Before I rewatched The Sound of Music, I watched ABC's 20/20 special about the film. Diane Sawyer interviewed both Julie Andrews, who played Maria, and Christopher Plummer, who played Captain Von Trapp. The actors shared some of the stories of certain scenes, including the gazebo scene where Maria and the captain finally reveal how much they love each other:
For anyone who is a true Sound of Music fan, you should watch the special if you haven't already. Just be prepared: after seeing the special, you'll want to watch The Sound of Music.
I think what struck me about this viewing of the film is how carefully the impending Nazi occupation is woven into the storyline. I had forgotten how the Von Trapp's butler is secretly a Nazi supporter, and there are comments during the party scene that reflect growing tension in Austria. Captain Von Trapp is devoted to his country, and this is apparent throughout the film, but the Nazi presence is definitely there. During previous viewings, I focused more on the love story and the relationship between Maria and the children than I did on the political atmosphere. This film has so much to offer viewers, which is why it's still popular today. You see this beautiful family dynamic, where Maria becomes a mother to the children before Captain Von Trapp realizes his love for her. One of the best scenes of Maria as a mother is when she tells Captain Von Trapp what he needs to do for his children. Maria is soaking wet after the boat she and the children are in capsizes. The captain yells at her, angry that his children were out playing, and Maria lets him have it, forcefully explaining that all his children want is his love. It's incredible to watch. Her love for these seven motherless children is honest and strong. She is devoted to them, and soon becomes devoted to their father. Their love story is so sweet.
I could go on and on about the plot, but it's worth mentioning that film also won the Oscars for Best Director (Robert Wise) and Best Editing. The opening scene alone captured the editing award with Maria spinning on top of a mountain, singing "The Hills Are Alive." But other scenes are also incredibly well done. For instance, in the scene where Maria and the captain dance, the editing shows the couple falling in love and how the Baroness reacts:
Here the shots switch from long shots to show the couple's flawless dancing to medium and close up shots to show their emotions. The Baroness's expression clearly shows that she sees what is happening and it's inserted at a key moment...long enough after the couple has been dancing to make their love apparent yet with enough time to let them dance longer before Maria claims she no longer knows the steps. It's subtle but incredibly effective editing.
What really makes me love The Sound of Music most of all is the memories it evokes for me. My mom and I have seen two different productions, including one that starred Marie Osmond as Maria. It's a special experience watching this story that she loves with her. My other memories of the film are connected to a boy I used to baby-sit when I was in high school and college. He was two and a half and completely obsessed with Maria and the children. His parents had two VHS copies of the film, and when we watched it, he would only want to watch the parts with Maria and/or the children. If they were not on screen, he would say, "Anne, where is Maria? Where are the children?" I would say they were in the house or somewhere else, and he would reply, "I want Maria. I want to see the children," emphasizing the words Maria and children. It was so sweet because he was completely focused on them whenever they were on screen. I think this last for at least six months, if not longer. It was adorable. And now this little boy is in college. I don't know if The Sound of Music is still one of his favorites, but it's definitely one of mine because of him and my mom.
