The Sound of Music (1965)

I've been meaning to watch The Sound of Music for a very long time but always put it off because of its length. I just have to be in the mood to watch an almost 3-hour long musical which I'm usually not in. I finally felt like watching it and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 

Set in 1930's Austria, the film follows Maria (Julie Andrews), a young woman who wanted to be a nun since she was a little girl but when finally joins them, doesn't like it and keeps getting in trouble. For this reason, the Mother Abbess (Peggy Wood) sends her to the house of a retired naval captain (Christopher Plummer) to take care of his seven children.

The plot is the reason I should have not like it as it is very simple, very predictable, and so sappy, saccharine and sugary that if it was a cake, you'd get cavities only by looking at it. And it's pretty much the same for the subplots. It just shouldn't work and yet it does. It is interesting to follow, the romance between Maria and the captain is so predictable but so delightful as it slowly develops. 

While those flaws I mentioned above didn't bother me, the Nazi did. It's not until the end of the film that we can feel their influence. Unlike in Gone with the Wind, where the story basically revolves around American Civil War, in The Sound of Music it feels like it's thrown into the mix to add some drama. And it does add drama in the third act, but it just doesn't feel right. I don't know if you know what I mean.

Just like the story, the characters too are victims of poor writing. They are paper-thin and yet they are likeable and quite memorable and the credits for that go entirely to the cast. Julie Andrews fits perfectly the character of Maria, a strong-minded, sweet and outspoken novice turned governess, and her voice is a blast. Christopher Plummer does a great job as Captain Von Trapp, and he has a very nice chemistry with Andrews which makes their characters romance so much better. The Von Trapp children are just adorable. 

20th Century Fox

The Sound of Music is eye-pleasing too. In fact, cinematography, sets, locations and costumes all are quite beautiful. 

And yet the best aspect of it easily is the music. The film is indeed filled with wonderful and enjoyable songs. They are silly, just like everything else, but they work because of how joyful and genuine the cast looks. They are the kind of songs that come from the heart, that's why they work even though they shouldn't.

Ultimately, The Sound of Music isn't a perfect film and at some points, I really felt the weight of the length, but it's enjoyable and fun.