The Sound of Music is 45 years old

I read about this a long time ago. The Von Trapp Family escaped Nazi-occupied Austria not by crossing the Alps on foot but by simply taking a train to Italy. But who cares about reality. Watching Julie Andrews as Maria Von Trapp and Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp, plus those kids make it to freedom to the tune of Climb Every Mountain is one of cinema’s most wonderful moments. I do not know if this happens in theaters but I have seen viewers at home sing along, while teary-eyed over that ending.  

That is not the only effect that the Academy Award-winning motion picture has on its audience. I have a friend who, when faced with a daunting task, bursts into I Have Confidence. Another friend gets over sad times by watching the movie again and again.  I have a niece who was so taken with The Sound of Music that she had to get into costume while watching. You know drindl skirt, apron and babushka with matching song and dance. Then of all the musicals ever made, this is the one whose songs have been committed to memory effortlessly by fans all over the world.

With The Sound of Music now commemorating its 45th anniversary of release, those fans must number in the millions or even billions by now. It is only a few millions away from all-time box-office winners Gone With The Wind and Star Wars, and the picture still works. I was more of a West Side Story than The Sound of Music fan but I have to admit, I would at times unknowingly also burst into My Favorite Things. Kids and parents of the past two generations enjoyed it immensely and you can bet that it will be passed on by the current one to the next and the next and the next and the next. It is and will forever be timeless.

To celebrate the present milestone, Sony Music has reissued the motion picture soundtrack album. All the songs composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II that many have fallen in love with are present. The Sound of Music, Maria, Sixteen Going On Seventeen, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, The Lonely Goatherd, Edelweiss, So Long Farewell, Something Good and Climb Every Mountain. And it offers something new. It includes a bonus track of My Favorite Things performed by Lea Michele, the star of the popular TV series Glee.

Not only that. Sony has also released the original Broadway soundtrack that starred Mary Martin, which first came out in 1959. Most of us will be hearing this for the first time. Some cuts come out better. Some do not. There are songs that were on Broadway but not in the movie and vice-versa. But whether you like it or not, owning this classic recording is a must for all fans of the musical. It is just too bad there were no videos yet at that time. It would have been nice to see how Martin, the biggest star of the American stage musical played Maria.

Also it is again too bad that the special three-disc 45th anniversary Blue-Ray edition of The Sound of Music digitally re-mastered with lots of interesting add-ons, was released locally only in a very limited number of copies. Fans have to get this one abroad or online. However, the 40th anniversary commemorative DVD is still available. What is a five-year difference with a classic? The picture has not changed one bit. Besides, it also has a lot of add-ons like a making of documentary, trivia stuff and others.

 But if you really want to check out the original Broadway version, a local production of The Sound of Music directed by Roxanne Lapus, is now playing at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre of Resorts World Manila. Alternating in the lead roles are Joanna Ampil and Cris Villonco as Maria and Audie Gemora and Ed Feist as Captain Von Trapp. The musical will run up to Dec. 11 and should make a great holiday treat for you and the kids. 

Ready now, Raindrops and roses and whiskers on kittens/ bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens/ brown paper packages tied up with string/ these are a few of my favorite things….