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The Sound of Music Movie Review Summary

Actors: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Sound of Music


In 1930's Austria a young nun is finding it hard to adjust to her new life in the abbey. The Abbess decides that the best thing to do is to send the nun (called Maria) into the world to discover life. She is sent to the von Trapp family to work as a nanny for Captain v Trapp's 7 children. V Trapp is a widowed ex-naval capt who lost his job when Austria lost its coast after the Treaty of Versailles. He is a proud nationalist and is worried about the rise of the far right in neighbouring Germany and talk of a union. V Trapp runs his household like a ship because he knows no other way and is in deep grieving for his wife. When Maria arrives on the scene she is met with opposition from the children and is put-off by the captain's attitudes. In time however, she builds bonds with the entire family, especially Liesl, the eldest child, whom she guides into womanhood, filling the void of Liesl's absent mother.
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The captain is engaged to the Baroness, a woman whom the children dislike and with reason - she loves their father not them! Gradually, however, over time Maria and the Captain fall in love, the Baroness realises this and fabricates a story to make Maria want to return to the abbey, but Maria has helped the v Trapps rediscover music, and through that, happiness. She returns to them and the Baroness finally accepts that Maria and the Captain are meant to be together. They marry, but on returning from their honeymoon are confronted with the awful new of the occupation of Austria. Capt v Trapp is summonned immediately to fight for the Nazi High Seas fleet, but he opposes the Nazis and will not conform, thus putting his beloved family in danger. The v Trapps decide to escape over the border to neutral Switzerland, but their plan is discovered and they are forced to escape in a very unconventional style.
The review of this Movie prepared by Elle




Young Austrian Maria (Andrews) had always aspired to be a nun, but hasn't found the experience quite to her liking. She's too free-spirited and therefore always in trouble. So the convent's abbess sends her off to be governess for a retired and widowed Naval officer, Captain von Trapp (Plummer), whose seven children have proved too much for a series of previous governesses. But Maria tames them with love and music, falling in love with the Captain in the process. But he's already engaged, and she's still a postulant of the convent. More worrisome, the 1938 Anschluss makes Austria part of the growing Nazi empire, and the Captain is called back to active Naval duty. The new family will have to find a way not only to pull together but escape. Based on Maria Augustra Trapp's memoir and the resulting hit Broadway musical, this movie was a monster hit in 1965, taking big box office receipts and winning five Oscars.
The review of this Movie prepared by David Loftus




This musical is based on the true story of the Von Trapp family, who escaped Nazi-controlled Germany in World War II. They moved to Austria to start a new life there. The Von Trapp children are all talented singers, and they are entertained by a similarly talented woman. They eventually form a singing group called the Von Trapp Family Singers. Of course, there is a lot of singing involved, and familiar songs include The Sound of Music and My Favorite Things.
The review of this Movie prepared by Teddy




This extraordianry film tells the tale of Maria, a young, restless nun in training. Noticing her restlessness, Mother Abyess sends her out into the real world, to be the governess of 7 children, whose ex-navy captain father lost his dear wife several years ago. Maria discovers that the mansion is a cold, desolate place because the captain shut out anything that reminded him of his wife. Slowly but surely, Maria touched the hearts of the children and the captain, bring back the sound of music to the mansion. Problems arouse when the captain announces his engagement with a corrupt, evil woman. The captain realizes his love for Maria and calls off his engagement. The captain and Maria get married. The film ends with the von Trapp family's exciting escape from the grasps of Nazis.
The review of this Movie prepared by DW




This is a wonderful family oriented classic about a young nun who is sent to be a nanny for an ex-naval officer with 7 children. His wife has passed away, and he stays away from home and from anything that reminds him of her, including his children. The young nun treats the children as children, teaching them to sing and dance and play. This in turn helps to bring the traumatized father back close to his children and his family. He also realizes that his current fiance is a bit of a money hungry airhead; while he is falling in love with the new nanny.
The review of this Movie prepared by Gretchen Mitchell




The Sound of Music is the story of a young nun, Maria (Andrews) struggling to find her calling in life. As much as she loves the abbey, she also loves Captain Von Trapp (Plummer) and his children very much. She brings joy into their lives through music, and they in turn fall in love with her. Not only must Maria decide what she wants do, but the Captain must also decide what to believe about the upcoming war with Germany. A touching, beautiful family story set to music.
The review of this Movie prepared by Lauren




A young nun is thrown into a spiraling romance with an older, dashing naval officer whome she is assigned to work for as a governess.
The movie moves from stormy first impressions, marriage and finally a flight for security and freedom from Hitler's occupation of Austria.

The review of this Movie prepared by William Riser






The hills certainly are alive with the sound of music as Robert Wise takes this
Broadway-winning musical and envelopes the cinematic world! Certainly one of the most
popular musicals of all time, this Rodgers and Hammerstein-scored film is the story of
Maria, who gives up her religious vows and becomes a governess to the children of the
Baron Von Trapp. She finds the early insurrmountable obstacles of taking care of the
children to be not so insurrmountable, as she plies her musical abilities and charm to win
over the entire family. Set in Salzburg, Austria, as the Nazis are fast engulfing the
European continent, the Von Trapps will have no part of this political and military
madness.    And, of course, the climactic scene of their escape from the Nazis, too, is
unforgettable!



The review of this Movie prepared by Bill Hobbs



Script Analysis of The Sound of Music

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Plot & Themes

Comedy, primarily    -   Yes Time/era of movie:    -   1930's-1950's War impact on civilians/veterans    -   Yes Comedy or Parody about    -   musical Kind of conflict:    -   war, WW II How much humor v. drama    -   Lot of humor, but significant serious drama

Main Character

Identity:    -   Female Profession/status:    -   religious figure Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   German

Setting

Europe    -   Yes European country:    -   Austria Mountains/Cliffs    -   Yes Misc setting    -   fancy mansion

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment Any profanity?    -   None If lots of song/dance...    -   lot of singing and dancing Is this movie based on a    -   book

Movies with storylines, themes & endings like The Sound of Music

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