Salzburg

The Sound of Music

Did you see the movie, The Sound of Music?

A highlight for me in Salzburg was the Sound of Music Tour. This famous movie was based on the true story of the Von Trapp family, who escaped Austria during WWII and migrated to the United States. In Austria, Maria was sent to the Von Trapp home to care for and tutor just one child, who was ill and had fallen behind. Over time, as the children grew fond of Maria, they sensed something was brewing between her and their father, so they did some matchmaking to get them together.

The guide said most of the exterior shots were filmed in Salzburg while all the interior scenes were filmed in a sound stage.  Our first stop was the home of the Von Trapp’s, which is a hotel in real life. Since the daily busloads of tourists disturb the guests, we had to see the hotel and the terrace from across the lake. 

Remember the scene of Maria and the children in the boat? They filmed this scene of the children in the lake in front of the hotel. Our guide said that Kym Karath, who played Gretl in the movie, could not swim. Julie Andrews told her not to worry, she would catch her when they all fell forward. That scene took 3 takes to get it right. Each time the actors had to change clothes, dry their hair, and try it again. Not to mention the lake is cold. On the last take, Andrews fell backward while Gretl fell forward. She started floundering and the director yelled CUT while someone grabbed her. That was the scene chosen for the movie.

We saw the Gazebo where Liesel (Charmian Carr) and Rolf sang Sixteen Going on Seventeen and the Captain and Maria sang, Something Good.  Again, the actual singing was recorded in a soundstage. The Gazebo was at the hotel, but the owner was so frustrated with all the tourists that he gave it to the tour company, and they moved it to this place you see in the photo. Carr fell during one of the takes, and her leg went through the glass window. The director wanted to bring in an understudy, but Carr was a new actress with this amazing opportunity, and she was determined to do it. So they put an ace bandage on her leg and used stage make-up to cover it. Not letting this pain hold her back, she did the dance.

Do Re Mi

In the movie, this is where Maria took the children around town and taught them to sing. Below is the cemetery that inspired the soundstage for the escape scene.

For those of you who have seen the movie, what is your favorite song?

Sound of Music, The Wedding

As I mentioned previously, all indoor scenes were on a soundstage, except for the wedding between Maria and Captain Von Trapp. The acoustics were perfect in the church, so they put this scene in the movie.  In the movie, where Maria stood outside the church was filmed in front of the Abbey, which sits atop a hill. Since it is active today, the nuns do not want the tourists there. Our guide says they are strong from climbing the 200 steps up to their Abbey and will chase away any tourists. I am glad they do that since an Abbey is a sacred place of silence and solitude.

The guide shared an interesting tidbit about Christopher Plummer.  He did not sing in the movie. Although he had a good voice, the director felt it was not a match for Julie Andrews’ voice. Also, Plummer did not want to do The Sound of Music. He wanted to star in action-heroic movies. For years, he denied being grateful for being in the film until towards the end of his life. Then, finally, he stated that this movie was one of the best he had starred in, bringing him fame and more roles in the movies.

Our guide said the locals cringe at the final scene, where the family climbs a mountain range into Switzerland to escape. That mountain range leads to Germany. So they joke that is why there is no Sound of Music II.

The guide stated, “Salzburg relies on three revenue sources. Tourism, tourism, and tourism.” This move has done that.

What is your favorite scene in the movie and why?