Thursday, December 04, 2008

The Sound of Music

Sappy level: low

My sister mentioned this movie in one of her comments. Along with "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" (the cartoon, not that Jim Carrey thing), "Charlie Brown Christmas", and a few of the Rankin/Bass specials, "The Sound of Music" was a must see every holiday.

I don’t care what anyone says, I love this movie. So what if it’s cheesy at times? The movie did win the Oscar for Best Picture. Then again so did "Dances with Wolves" over "Goodfellas" which was an outrage!

As a child of course the World War II subplot went over my head. However, I loved the music and even as a young ragazza I could tell Christopher Plummer was FOINE! Mr. Plummer is still doing his thing. Great moment in "The Insider" when his character said to Gina Gerson's, "Mike? Mike? Try Mr. Wallace!" Everyone in the theater was like, man, he is not playing.

Julie Andrews had an amazing voice. I read her vocal chords were damaged during an operation for a throat infection. Sad. We sang this song in choir and those notes she hits at the end? Not easy.

I felt bad for Maria when they said she was a problem nun. She was just misunderstood. Then she found true love. I also felt a little sorry for the Baroness. I don't blame her for being salty. I'd be pissed too if my fiance dumped me for another woman.

One of my favorite clips from the movie.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I loved watching Sound of Music every xmas and Easter! It was a tradition, along with It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. When I went to Salzburg I even stayed at the Sound of Music hostel and went on the bus tour. Pathetic, I know!
Did you know that the Sound of Music's Italian title is "Tutti Insieme Appassionatamente"? Sounds like it could be about... something else.

Jen said...

This was my favorite movie, hands down, growing up. Julie Andrews was my hero.

There's a very funny clip on youtube called something like Horror trailer for Mary Poppins - it manages to make her... um... a bit scary. ;-)

Homebody at Heart said...

I love the opening shot of the helicopter zooming in on Maria and her turning circles with her dress held out. My girlfriend and I have often said that we are going to go to Switzerland one day and do exactly the same thing in a mountain meadow. Of course, we want her teenaged daughter there, too, so we can thoroughly embarass her!

Anonymous said...

How can you not love the Sound of Music? I remember my whole family watching it together every year. When I was about 6 or 7, a local cinema showed played for the holidays and my Mom took me and I can remember her laughing her head off because I sang along with all the numbers.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely adore this movie! :) We recently saw the theater production of The Sound of Music. It was simply fantastic. I don't know what it is about this story but I can watch it over and over again! :)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

milanese - That title is completely different. ha. You're not pathetic, I would have gone on the bus tour as well.

jen - I will have to check out that trailer.

homebody - every time I'm on a hill I want to do that!

joanne - in L.A. there is a sing-a-long at the Hollywood Bowl. Unfortunately I never went.

lulu - it's a good story, with great music but has a serious subplot a perfect combo. Plus the movie was extremely well cast. Take away any of those elements and maybe the movie wouldn't be a classic or resonate with so many people.

Faith at Acts of Faith Blog said...

Oh you know when you mentioned Mr. Plummer I was thinking Spike's Lee Inside Man. He has aged very well. I may have to go back and watch it again. He doesn't look botoxed within an inch of his life. I forgot he was Mr. Von Trapp! That movie had a lot of gravitas and my favorite Brit Chiwetel. I never get tired of watching the Julie Andrews musicals. I really love Mary Poppins though.

fail_safe said...

I suspect that there are a lot of closet T.S.O.M fans out there. I'm not one of them, I'm out with it. It's a beautiful movie and I watch it every year. And I'm definitely with you, Christopher Plummer was such a hot piece (and still looks good for his age, I think)! My favorite scene is when Maria and the Captain are demonstrating the Lendler, she looks into his eyes and has to stop dancing because she's so captivated by him. Movie magic!

glamah16 said...

One of my favorites too! I just read the neighborhood where the Von Trapps lived in Salzburg is being blocked from being turned into a hotel. The Chi Chi neighbors dont want the tourist attention. Surprisnigly CS (a German) had never heard of this movie. I was shocked!
Yeah I felt for the Baroness too. She was kind of more my style:-)But I love Julie Andrews.

Anonymous said...

Christmas just isn't Christmas without the Sound of Music. I still think Christopher Plummer is a handsome devil!

Carolyn Vines said...

My European friends (my husband included) called me every kind of cheesy a few years ago when I went on the Sound of Music tour Austria. We'd been there skiing, and I knew I couldn't leave those hallowed grounds without taking that once in a lifetime tours. I actually stood outside the glass house in which Liesl and Rolf shared their first kiss. Come on! It was a dream come true. When I'm feeling nostalgic, I pull out the pics and hum my favorite tunes.

Petulia said...

Can you believe it, I have never watched this movie...am I too old now?

Anonymous said...

I'm another huge fan of The Sound of Music. My favorite song is Edelweiss. I even wrote a blog post about it. The first time I went to Europe, The person running the B&B where I stayed in Salzburg took me around to see all of the Sound of Music spots. He never saw the movie but still knew all the important locations. I bought the DVD in Genova this past summer so that I could watch it in Italian and English. There are a lot of great extras on the DVD. I spent an entire day watching all the info on how the movie was made, etc. Then I spent the following day googling the different stars and found a blog that one of the actors has up which had more info on the movie with tons of great photos. I wish I could remember it now. Can you tell I am a fan? :)

Anonymous said...

Love the sap-level alert at the beginning of the post. You're keeping to your promises!

Petulia -- it's not too late. I too had never seen Sound of Music until quite recently. You should still watch it!

I've been thinking about how "A Few of my Favorite Things" has a second life as a Christmastime song.

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

aofb - I really enjoyed Inside Man too. Very well made movie for adults. Don't get me started on my favorite Brit. I saw him at a premiere in a suit and couldn't speak. ha.

ninety9 - that is movie magic. I'm not ashamed to say how I feel about TSOM in public. There are some other films I won't discuss. :)

glamah16 - seriously, the Baroness was rocking those dresses. I can't believe CS has not heard of this classic. You must bring him up to speed. ha

ms. violetta - yes he is.

baab - that is too funny. Don't your friends understand. It's The Sound of Music! So maybe this is more of a North American thing.

petulia - one is never too old for The Sound of Music.

girasoli - you are hardcore. I should get the DVD here. Since it came on like clockwork every year in the States, I never bought it. Edelweiss is a beautiful song.

kimb - I try. ha. I tried to find a good clip of that song but couldn't. It's one of my favorites.

Anonymous said...

Do you know to this day I have never seen this movie? It's a travesty...

Anonymous said...

This is one of my top 10 favorite movies!

Ms. ATL

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

toni - have no worries. It comes on TV every year in No. America. :)

ms. ATL - I'm so glad folks are showing their TSOM love.

Liane Spicer said...

I think this is my all-time favourite movie. The magic never fades no matter how many times I see it, and the soundtrack? It's like the soundtrack of my childhood.

This is an inspired movie, achingly beautiful. That opening scene? The best ever! The scene in the glass house? **swoon** "I have sinned, Reverend Mother..." Yes!

Can you tell it's one of my favourite things?

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

wordtyrst - I agree! I love that opening scene too.

Anonymous said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE This movie. Grazie for reminding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

anon - you're welcome.