The Sound of Music

by Julia Antopol Hirsch

Book Overview

When The Sound of Music was released in 1965, it took the world by storm, capturing five Oscars (including Best Picture) and holding the number-one spot box-office record for five years. For millions... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809238373
• ISBN13: 9780809238378
• Release Date: September 1993
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Length: 225 Pages
• Weight: 1.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.5" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Tribute To One Of The Most Loved Movies Of All Time

It's taken me a long time to track down this beautifully put together homage to one of my very favourite movies of all time. And what a total joy this book proves to be for anyone like myself who remains entranced by this magical film an amazing 40 years after its initial release. This superbly put together book by Julia Antopol Hirsch is most definately a labour of love and is filled with really everything you would want to know about this most special of movie musicals. Boasting a touching forward by none other than now deceased director Robert Wise the book takes us on a informative journey through the history of "The Sound of Music", from its formation as a hugely successful Broadway show right up to the planning, production, and release of the motion picture, then up to recent times where it examines the film's enduring popularity with audiences both young and old years after it's first release. The volumne has some wonderfully candid photos of the production during rehearsals at Twentieth Century Fox studios in Hollywood, to behind the scenes moments when cast and crew are relaxing between takes and even soaking up the local sights of beautiful Salzburg, Austria on those rare days when they had days off filming. The book also includes beautiful colour and black and white photos, a rare shooting schedule, cast and crew profiles, interviews with stars including Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, and a highly interesting look at the original premiere of "The Sound of Music" in 1965. In it's 226 pages it even also finds time to give an outline complete with photos of the real Von trapp family members with a special focus of course on the immortal real life Maria Von Trapp. This book has quickly become a treasured part of my personal library and for any lover of "The Sound of Music", it is a indispensible companion for everything you would want to know about the whole history of this immortal musical. The book makes a perfect companion to the brand new 40th Anniversary DVD edition of "The Sound of Music" released late last year which is a treasure trove of all things "Music", and it has certainly informed even a "The Sound of Music" buff like myself of many things I did not know about the film prior to reading it. I highly recommend Julia Antopol Hirsch's warm, informative and at times even amusing tribute to Hollywood's most loved musical. Reading through its pages the book has succeeded in actually increasing my affection for star Julie Andrews and the film in general, no small task considering my lifelong love of this special film. Enjoy!

A "Sound of Music" must have

No "Sound of Music" collection is complete without this book. Its eight chapters take you through the entire Sound of Music experience, from the real Von Trapp family to the original stage production to the movie's production, release, and success. I have a hard time choosing what I like best about this book because it's so complete. There are eight pages of color photos, handwritten production notes, early storyboards, and a plethora of candid photos from the cast and crew's private collections as well as some memorable studio stills. Author Julia Hirsch integrates diverse elements and perspectives to give a thoroughly enjoyable and well-rounded look at this beloved film's journey from concept to the classic it remains today. You'll find interviews from every cast and principle crew member with special biographies of the more important players. Other features include shooting schedules and casting and location notes. One of the real treasures though is the stories that came out of this production and are told here. It is a simple pleasure to read about the people and friendships that made the movie so endearing and enduring. I can't recommend this book enough for "Sound of Music" fans. Not only will you read and reread it, you'll grow a new appreciation for the movie and want to watch it over again.

Throughly enjoyable, Enjoyably thorough

The Sound Of Music was the first film I ever saw in a movie theatre (I was four) and it remains one of my all-time favorite movies. This book is everything I could want in a "behind the scenes" look at a classic film. Besides the remembrances of all of the cast members - major and minor, the book is jammed with many beautiful location photos, a number of which come from Portia Nelson's (she played one of the nuns) personal collection. What I found most fascinating was the list of famous young actors who screen-tested for the various children's parts (Mia Farrow as Liesl?!) as well as the director Robert Wise's battles with the studio to get his artistic vision on screen (20th Century Fox wasn't too financially solvent at the time thanks to Liz Taylor's Cleopatra debacle - of course the astounding success of The Sound Of Music changed that). In conclusion, if you love the film, you'll love the book. Get it today!

A BEAUTIFUL, EXCEPTIONAL BOOK

This is another book by the same publishers as the Julie Andrews photo book (by Arntz & Wilson). An exhaustive and truly remarkable book, this discusses every detail of the film, from its beginnings as a stage play to everything about the making of this epic movie musical. Loaded with tons of photos, many previously unpublished (including 16 pp. of color photos). Miss Hirsch gives a full background on the Von Trapp family, their journey to America in the early 1940s and the origins of their career as a singing group. Especially noteworthy are the chapters on the casting of the film roles, preproduction and shooting schedules, and the updates on the lives of the principal cast and the Von Trapp family since the making of the film. Highly recommended for any fan of the movie, and Julie Andrews fans in particular.

Entertaining and Ineteresting

I was 17 the first time I saw SOM in 1965 and I still get a thrill everytime the camera pans to Maria and she starts singing. Having seen the movie countless times I was excited to get this book! I thought at first that knowing about how the film was made would take away some of the magic. However this has not been the case. Informative ( would you believe Gene Kelly turned down being the director!) and the names of some of the actors who were considered for parts will really surprise you. If you are a die hard SOM fan then the price of this book is well worth every penny. Not a fan? Buy it anyway, a good read on how a film is made and how success can be measured not only by the money a movie can make, but by the hearts it touches as well!