Shot in Salzburg against the majestic Bavarian Alps, THE SOUND OF MUSIC is considered one of the greatest screen musicals ever made. Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director (Robert Wise), the film, based on a real family and their true events, tells the story of a young postulate, Maria (Julie Andrews), who, after proving too high-spirited for the Mother Abess and other nuns, is sent off to work as a governess to seven unruly children. The Von Trapp family is run, in military style, by the seemingly cold-hearted Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), a lonely widowed naval officer. Seeing how badly he and his children need companionship, he proposes to the Baroness Schraeder (Eleanor Parker), a calculating, mutual friend of beloved family friend Max Detweiler (Richard Haydn). It is the baroness who soon realizes that it's Maria--with her warmth and love for the children--the captain really loves. It is nearly bliss for the newly formed family who loves to sing together--except for the cloud looming over their beloved Austrian horizon: Hitler is ascending to power, forcing Von Trapp to decide whether to join the Nazi party--which he loathes--or force his family to leave their home forever. One of the most memorable scores ever written (by Rodgers and Hammerstein) and breathtaking performances by Andrews, Plummer, and the seven children mark this classic as one of the world's most favorite films.

This classic musical set amid the splendor of Austria's Alps chronicles a young governess's budding romance with her employer and the family's daring flight from Nazi rule. Academy Award Nominations: 10, including Best Actress--Julie Andrews. Academy Awards: 5, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, Best (Adapted) Score, Best Editing.

Much of the footage was shot in Salzburg, where director Robert Wise spent 11 weeks filming against the backdrop of the majestic Bavarian Alps.

The performance scene at the Salzburg Festival was shot in the spectacular Felsenreitschule, or the Rocky Riding School.

The musical ran on Broadway for three and a half years, starring Mary Martin
as Maria.

Marni Nixon, who plays Sister Sophia in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, has lent her vocal cords to many film stars. Nixon's singing voice was used in place of Audrey Hepburn's in MY FAIR LADY, for Natalie Wood's in WEST SIDE STORY, and for Deborah Kerr's in THE KING AND I. Her brief role as Sister Sophia in this film marks her first onscreen appearance.

Excerpt: "Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens...these are a few of my favorite things."--Maria (Julie Andrews), singing to the children

"Do, a deer, a female deer. Ray, a drop of golden sun. Me, a name I call myself. Fa, a long, long way to run."--Maria and the children, learning to sing together

"Edelweiss, Edelweiss, every morning you greet me. Soft and white, clean and bright, you look happy to meet me."--Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), singing to the children (a song now used as the Austrian National Anthem)

DVD Features:

Region 1
2-Disc Box Set
Widescreen - 2.20
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Mono - Spanish
Dolby Surround - English, French
Closed Captioned - English
Subtitles - English, Spanish, French - optional

DISC 1:
Additional Release Material:
Introduction - Julie Andrews - Star
Audio Commentaries - 1. Robert Wise - Director
2. Julie Andrews, Chrisopher Plummer - Stars
Interactive Features:
Karaoke - English, Spanish, French subtitles - optional
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

DISC 2:
Additional Release Material:
Introduction - Julie Andrews - Star
Documentary - A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: A RETROSPECTIVE
Behind the Scenes
Featurettes - 1. When You Know the Notes to Sing: A Sing-Along Phenomenon
2. From Liesl to Gretl: A 40th Anniversary Reunion
Original Theatrical Trailer (5)
Teaser
TV Spots (2)
Photo Galleries:
Lobby Cards
Theatrical Posters
Storyboards

Julie Andrews: Oscar winning actress, singer, MARY POPPINS
Christopher Plummer: Canadian Actor
Richard Haydn: British Actor/Director
Peggy Wood: American Character Actress
Eleanor Parker: American Actress
Heather Menzies: American actress, 1960s-1980s. PIRANHA (1978)
Nicholas Hammond: Peter Parker/Spider-Man of TV's "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Angela Cartwright: Penny Robinson of TV's "Lost in Space"
Ben Wright: Actor/Journey To...Earth
Norma Varden: British Character Actress

Robert Wise: Oscar winning Director/Producer/Editor, WEST SIDE STORY

Robert Wise: Oscar winning Director/Producer/Editor, WEST SIDE STORY
Boris Leven: Production Designer

Richard Rodgers: Composer
Irwin Kostal: Composer/Music Director

Walter M. Scott: American Set Decorator

William H. Reynolds: Editor, AUTHOR! AUTHOR! (1982)

"...Beloved..." -- Rating: A
"...Great, gaudy entertainment..."
"[I]t's wonderful....Julie Andrews is irresistible..."
4 stars out of 4 -- "[T]he collaboration takes on a serious edge, making it one of the precious few old-school musicals in which the action doesn't grind to a screeching halt every time a song starts."
5 stars out of 5 -- "Julie Andrews' 1965 heroine is hard to beat...combining innocent enthusiasm with comic timing and a soaring soprano voice."