Exploring Austria Through The Lens Of The Sound Of Music

The Sound of Music is a 1965 musical drama film set in Salzburg, Austria. The film is based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp, and is a fictional retelling of her experiences as governess to seven children, her eventual marriage to their father, and their escape to Switzerland during the Anschluss in 1938.

The film is set in Salzburg, Austria

The Benedictine monastery, where Maria started out as a novice, is where the nuns sang "Maria". The song I Have Confidence was filmed in Residenzplatz Square, and the Felsenreitschule forms the location for the singing competition in which the family choir participate, and is also where the escape plans were made. It is here that Christopher Plummer, alias Baron von Trapp, sang "Edelweiss".

The wedding scene was filmed in the Collegiate Church of St. Michael in Mondsee, less than an hour's bus drive from Salzburg.

The town of Werfen provided the backdrop for the song Do-Re-Mi, and Hohenwerfen Fortress can be seen in the background. Mount Untersberg is depicted twice in the film: during the opening scene in which Maria is singing "The Sound of Music", and again when the family is escaping over the mountain to Switzerland while singing "Climb Every Mountain".

The Sound of Music museum is being planned in Salzburg, but until it opens in 2026, there are plenty of other ways to experience the film in the city. You can visit the filming locations on foot, on a guided bike tour, or by bus.

The real-life Maria von Trapp lived in Salzburg

The real-life Maria von Trapp, born Maria Augusta Kutschera, moved to Salzburg after graduating from college. She boarded a train to the city to present herself as a candidate for the novitiate of the Benedictine Sisterhood at Nonnberg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery.

Maria had been raised as an atheist and socialist by an abusive relative, but her beliefs changed dramatically after she accidentally attended a church service at her college, intending to hear a Bach concert. A priest, Father Kronseder, began to preach, and Maria was captivated by his words.

Maria joined the Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg to become a nun. However, it was decided that she should leave the convent for a year to work as a governess for the captain's daughter, who was ill with rheumatic fever. Maria tutored Maria Franziska von Trapp, one of seven children born to widowed naval commander Georg von Trapp. Eventually, she began to look after all the children.

The von Trapp family lived in a villa in the district of Salzburg called Aigen. The family enjoyed hiking, and on one outing, they stayed overnight at a farmer's house. The next morning, they were informed that Maria and two of Georg's daughters, Johanna and Martina, had scarlet fever. Although Johanna and Martina recovered, Maria developed kidney stones due to dehydration.

In 1935, the family met with financial ruin. To survive, they dismissed most of their servants, moved into the top floor of their house, and rented out the other rooms. The Archbishop of Salzburg, Sigismund Waitz, sent Father Franz Wasner to stay with them as their chaplain, and this marked the beginning of their singing career.

In 1938, the von Trapps realised they were in danger due to their opposition to the Nazis and their ideology. They decided to flee Austria, and after travelling to Italy, England, and finally the United States, they settled in Stowe, Vermont, where they ran a music camp when they were not touring.

The film was shot in Salzburg and Los Angeles

The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical drama film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The film is an adaptation of the 1959 stage musical composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp and is set in Salzburg, Austria.

Filming for The Sound of Music took place from March to September 1964 in Los Angeles and Salzburg. The film was released in the United States on March 2, 1965, initially as a limited roadshow theatrical release.

Salzburg was chosen as the location for the film as early as 1963. The city is known for its idyllic scenery and was once home to the real-life Trapp family, whose story inspired the movie. The production crew filmed at various locations in and around Salzburg, including:

• Leopoldskron Palace: This palace served as the primary filming location for the lake terrace scenes of the Von Trapp family home. The scenes where Maria and the children fall into the lake and where the Captain and Uncle Max drink pink lemonade on the terrace were filmed here.
• Frohnburg Palace: The facade, courtyard, and front gate of this palace were used for exterior shots of the Trapp Villa.
• Mirabell Palace & Gardens: The iconic song, "Do-Re-Mi," was partially filmed here, with Maria and the children dancing around the Pegasus Fountain and running through the hedge maze.
• Residence Square & Fountain: This square was featured in the film when Maria sang "I Have Confidence in Me" and splashed water in the fountain.
• St. Peter's Cemetery: This cemetery inspired the set for the scene where the Von Trapps hide from the Nazis behind tombstones.
• Hellbrunn Palace: This palace is home to the famous Sound of Music gazebo, where romantic scenes such as Liesl's first kiss while singing "16 Going on 17" were filmed.
• Nonnberg Abbey: The oldest female convent north of the Alps, this location was used for scenes such as the nuns singing "Maria" in the courtyard and Maria leaving the abbey.
• Summer Riding School: A riding school built into a cavity in the Mönchsberg, this location was used for the scene where Christopher Plummer, as Baron von Trapp, sang "Edelweiss."

Los Angeles, where the remaining scenes were filmed, provided the necessary studio space to recreate certain interior locations, such as the ballroom of the Venetian Room at Leopoldskron Palace and the cemetery at St. Peter's Abbey.

The film is based on Maria von Trapp's memoir

The film The Sound of Music is based on Maria von Trapp's 1949 memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. The film is a fictionalised retelling of her experiences as a governess to seven children, her marriage to their father, Captain Georg von Trapp, and their escape to Switzerland during the 1938 Anschluss.

The film adaptation was directed by Robert Wise and released in 1965. It starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer and was a commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1965. It also received critical acclaim, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The story is set in Salzburg, Austria, and the film was shot on location in the city and its surroundings. The real-life von Trapp family once lived in Salzburg, and the city is now a popular tourist destination for fans of the film.

The film diverges from the source material in several ways. For example, in the film, Maria is a young Austrian woman studying to become a nun, whereas in reality, Maria Kutschera moved in with the Trapps as a governess and married the widower father. Additionally, the film depicts the family hiking over the Alps to Switzerland, whereas in reality, they took a train to Italy and then travelled to Switzerland, France, and London.

Despite the differences between the film and von Trapp's memoir, the film's popularity endures, and it is recognised as one of the most successful productions in cinematic history.

The film was released in 1965

The film adaptation of the musical "The Sound of Music" was released in 1965. It is an American musical drama film produced and directed by Robert Wise, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The film is based on the 1949 memoir "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" by Maria von Trapp and is set in Salzburg, Austria. It is a fictional retelling of her experiences as a governess to seven children, her eventual marriage to their father, Captain Georg von Trapp, and their escape from Austria during the Anschluss in 1938.

The film was released on March 2, 1965, in the United States, initially as a limited roadshow theatrical release. Despite mixed initial critical responses, it became a major commercial success, breaking box-office records in 29 countries and becoming the highest-grossing film of 1965. By November 1966, it had become the highest-grossing film of all time, a distinction it held for five years. The film received widespread international acclaim and was particularly popular in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

The success of the film led to the creation of the Original Sound of Music Tour® in Salzburg, which takes visitors to the settings of the movie and the main cultural attractions of the region. The city of Salzburg became a popular tourist destination due to the film, with fans flocking to visit the original shooting locations. The film's release turned the city into a dream destination for the child actors, who enjoyed exploring the city and its attractions, such as the Hellbrunn Trick Fountains.

The film's impact extended beyond tourism, with a sing-along revival screening first shown at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in 1999, leading to successful runs in other cities. The film has had numerous re-releases and television broadcasts, ensuring its enduring popularity and cultural impact.

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