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The Sound of Music; Forever Loved!

Fun Facts and More...

By Hayley DodwellPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Who doesn't love The Sound of Music?! It's my all time favourite film, and I will happily watch and thoroughly enjoy watching it every year, usually at Christmas. In fact my Christmas is never complete without a viewing of my favourite film! The hills are alive with the sound of music, well, my living room certainly!!

The film was released in 1965 and it has been a classic ever since. The film has it all, children, singing, dancing, stunning views, Julie Andrews, nuns, what more could you wish for?! The film is a joy to watch and as exciting as climbing mountains, raindrops on roses, brown paper packages tied up with strings, and girls in white dresses with blue cotton sashes, it is a blast!!

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

The children (above) From left to right – Liesl (Charmian Carr) Friedrich (Nicholas Hammond) Louisa (Heather Menzies) Kurt (Duane Chase) Brigitta (Angela Cartwright) Marta (Debbie Turner) and Gretl (Kym Karath). The children loved making the film, Duane Chase has said it was some of the best time ever spent anywhere! Yes the lead roles of the film were played to perfection by Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp, but it was the fantastic performances by the children which to me made the film such a pleasure to watch. Read on to discover some fun facts on The Sound of Music…

The songs in the film are absolute classics, but did you know that Christopher Plummer's (Captain Von Trapp) singing voice wasn't his real singing voice?! His voice was dubbed! Oh yes! Also, though the children really did sing in the film, additional children’s voices were also added to give a fuller sound, one of the children was Charmian Carr’s sister, Darlene. Darlene also did Kurt’s (Duane Chase) high note in the So Long Farewell scene at the party!

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

How can you not just love this film, seriously?!! Okay, more fun facts. . .

Everybody's favourite Von Trapp child naturally was little Gretl, played by Kym Kareth, who was already an experienced actress, at just 5 years old! She had worked with Doris Day and she was also in Spencer’s Mountain with Henry Fonda. During the boat scene, the then 5 year old Kym Karath, couldn't swim! So when the boat turned over Julie Andrews was meant to catch her. But when the boat did turn, it was at such a force that Julie fell the wrong way, and poor Kym went under the water!

The English born actress Angela Cartwright who played Brigitta was also an experienced actress, she had been a regular on the Danny Thomas Show. After The Sound of Music she went on to play Penny Robinson, in the hugely successful American TV series, Lost In Space. The show is still played, in reruns, to this day!

The film’s popularity has never stopped, it is loved worldwide! The film won 5 Oscars in 1966, including best director, for Robert Wise. The film was based on a true story, that of the Von Trapp Singers, the real Maria Von Trapp can be seen in the background during the I Have Confidence scene!

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Okay, here's more.. during rehearsals of Sixteen Going Seventeen, Charmian Carr hurt her ankle. If you look closely in the scene, you can spot she is wearing a bandage!

Also, I'll have you know that the inside shots of the Von Trapp’s family home were filmed on a soundstage in Los Angeles, not in Austria! Who knew?!

The fantastic Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich) was in fact naturally a brunette, but had to dye his hair blonde for the character. The bleach caused his scalp to go red, hence him wearing a hat in some of his scenes! Poor Nicholas! The late, great Charmian Carr (Liesl) though playing sixteen going on seventeen, was actually 21!

The Sound of Music is one of the most loved films ever, it’s love goes from generation to generation. I’m sure it will always be up there as a Christmas must watch for me! It will never be told, So Long Farewell!! If, shock horror, you have never seen the film, for heaven sake watch it!!!! It's a guaranteed watch of happiness and joy! You'll soon be, like me, having your yearly watch!

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About the Creator

Hayley Dodwell

I am a freelance writer. As well as Vocal, I have also written articles for numerous websites, including, Eighties Kids, WhatCulture, Child Of The 1980's, Online Book Club, GoNOMAD Travel, Hubpages, and ScreenHub Entertainment.

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