The Sound of Music: No 'so long, farewell' for this one!

We have all grown up with a healthy dose of ‘Do Re Mi’ and ‘Favourite things’- all songs from this wondrous musical drama set in the golden years before the Second World War reared its dirty head. ‘The Sound of Music’ directed by Robert Wise starring the melodious Julie Andrews, the breathtakingly charismatic Christopher Plummer (may his soul rest in peace) and the seven children actors playing the Von Trapp singers is everything sweet and more. This is a reel life depiction of the real life Von Trapp family singers who hailed from Austria, set in the period just before the National Socialist Party took control over Austria under the leadership of Hitler.

Wise makes us fall in love with Maria's simpleton character. Just like the Von Trapp family, through her we rediscover our love for music. Maria shows them a way of life that is carefree and beautiful while the horrors of war are imminent. So much so that Captain Von Trapp is more enamoured by her than by the ostentatious Baroness. Music forms the heart and soul of this 1965 drama. It is music that helps Maria discover herself, it is music that helps the children reunite with their father, it is music that helps the lovelorn Captain  find love again and it is also music that finally helps the Von Trapps escape Austria.

There are umpteen number of films that have based their premise on the Second World War, but few have done it through through such melodious entrapments. The undertones of war are shown through nonchalant conversations between the Von Trapp children and uncle Max or a Herr Zeller with a fellow Anschluss sympathizer. They set the background for all that transpires. Even Rolfe and Liesl's  young love turning sour  stands testimony to the dying exhilaration among the masses. Captain Von Trapp's patriotic idealism notwithstanding his discernment of the times makes for some magnificent subtlety in a period musical. The other spoil of war of course is the dehumanized young men shown through the depiction of Rolfe who is close to tears when he realizes he may have to shoot Captain Von Trapp. The gonging of wedding bells which signify time pass by as Austria comes into the dangerous clutches of the Nazi is another example of the wonderful screenplay.

Of course the film took creative liberties. It did away with one conflict – money. The Von Trapps in reality had lost their fortune in the Great Depression of 1929 and Maria taught her step children the art of singing so as to earn a living. Of course, a dull and helpless Von Trapp would not play to the strengths of depicting the grandeur of the Austrian elite. Unsurprisingly, this film also does not pass the Bechdel test. The conversations Maria shares with the Reverend Mother, Liesl, Baroness, all involve a man. But given all that this 1965 classic gifts us I can absolve it of all its faults.

The picturesque locales are a beautiful sight and add to the already plush palette of music and acting that film boasts of. Lin Manuel Miranda’s funny video with his family on revisiting all the famous locations of the film sets in Salzburg is a wonderful reminder of how this movie continues to stand the test of time. This holds true for lesser known humans like me as well as I intend for this to be the very first non-animated musical I show my niece.