Why The Sound of Music has such enduring appeal
With a restored print about to screen in cinemas, the 1965 musical is set to win more fans and earn yet more money. Barbara Vancheri looks at why the film has struck such a chord around the world
Late in filming for The Sound of Music - after a helicopter's downdraft had knocked Julie Andrews over, after rain clobbered the schedule and budget, and after an angry farmer poked holes in a man-made brook - the leading lady delivered a tentative prediction. "This smells as if it might be a success," Andrews said.
It proved to be quite an understatement. The musical - released 50 years ago in March 1965 - became so phenomenally popular that it was nicknamed "The Sound of Money" and dubbed "The Mint". The movie played in cinemas in the US for four years until the studio withdrew it with plans for a reissue; the demand in England was so insatiable that the film set a record with 170 weeks at a London theatre.
Decades later, while promoting a live CBS presentation of On Golden Pond with co-star Christopher Plummer, Andrews said: "I don't think either of us knew it would take off that way. I guess when you put all those ingredients - beautiful scenery and beautiful music and children and nuns and all of that - together, the only thing that was missing was Lassie, I guess."
And now, the musical's glories are being revisited in its golden anniversary. For starters, Lady Gaga performed a medley from The Sound of Music at the recent Oscar ceremony and was greeted by Andrews afterwards.
The restored film is returning to 500-plus US cinemas from April 19, and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has just released a five-disc edition with a new documentary. The movie also opened the TCM Classic Film Festival on March 26 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, where Andrews and Plummer enjoyed a rare reunion. And the West End musical version arrives in Hong Kong next month.
