The Sound of Music 50 Years Later: Why is it Still Relevant?

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

The film version of The Sound of Music, released in 1965, continues to dazzle audiences up until today. As a result of its 50 year span, generation upon generation rediscover the film and realize what a true spectacle it was (and continues to be) in the film industry. It is one of the highest grossing films of all time. The National Film Registry is a special part of the United States Library of Congress. Its goal is to, “is to ensure the survival, conservation, and increased public availability of America’s film heritage.” Only the most prestigious American films are inducted into the registry. In 2001, The Sound of Music was selected to be a part of the National Film Registry. It was regarded as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Due to The Sound of Music’s continued success, there must be some salient points that set it apart from the rest. There are many comprehensive reviews of the film all over the internet, so this piece is not intended to be a review. Rather, it will be an in-depth analysis as to what has made the film resonate with so many people each decade.

The primary ingredient to the success of the film was the casting of Julie Andrews. Ernest Lehman, the screenwriter, stated that his one and only choice for the lead role of Maria von Trapp was Julie Andrews. The director, Robert Wise, had considered three actresses to play the lead role: Julie Andrews, Grace Kelly, and Shirley Jones. Mrs. Andrews did have some reservations about the role, because there were disparities between the original musical and the film. However, after speaking with Lehman and Wise, and hearing their vision of the film, she signed on for the role. Her casting was paramount because the film rested on her shoulders. The role involved a culmination of singing, acting, and dancing. Andrews was perfect for the role due to her agile, light, and wide ranging voice. In addition, her acting had an effortless quality to it because she was doing it for the joy of acting first and foremost as opposed to monetary gain. It is evident that this film was truly written with her in mind.

Although there are quite a few differences between what truly happened historically, the musical, and the film, the film retains three important themes. I firmly believe that these themes are the core of the film’s longevity in the industry. They are:

1. Love: The Sound of Music is many things, but it is first and foremost a love story. Love exists in so many different shapes and forms. Throughout history, philosophers struggle with defining love. However, the love between Maria and Captain von Trapp is central to the film. Whether it is their first waltz, or after when the Captain sees Maria again after she resumes her role as the governess, their love is unbreakable. In addition, Maria uses singing and dancing to build love between the children, demonstrating another type of love.

2. Happiness: The film is centered on positive emotions, which will always trump negativity. One of the strongest points of the film is that no matter what the von Trapp children planned against Maria, she always took it in good stride. Also, the songs themselves and Andrews’ voice were light and fresh. They encouraged happiness rather than sorrow. When Maria left, it was clear that the children lost their joy and spark in singing. Andrews actually stated herself that she didn’t go into opera because she wanted to sing songs that were “bright and sunny”, rather than the solemn tone of opera. The sunny quality permeates the film, and has been essential to its success.

3. Family: The importance of family life in The Sound of Music is the third and final theme vital to its success. Maria provided a very important role for the von Trapp family, one of a mother figure. Not only was she able to awaken hidden talent (such as Captain von Trapp’s penchant for music) but she was also able to enhance the relationship between the Captain and his children. She proved to the family that joy and happiness are the best way to overcome difficulty. Even in the tensest moments of the film toward the end, they stayed together as one unit. They proved that through strong family ties, you can “Climb Every Mountain”.

As The Sound of Music celebrates its golden anniversary, we can see how significant the film is in history. The themes are universal and suitable for any time, regardless of the current state of affairs in the world. Film has the power to change society. Time and time again people are inspired by film. Lady Gaga’s widely acclaimed Sound of Music medley at this year’s Oscars, which was viewed by approximately 37 million people in the United States, proves that the film still has enough life in it for another 50 years. If modern Hollywood films incorporated the themes of love, happiness, and family more frequently with genuine talent, who knows, it may have a chain effect on society’s actions and behavior. In essence, this film is unique in many ways yet relatable. If you haven’t seen it yet, I urge you to watch it and relish in its glorious message of hope.