, and the children loved her so much, they begged her not to return to the Abby. She and the Captain were married in 1927 ("The sound of music," 2008).Therefore, the story is essentially true, but the fi
The Captain and Maria added two children of their own to the group. Yes, the story is true, but the film romanticized much of it, including the supposed romance between Lisle and the Nazi delivery boy, and the strictness of the von Trapp household before Maria came. Andrews' performance is fresh and believable, from her naive beginnings to her growth as she comes to recognize her love for the Captain and his children. Music plays a part in all their lives, and so, it is woven through the film like a tapestry, always emphasizing the family, their love, and their love of performance and music. The von Trapp estate was filmed at two different Salzburg locations, one for the front and another for the back. All the songs fit the action, from the stirring "Climb Every Mountain" from the Abbess at the Abbey, to the "Sound of Music" itself, which is a joyful celebration of the setting and the family's love of music. In reality, the family lost all their money during the 1930s because of the Depression, and they began putting on musical shows around Europe as a way to earn money. The cast also filmed several scenes in Los Angeles on soundstages. She knows when to be serious, and she knows when to use humor effectively, and it is no wonder she became a legendary musical star after this picture was released. Music becomes a part of the family, and it is used to invoke emotion (such as "Edelweiss" at the end of the film that signifies the family's love for their home country), and "I am Sixteen," showing the first feelings of love in a teenager's life. Julie Andrews' involvement in the project was somewhat controversial. The story would not be the same without all the music, and that indicates that it works in the film, making it more magical and charming than it would have been without all the wonderful songs. However, it is interesting to note that Mary Martin co-produced the film, and eventually earned an estimate $8 million from it, while Julie Andrews earned a fee of $225,000, and never earned anything else from the film ("Trivia," 2008). The family in the film is dysfunctional, because the Captain is so strict and so unable to warm up to his children, and they need a woman's touch to get past this feeling of domination and fear that permeates the children.
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