The Sound of Music

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the film 'The Sound of Music'. Specifically it discusses the music and theme of the film. The writer notes that 'The Sound of Music' is one of classic Hollywood's classic musicals and is still a family favorite today, even though it was first released in 1965 to movie theaters. The writer explains that it is a heartwarming story that tells the story of the rise of Nazi power in Austria in the 1930s, and how one family coped with the historic and frightening events swirling around them. The writer looks at the storyline and notes that the story is essentially true, but the film took fictional license with much of the truth involved. The writer discusses that the story would not be the same without all the music, and this indicates that it works in the film, making it more magical and charming than it would have been without all the wonderful songs.

From the Paper:

"The overarching film theme is the theme of love transforming a dysfunctional family, something that is purely an invention for the film. While the Captain was strict, he was not as strict as the film portrays, and in reality, Maria went to the family home to act as a nurse, more than a governess. The couple did fall in love, however, and did marry. In the film, Maria is the catalyst that brings the family together and helps the Captain see how much he loves his family. She nurtures the children and gets the Captain to open up and be much more loving and open with his family, and brings the entire family together. The family in the film is dysfunctional, because the Captain is so strict and so unable to warm up to his children, and they need a woman's touch to get past this feeling of domination and fear that permeates the children. They are not allowed to just be "children" until Maria comes, and that transforms the family and turns it into a "real" loving and caring unit."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Editors. (2008). The sound of music. Retrieved 15 Feb. 2008 from the Sound of Music.com Web site: http://www.sound-of-music.com/movie/.
• Editors. (2007). The sound of music (1965). Retrieved 15 Feb. 2008 from the ReelClassics.com Web site: http://www.reelclassics.com/Musicals/SoundMusic/soundmusic.htm.
• Editors. (2008). "Trivia." Retrieved 15 Feb. 2008 from the IMDB.com Web site: http://imdb.com/title/tt0059742/trivia.
• The sound of music. 1965. Dir. Robert Wise, Perf. Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Hollywood: 20th Century Fox Studios.

More papers on The Sound of Music:

• Film Review # 105311 : "How Camp Culture Changed "The Sound of Music"
• Film Review # 113886 : "Film: "The Sound of Music"
• Comparison Essay # 125031 : "Gone With The Wind" and "The Sound of Music"

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