The Two Maria Von Trapps
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 7:00PM 
The Two Maria Von TrappsTwenty-five years ago today the real Maria Von Trapp passed away or, shall we say, climbed that last every mountain. I recently tried to find footage of her with the other real "Maria Von Trapp" Julie Andrews -- The Sound of Music is so embedded in culture that it's one of those movies that's as real as fiction gets, yes? YouTube has a bit from the Julie Andrews Variety Hour from the early 70s but it's hard to watch due to the loud buzzing sound on the recording. Pity that because it looks fun.
I've been thinking about The Sound of Music a lot recently since the Captain himself, Christopher Plummer won the Oscar just last month. I want to watch it again right now. Or at least "The Lonely Goatherd" or something.
How many times have you seen it?
Julie Andrews, RIP, The Sound of Music, musicals
Reader Comments (10)
I've probably seen The Sound Of Music at least 50 times. Yikes. Here's my main SOM story, when I was 12 years old, it was being re-released in the movie theaters (this is pre-VHS). Since it was G rated and therefore "mormon approved" (snerk) I was allowed to go see it by myself. I paid 25 cents to see it at the 10:30 matinee. It was playing in a double bill with Thoroughly Modern Millie. I stayed and watched Sound of Music three times and TMM twice. After that my parents insisted I go home. This was before you got kicked out of the movie after watching it. So, I guess each viewing that day cost me 5 cents each. Oh, and I went back the following Saturday and did it all over again. ;-)
I've only seen it once, and that was on TV maybe 15 years ago or so. (Back when it came out, my parents wouldn't let me go to the movies.)
Speaking of Christopher Plummer...the day after he won the Oscar, I went out and bought his memoirs, "In Spite of Myself." I highly recommend this! It's a wonderful read, full of great stories (he's quite the raconteur, if you hadn't guessed from his public appearances).
You can find a much better quality version of this TV appearance by the real Maria von Trapp on The Julie Andrews Show as a bonus feature on disc 2 of the 2010 Bluray release of TSOM.
I've never seen this movie all the way through.
I first saw TSOM when I was ten at a party of a friend and I think most importantly it made me realize the gravity of WWII. This was of course waaay before I even heard of movies like Schindler's List. But I love it, its so romantic and moving and I love the Austrian Mountains.
I saw it several times as a youngster, and even auditioned to be in a local stage production of it in Michigan - I didn't get in, however. I did therefore memorize the songs - and since then have had absolutely no desire to revisit the thing.
Janice, that reminds me...when I was in school orchestra, we played the overture to the musical version, so I knew the tunes...at least, in their truncated versions.
I've seen The Sound of Music more times than I can count. Love it! When my parents were deciding on a model for a house to build in Orlando, my sister and I (she was 5, I was 8) PLEADED that they would choose the two story model so that we would have stairs to properly re-enact Gretl's "the suuuuun has goooone to bed and so must I....." in So Long Farewell. :)
[we got our wish!]
Too many to remember and too many to count.
This is SUCH an amazing video! I had goosebumps watching it (in spite of that awful noise, but let's be honest here, we're lucky to have it anyway!).
I've seen the movie so many times! And if you're thinking about watching it again, may I kindly suggest you pick up the Blu-Ray release? The remaster is ASTOUNDING!