Austria's Ban On 'The Sound Of Music

The Sound of Music, a 1965 American musical drama film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, is one of the most commercially successful films of all time. However, despite its global popularity, the film was not well-received in Austria, where it is considered to be full of historical inaccuracies and perpetuating stereotypes that Austrians would rather distance themselves from. The film is based on the real-life story of Maria Von Trapp, who was quite different from her portrayal in the film. Austrians also took exception to the film's depiction of their country's complicity with the Third Reich, whitewashing their enthusiasm for the annexation by Germany and their participation in the execution of the Holocaust.

Austrians' dislike of the film

The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical drama film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. It is a fictional retelling of Maria von Trapp's experiences as governess to seven children, her eventual marriage with their father, Captain Georg von Trapp, and their escape during the Anschluss in 1938. 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.

Despite the film's popularity, it is disliked by many Austrians for several reasons. Firstly, Austrians resent the numerous historical inaccuracies in the film that depict their heritage. For example, the real Maria von Trapp was never a nun, and Georg von Trapp did not hire her to be a governess but a teacher for his daughter. Additionally, the film bends the truth about the family's escape, as they did not flee to Switzerland on foot but took a train to Italy and then a boat to the US.

The film also reinforces stereotypes that Austrians would rather distance themselves from, such as men wearing lederhosen and women wearing dirndls. The film's portrayal of the Salzburg Festival as an amateur folk music competition is also inaccurate, as it is a distinguished festival of classical and orchestral music. Furthermore, the song "Edelweiss" in the film is often mistaken for an Austrian folk song or the national anthem, when it was actually composed by Oscar Hammerstein.

Another reason for Austrians' dislike of the film is that it whitewashes Austria's complicity in the Third Reich. The film depicts Austrians as opposed to annexation by Germany, when in reality, they enthusiastically supported the Nazis and took a leading part in the execution of the Holocaust.

The film's success has also led to an influx of tourists flocking to Salzburg, which some locals see as a nuisance. Attempts to turn the Von Trapp home into a hotel were met with protests from neighbours, who feared the noise and added traffic.

Lastly, the film's portrayal of the characters and plot has been criticised. The acting, dialogues, music, and plot have been described as "sucking", and the children's inability to pronounce their own names correctly has been pointed out as another flaw.

In conclusion, while The Sound of Music has enjoyed immense success and popularity worldwide, it is not well-received by Austrians due to its historical inaccuracies, reinforcement of stereotypes, whitewashing of Austria's role in the Third Reich, and other criticisms related to its portrayal of characters and plot.

Historical inaccuracies

The Sound of Music is a 1965 musical drama film set in Salzburg, Austria. It is based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. However, the film adaptation takes several liberties with the true story, leading to numerous historical inaccuracies.

Firstly, the film depicts Georg von Trapp as a "Captain", when in reality, he held the title of ""Ritter" (hereditary knight), which had higher social status than a naval officer. Austrian nobility was legally abolished in 1919, and the use of the "von" in names was proscribed. However, both continued to be widely used unofficially as a matter of social courtesy.

Another inaccuracy lies in the portrayal of Maria von Trapp. In the film, she is depicted as a free-spirited young Austrian woman studying to become a nun. However, the real Maria was never a nun or even a novice. She was an orphan and had been raised by foster parents with little religious affiliation. She later became more religious during her studies to become a teacher. Furthermore, contrary to her portrayal as a kind and compassionate character in the film, the real Maria was reportedly strict and controlling, and there are records of her using corporal punishment on the Trapp children.

The film also takes liberties with the timeline of events. It depicts Maria and Georg von Trapp's marriage in 1938, when in reality, they were married in 1927, over a decade earlier. By the time of the events in the movie, they already had two children together. Additionally, the film shows the von Trapp family hiking over the Alps from Austria to Switzerland to escape the Nazis, which would not have been possible as Salzburg is over 200 miles from Switzerland. In reality, the family took a train to Italy and then a boat to the US.

The film also misrepresents the Salzburg Festival, portraying it as an amateur folk music competition. In reality, the Salzburg Festival is a distinguished festival of classical and orchestral music, opera, and drama, a very glamorous event.

Lastly, the film whitewashes Austria's complicity in the Third Reich. Austrians are shown as being opposed to annexation by Germany, when, in reality, they enthusiastically supported and participated in the execution of the Holocaust and the crimes of the Nazi regime.

Reinforcement of Austrian stereotypes

The 1965 film The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, is based on the real-life story of the Von Trapp family, who fled from the Nazis in Salzburg, Austria. The film has been described as reinforcing Austrian stereotypes, particularly in terms of clothing, music, and dance.

The film depicts men dressed in lederhosen and women in dirndls, which are considered to be outdated and stereotypical representations of Austrian clothing. This reinforces the idea that Austrians dress in traditional, folk costumes, when in reality, this is not the case.

The film also features the song "Edelweiss", which is often mistaken by viewers as an Austrian folk song or even the national anthem. In reality, the song was composed specifically for the film and is not widely known or recognised in Austria. This misconception perpetuates the stereotype that Austrians are associated with "Edelweiss" as a cultural symbol.

Additionally, the film includes a scene where the characters Maria and Kapitän von Trapp perform a folk dance called the "Ländler". While this dance does exist in Austria, the way it is performed in the film is different from the traditional Austrian style. This inaccuracy contributes to the reinforcement of Austrian stereotypes by presenting a distorted version of Austrian culture and traditions.

Furthermore, the film portrays the Salzburg Festival as an amateur folk music competition. In reality, the Salzburg Festival is a prestigious event known for its classical and orchestral music, opera, and drama. This misrepresentation reinforces the stereotype that Austria is primarily associated with folk music and simple, rural life, rather than its rich cultural offerings.

The Sound of Music has had a significant impact on tourism in Salzburg, with 70% of Americans citing the film as their main reason for visiting the city. However, locals in Salzburg have expressed disdain for the film, as it is considered to be inauthentic and full of historical inaccuracies. This reaction from Austrians themselves suggests that the film reinforces stereotypes that they do not identify with or want to be associated with.

Maria Von Trapp's dark past

Maria Augusta von Trapp, born in 1905, had a dark and traumatic past. Orphaned at the age of seven, she was raised by an abusive relative, her uncle Franz, who was later found to be mentally ill. Her uncle's maltreatment of her and the punishments he inflicted for things she did not do, changed her from a shy child to a rebellious teenager. Despite this, Maria continued to excel in school.

After graduating from high school at 15, Maria ran away from home, intending to become a tutor for children staying at nearby hotels. However, due to her youthful appearance, she struggled to find work. Eventually, she saved enough money to enrol at the State Teachers College for Progressive Education in Vienna, where she also received a scholarship. She graduated from there at 18.

In 1924, she entered Nonnberg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Salzburg, intending to become a nun. In 1926, she was asked to teach Maria Franziska von Trapp, one of seven children born to widowed naval commander Georg von Trapp. Maria fell in love with the children and eventually married Georg, despite him being 25 years her senior. She wrote in her autobiography: "I really and truly was not in love. I liked him but didn't love him. However, I loved the children, so in a way I really married the children."

Maria's dark past also included a violent streak. Records show that she was frequently violent with the Trapp children, using corporal punishment to keep them in check. As a result, the city of Salzburg rejected a request to name a trail after her.

Maria's stepdaughter, Maria Franziska, confirmed that her stepmother "had a terrible temper. And from one moment to the next, you didn't know what hit her. We were not used to this. But we took it like a thunderstorm that would pass, because the next minute she could be very nice."

The film's whitewashing of Austria's role in the Third Reich

The Sound of Music, a 1965 Hollywood blockbuster set and filmed in Salzburg, Austria, has been criticised for its historical inaccuracies and whitewashing of Austria's role in the Third Reich. While the film portrays Austrians as being opposed to annexation by Germany, the reality is quite different.

Firstly, the film fails to acknowledge the enthusiastic reception of Hitler in Austria prior to the annexation. In 1938, Hitler was cheered by 250,000 Austrians in Vienna, and after the annexation, a massive crowd of Austrians welcomed him to the city. This enthusiasm for Nazi ideology is further reflected in a 1938 plebiscite, where 99.7% of Austrians voted in favour of their country's union with Nazi Germany.

Secondly, the film neglects to mention the active participation of Austrians in the execution of the Holocaust and the crimes of the Nazi regime. Austrians made up nearly 75% of the staff of Nazi concentration camps and had a higher percentage of Nazi party members than Germany. This contradicts the film's depiction of Austrians as reluctant participants in the Third Reich.

Additionally, the film contributes to the myth that Austria was the first victim of Nazi aggression. This notion is reinforced by memorials in Austria, such as the Mahnmal am Morzinplatz in Vienna, which portrays Austrians as victims of Nazi rule without acknowledging their complicity in the horrors inflicted on Jews and other marginalized groups.

The whitewashing of Austria's role in the Third Reich in The Sound of Music is a significant issue that distorts the historical reality of the country's enthusiastic embrace of Nazism and active participation in the regime's crimes.

Frequently asked questions