“The Sound of Music” movie turned 50 this year but Friday afternoon in the Savannah Center about 150 Villagers discovered you can’t measure timeless musical artistry by a calendar.
The performances of Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer as well as the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein seemed as fresh at today as in 1965. And the story of a novice nun who turns into a wife and cares for seven children in the midst of Nazi tyranny, was just as gripping.
Billie Thatcher, the popular Villages’ entertainer and singer who hosted the special, sing-a-long event, understands the enduring popularity of the film.
“It tells a wonderful story of hope, family, love and courage,” said Thatcher, dressed in a theatrical nun’s habit to pay homage to the movie.
Julie Andrews starts out the movie as Maria, a novice nun, who finds her true calling when she is sent to Austria to care for the widowed Captain von Trapp and his seven children.
“Julie Andrews brings such believability to this role,” Thatcher said. “She’s a wonderful actress and singer.”
Thatcher and Deborah Hurtt, of the Villages Recreation Department, came up with the idea of showing the movie. They invited people to dress up in costumes and two screens were set up in the Savannah Center. One screen was for the movie; the other to show lyrics so the audience could sing along—which it did.
“I think this really turned out well,” Thatcher said. “What a great way to spend a Friday afternoon. It’s always a good time watching ‘The Sound of Music.’”
The film, directed by Robert Wise, has been in the news of late because of the anniversary. Diane Sawyer of ABC, just broadcast a weeknight special. She interviewed Andrews, now 79, and Plummer, 85. Also, at this year’s Academy Awards, Lady Gaga sang a medley of songs from the film and then introduced Andrews to a standing ovation.
“This film tells a story that never grows old,” said Jeanne Bates, who once played in a stage version of the musical. She brought a music book with her to the showing. She also had an autograph of one of the members of the actual von Trapp family.
“This movie shows that if people have enough faith, and perseverance, they can follow their dreams, or climb any mountain. This story tells about the Nazis and their cruelty and violence. We have the same thing today and call it terrorism”
You can see a clip from the “The Sound of Music” singalong on the Villages-News.com Facebook page at the linkk below:
https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagesNews?ref=tn_tnmn
“The Sound of Music” debuted on Broadway in 1959 with Mary Martin in the role of Maria. It was the last musical score that Oscar Hammerstein wrote. He died shortly after the Broadway opening and the last song he wrote with Richard Rodgers was “Edelweiss.”
It’s all part of the never-ending lore and charm of the musical.
“I loved the movie,” Esther Bulger said. “Julie Andrews had vivacious spunk as Maria and her voice is so lovely.”
Holly Cowles credits Andrews’ Oscar-winning performance for much of the film’s success. Thatcher had said that both Doris Day and Grace Kelly were both considered for the leading movie role.
“I can’t imagine it without Julie Andrews,” Cowles said. “I don’t think it would have been as successful without her.”
Ted Skolits is best known in The Villages as a drummer for the Flashback rock band. But back in ’65, his mother took him to see “The Sound of Music” in Flemington, N.J.
“My mom could identify with his movie,” he said. “She had eight children.”
On Friday, mother and son were back together watching the movie in the Savannah Center.
“This film is very special to me,” said Terry Skolits, 88. “Every time it’s on TV, I watch it.”
Her son shares that passion for the film.
“This movie was so well made and Julie Andrews was perfectly cast as Maria,” he said. “It holds up because the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein is so brilliant.”
Still there are differences in watching the film as a kid and then seeing it 50 years later. Ted Skolits had to chuckle watching the romantic scene between Liesl and Rolfe in the gazebo as they sing, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”
“When I was a kid, I thought that was kind of a mushy scene,” Skolits said. “But now, it’s all right.”
