The Sound of Music

While Hollywood’s use of the “filmed musical” is an ongoing practice, recent endeavors fail to reach the standards set by the classic musical films made popular in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. In particular, The Sound of Music stands as a beloved family classic nearly 50 years after its initial release. The music, setting, and characters all combine to fuel this intertwined love story unraveling amidst the Nazi occupation of Austria in the last glory days of the 1930s. Now, as the iconic Julie Andrews struggles to hold a single note after a botched throat surgery in 1999, we learn to treasure films such as this. While her abilities may be limited in the present, The Sound of Music acts as recorded evidence for a caliber of talent we rarely find anymore.