‘The Sound of Music’ returns to theaters

Big news. “The Sound of Music” is returning to the movie theaters. The much-lauded musical billed as “The Happiest Sound in all the World” will be playing in SM Cinemas starting on Sept. 30.

The event, which is also happening in many parts of the world, is part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the release of the movie version of “The Sound of Music.”

The original musical starring Mary Martin opened on Broadway in 1959 but the film starring Julie Andrews came along in March 1965. It proved to be a box-office smash and soon became the biggest-grossing movie of all time beating long-time champion “Gone with the Wind.”

“The Sound of Music” is a fictional retelling of the story of Maria Von Trapp of the famous Von Trapp Family Singers from Austria. She was the postulant turned governess to the seven children of Captain Georg Von Trapp, who she later married.

Set during the years leading to World War II, the “Sound of Music” tells of how Maria won the hearts of the unruly children. It also shows how music played an important role among the Von Trapps and of how it helped them escape the Anschluss to freedom in 1938.

“The Sound of Music” is the last musical written by the phenomenal team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Think “The King and I, Oklahoma, Carousel, Flower Drum Song and others. Hammerstein died of cancer in 1960. It was unfortunate that he was not able to watch what came to be known as “The Happiest Sound in all the World.”

I know, although not in theaters, “Sound of Music” has been available on video all this time and has also been streaming regularly on the Disney app. But then, watching it on the big screen is really an experience that everybody should enjoy. And the SM playdates promise to be truly special.

The 60th anniversary edition of “The Sound of Music” has been restored and remastered in 4K technology. 4K is known to be superior to HD or high definition or even UHD or ultra high definition. This is because 4K uses nearly 4,000 pixels.

4K images are of very sharp, very high quality. The same goes for the soundtrack. Audiences in 1965 were already amazed watching “The Sound of Music” in the then huge Todd-AO format. I now wonder what a 4K movie will be like.

Watch out for that opening scene where Maria sings The Sound of Music backdropped by the Austrian Alps soaring up to heaven. That romantic moment in the gazebo where Maria and the Captain duet in Something Good as they realize they had fallen in love. The Captain joining the children as they sing Edelweiss, which never fails to bring on the tears.

What about that moment where the Mother Superior burst into one of the most inspiring songs ever written, Climb Every Mountain. Or Maria in her wedding gown marching down the aisle of the Abbey to the tune of the nuns singing How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria. And everybody loves the Do Re Mi montage where Maria teaches the children the musical scale while going around beautiful Salzburg.

Plus, so many others. Actually, scenes from “The Sound of Music” have become so iconic that sing-along screenings have become quite popular. This is where the audience come in costumes and sing along with the soundtrack. I do not know if this will happen come September at SM Cinemas but I can already bet that many in the audience will come as a postulant, a nun, a captain or in pinafores and suspenders like the kids.

“The Sound of Music” is produced and directed by Robert Wise and written by Ernest Lehman. It also stars Christopher Plummer as Capt. Von Trapp. It won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.