The Sound Of Music - Does It Hold Up?
Welcome to the classic hold up, where we analyze media from the past. Each episode features a different host that brings a fresh take on a film, TV show, video game, or music album of their choice. Do old favorites have a shelf life? Will the classics hold up?
Speaker 2:Hello, everyone, and welcome to the classic hold up. I am Annabelle Belton, and I will be your host for today's episode. I'm currently a senior majoring in digital storytelling at Michigan State, and I'm a filmmaking concentration. So I love movies. I love talking about movies.
Speaker 2:And more specifically, I love The Sound of Music, which is the movie that we are talking about today. So The Sound of Music was released in March 1965, but the story actually takes place in 1938. It follows the Von Trapp family singers, which is actually a real family. It had 10 children, though. This family only has seven.
Speaker 2:And it's based around Maria who is a nun and becomes the governess for the Von Trapp family. This family comes from a lot of money, of course. And they live in Austria. The movie was filmed in Austria. Well, parts of it, at least.
Speaker 2:And it takes place during World War two when the Nazis were in power. So the family needs to escape Austria and the Nazi regime. And it kinda just follows their story. And Maria actually, she wins over the hearts of the children and Captain Montrap, making them start to sing and find their voices again, which they had not done in a very long time because the old Baroness Von Trapp was she passed away. And so rather than, you know, like, keep her legacy alive, Captain Von Trapp decided to not allow the children to sing or really have fun.
Speaker 2:And Maria kinda brought that back to them and brought that back to Captain Von Trapp as well. And in this, you know, she really just she brings out a new side of Capgemin Trap that you really do not see at the beginning. The children, you can tell that they want to be different than what their father is asking of them. However, they they're not able to, and Maria brings that side out of them. And this all adds up to the end of the movie where they are singing in front of, like, basically, like, a bunch of Nazis.
Speaker 2:And they have to escape, and it has a lot of callbacks to different parts of the movie. And it's just it's really an amazing movie. It's so well done. And for 1965, this, it was very soon after all of this had happened. I mean, it was technically only what would that be?
Speaker 2:Like, twenty eight years? Twenty seven years after it's supposedly taking place. And I feel like that's, like, not that much time. So I don't know. This this movie was just like it's was way ahead of its time, but it was amazing.
Speaker 2:And I I love this movie. I grew up watching this movie with my family. My dad is from Southern Germany, very close to Austria, about forty five minute drive. So we are very connected to, like, that area of the world, which makes me, like, really appreciate this movie a lot because it reminds me of my family in some some aspects just because they are in the Austrian Alps and I was able to experience that with my family and a bunch of people that I know. And it's it's like it's where my dad grew up.
Speaker 2:It's where my grandparents grew up. It's where half of my family is from. So it's just kind of an amazing story and very it's a hopeful story. And I I just love it. I watch it with my family.
Speaker 2:I would watch it we would watch it at school when I was growing up, specifically in, like, my choir class because, of course, you know, Do Reign Me is an iconic song and it is a song that people love to sing. I mean, I love to sing it. But it's it's just something that a lot of people are drawn to. And Do Re Mi is a staple for choir class. And then on top that, I mean, this movie, my roommate, Grace, who is going to be our guest today, she and I connected over it when we first met each other.
Speaker 2:So it's just kinda funny that I get to now talk to her about it on this podcast. So I am excited to get this started. Joining me today is Grace Kuzmiak, who, like so many of us, grew up with this film. But for her, it became more than just a family favorite. From childhood sing alongs to understanding the deeper themes of courage, love, and belonging, The Sound of Music has been a constant soundtrack to her life.
Speaker 2:So whether you know every lyric by heart or you're hearing Del Rey Me in your head right now, you're in for a nostalgic and heartfelt conversation. So let's welcome Grace to the classic hold up. Hi, Grace. Hi, everyone.
Speaker 3:I have loved The Sound of Music for many years now, and the tradition of watching the movie with my family started maybe about ten years ago. We watch this movie the night before my birthday every year, and it's become a tradition that stuck around. And I can't wait to talk about it today.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So what family memories does this bring up? Just, like, watching it with them around your birthday
Speaker 3:every year? Yeah. I would say my mom would watch this movie with her parents when it first came out. And now, her parents have passed away. So now, I feel like I have a connection to them watching this movie when they watched it together, and now I watch it with my mom and the rest of my family.
Speaker 2:Very nice. So The Sound of Music came out in 1965, which was only twenty years after World War two had ended. And with it having so many themes of World War two and, you know, the just the war in general. How do you think that it was viewed when it was first released?
Speaker 3:When it was first released, I think that some people probably perceived that it was too soon after World War two happened to be making a movie about this. And I'm sure that some people didn't think that the movie depicted the actual history of the event, the how traumatic everything was. But I think that the movie did a good job of sharing what how a family during that time and the things that they went through.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And I mean, at the same time, like, I think it was supposed to just be, like, a a family movie that you could just watch, and it just happened to have that history with it. But it's kinda like if someone were to make a movie right now about COVID, I mean, we would probably just be like, it's too soon after. I mean, it because it was not the same thing, but, like, definitely just a a big thing that happened in our lives. Now I think because we're so far removed, we don't feel the same, and it it gives us some good history while also just being, like, a nice heartfelt movie.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I feel like there's probably never a right time for someone to start talking about serious topics, and they were able to incorporate the history into the movie while also keeping it lighthearted, but showing people how things really were during that time.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And, I mean, people, when it first came out, thought it just, like, was it wasn't depicting, like, what happened correctly. But I think if it had, then it wouldn't be the same movie because it it's supposed to be, like, this musical of love and belonging and, like, family and have all those themes. But with adding in the history, I think, like, it just made it it it made it make sense for the time period that it was set in.
Speaker 3:Yeah. So And I felt like it was supposed to be more uplifting and showing how they overcame all of those struggles.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:And I think that was what they were trying to do when they
Speaker 2:were making the film. Yeah. I agree. So it's been sixty years since it came out now. And I would still say that it's a very iconic movie.
Speaker 2:And it is a movie that anyone can enjoy.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I would agree. I would say that the movie is definitely still relevant. And I think that anyone from grandparents to now grandchildren could all enjoy this together.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I watched this film with my family so many times. My mom is a big musical theater girl. So we love anything that is a musical. But on top of that, I mean, we I would watch it in school.
Speaker 2:I would watch it with friends. You and I have watched it together and we sing the songs.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Just iconic. Kinda frequently. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Really frequently, actually. Like, I feel like that's
Speaker 3:For two 21 year olds?
Speaker 2:Yeah. We're we might be a little old singing music from a movie that is not meant for people our age, but
Speaker 3:that shows that it's still relevant. Yeah. We still love it.
Speaker 2:We still love it.
Speaker 3:Still love I mean, it
Speaker 2:it broke records. And it really I know that Julie Andrews had Mary Poppins before this, but, like, I think this really kept her relevant at that time and now still, like, keeps her relevant with all the movies she made. She made so many iconic movies. Yeah.
Speaker 3:She is just a star and she really made the film why people love it so much. Just how carefree her character Maria was and how she changed the lives of the Bontrap family. Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Well, and, like, for you, how I know you talked a little bit about your family connection, but can you go more into that and, like, what makes this movie so special for you?
Speaker 3:Yeah. I would say that this movie is special because of the the themes of family and love and watching the movie with your family just makes you feel more connected connected to everyone. And it's nice to have a tradition of something that you watch together every year and you always hold those memories.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I would I would definitely agree. Do you do you think you're gonna share this with your family, like, with your kids?
Speaker 3:Yeah. I would definitely say that I would continue this tradition and with future family, and I feel like that it's a movie that will be around for anyone to enjoy for generations.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And you so you have nieces who are how how old are they?
Speaker 3:Almost four and two years old. And, actually, they have already watched Yep. I was gonna ask. Even though they are young, my four year old niece, probably when she was about two, we put the movie on. Obviously, she doesn't understand the the deeper themes of the movie yet, but she loves the music.
Speaker 3:And I think that love of the music will keep that movie around for her, and she'll definitely watch will definitely keep it around for her to watch and for her to understand the theme of the movie more now, but I'm already instilling it in them.
Speaker 2:I mean, I guess, like, when I first watched the movie, the first few times, I didn't understand that had anything to do with, like, the Nazis. But also, I was very young, so I don't even think I knew what that was. But, like, even without that knowledge of what the movie is, like, I think you can still enjoy it and still still understand the movie for the most part and, like, how Maria changed their lives. Because it it really, like, without the themes of the war, like, it could've been the same movie and still had the same message, but I think that also just adds a lot to it and it adds a lot of background, like, information.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I would totally agree. I watched the movie for the first time probably when I was in middle school. So I did recognize those themes of World War two, especially when Ralph, the telegram deliverer, when he came to deliver the telegram for Captain Von Trapp, and he was very cold. And Liesel finally recognized that he was not gonna back down from being a Nazi.
Speaker 3:And, also, when he betrayed the Von Trapp family and blew the whistle to let the other Nazis know that they were there, I just recognize the intensity of that Yeah. Situation even from the first time watching it.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's it can be kinda scary to watch, like, when you're younger, but also, like, I think it's definitely a movie that should be watched and, like, paid attention to because we never want history like that to repeat itself. It's important to, like, learn about it even through, like, movies like this. Yeah. This movie has been so iconic for the last sixty years and I personally think that it's gonna be iconic for the next sixty plus years.
Speaker 2:I think this movie is an important one to watch and talk about and listen to. And I just think, like, it's important for people to watch it and, like, learn that history and know that history.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I agree. I think that even if in sixty years, like, new kids watching watching it don't know that much about World War two or just don't care about it for whatever reason, even if they should, I think that, like, any movie that has some sort of historical tie is always going to be influential and relevant, and people will always go back to those because either they teach lessons, but then there's also the deeper themes in the movie about family and love. And I think, really, any movie that touches on those things is things that anyone can relate to at any age and any time period.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And, I mean, like, for the two of us, I feel like this movie has been iconic parts of both of our lives even, like, separately. But now us being friends, like, we it's something we talk about. It's something we listen to. Like, it's a common movie for both of us.
Speaker 2:And it's just it's such a good movie. It's something, like, we can talk about and connect on. And I think, like, even if there are more movies coming out in the future, you know, like, obviously, there are gonna be, like, so many movies coming out every single year. But I think that this one should stay a staple for people to, like, show their kids and show their grandkids and just, like, pass down because, again, Julie Andrews is just she is so iconic. And any movie she's in, like, I think we gotta keep talking about her.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I completely agree. She has been in so many movies that families watch and anyone watches. And I also think that any movie that has, like, musicals or songs in it really can draw a family in to all enjoy together because I would say that the songs are timeless, especially Do Re Mi. We learn Do Re Mi in music class growing up, and then the kids can recognize that in a movie and really learn to love it and keep them engaged in the film and then learn about an historical event as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Well, I feel like on top of that, we there aren't as many children's musicals, like musicals for children other than like Disney movies and like princess movies. And this kind of although, you know, Disney movies are great, this kind of pulls out like all of the aspects of those movies without it being a princess. Like, this is, like, a Maria is more of a real person and it's it can be more, like, relatable for young kids just because, like, who's gonna become a princess, you know? Even though we all wish we could be.
Speaker 2:Even though we all wish we could be. Even though every day I wish I was born a princess, but I'll go
Speaker 3:to sleep. My name is Sarah Cherry. My name is Carly Close.
Speaker 2:My name is Elle Hebelin.
Speaker 3:When I complete my degree, I wanna work in video production. I want to be an editor.
Speaker 2:I want to be a sports photographer.
Speaker 3:My name is Sarah Cherry. My name is Carly Close.
Speaker 2:My name is Elle Hebelink.
Speaker 3:I am Com
Speaker 2:Start your journey at comartssci.msu.edu. What would you say your favorite song in this, film was?
Speaker 3:I would say my favorite song in the film is My Favorite Things. First of all, I just love the song because it's catchy, but I also love the that scene in the movie when all the children are scared and one by one they come in into Maria's room during the thunderstorm. And I really think it's the first moment in the movie where the children trust Maria and realize that she could really impact their lives. And they all sing their song about their favorite things, they quickly forget about the thunderstorm and anything bad going on.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I would say my favorite is Do Re Mi. I think that's also one of those moments where the children are really starting to connect with Maria. It's the I I don't think it it might be the day after the My Favorite Things.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Because they use their they have the curtain The
Speaker 2:curtain. Clothes. Yeah. And and so I that one's just iconic to me. I mean, like, people still sing that song, like, that's sung in music class.
Speaker 2:It's sung everywhere and just, like, the scenery of that. So, like, with the scenery, how do you think that the Alps add to this film?
Speaker 3:I would say that the Alps really add to the film. One, they're beautiful. And, also, I think the theme of, like, climbing every mountain. The mountains really show, like, everything that the family went through. And as they're climbing up, they're they got past all the difficult things they experienced, and they're moving on to better things.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's almost like the Alps are, like, their own character in the movie, which I I love watching movies where it's something, like, inanimate like that is it can feel like its own character. I really, like it it kind of brings, like, more of a connection to it. Yeah. And what do you like think about Maria's unconventional ways of teaching the children?
Speaker 2:Like, do you think she was influential to them and like how she changed them?
Speaker 3:Yeah. I think that Maria was very influential for them. All of her teachings, the one from cutting the the curtains into clothes, it's every everything she did brought out the children's personalities because they were very stiff before. They were very cold just because they'd been taught kind of a military way of things. And she really brought some light into their life and really changed them all for the better.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I mean, after their mom passed, I it seemed like Captain Montrap just kind of ran a, like, a tight ship with them and kind of and not necessarily took their personalities, but didn't let them express themselves creatively. And I think Maria really brought out that side of them and helped Captain Von Trapp change. So how do you think Captain Von Trapp himself evolved throughout this movie?
Speaker 3:Yeah. He really evolved throughout the movie, thanks to Maria showing him a different way of life. And at the beginning, he was very stern, like, running the tight ship, like, blowing the whistle, having all the children line up and Wearing the same clothes. Wearing the same clothes, walking in straight lines. Yeah.
Speaker 3:But while Maria was there, I think he could see that the children were truly happy with her and everything that she'd done for them. And I think he started to realize that he didn't need to be so strict and that he could enjoy life. And Maria really changed him and the whole family's life for the better.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Agreed. I know we both love this movie and have such a deep connection with it. But how do you think other people connect with this movie and view it?
Speaker 3:I think that other people, even though they might not have the same strong connection to the movie that we do, I think that it definitely holds up for anyone and anything that they're growing going through because of especially Maria's character. Because even if someone doesn't relate to the themes of World War two or anything like that, I think anyone could relate to Maria leaving the abbey and trying something completely out of her comfort zone and moving in with the Von Trapp family because she knew that that Abby wasn't necessarily where she belonged. And I think a lot of people could relate to her storyline.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I I really think that even though she was a a person that like, her life took place in, like, the forties, so eighty years ago, like, we can still relate to that feeling of, like, not feeling like you belong somewhere. And it really it kinda gives you an inspiring story of leaving what you know to find yourself and find where you can fit in. And I mean, at the end of the movie, all of the nuns kind of finally accept her for who for who she is. Because before that, they kinda were, like, annoyed with her and they were just like They
Speaker 3:they sang a whole song about how
Speaker 2:How she's a clown. Yeah. Like You can't do
Speaker 3:our girl like that. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And and then, like, even at her wedding, they sing the same song. I don't know why.
Speaker 3:I don't know why.
Speaker 2:I felt a little disrespectful. I mean, it's her wedding day. You couldn't have done her any better than that. Like
Speaker 3:Yeah. That that should be talked about more.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Like, maybe write a new song. I don't know. Or, like, change the lyrics.
Speaker 3:Change the lyrics. Because they're call her
Speaker 2:Maria a cloud. Because it they're basically just saying, like, she's this, like, not a great person, like, as a nun. But then they're like, it's your wedding day, though. So
Speaker 3:Yeah. Like, happy getting married. I don't know. Yeah. So I guess we could all relate to
Speaker 2:Maria. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Even though she lived in a different time, I'm sure that maybe someone on social media could be calling someone a clown just like the nuns were calling her a clown.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I mean, I think this movie it also, like, there are so many movies coming out that phones are involved that it's just so modern and, like, that's fine. But I think we always are gonna need, like, that staple movie where there was, like, no phones, no like, the way that Ralph came to visit Liesel and, like, they danced and, you know, like, how Captain Montrap brought that woman back home. Like, and there was no, like, talk before. Like, not just the not knowing and then not having that, like, immediate connection with people, I think that really, like, drives the story and keeps the story moving, and it helps it just helps you stay engaged.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I completely agree. I feel like this movie is just something that anyone could need at any time, so I think it will hold up in the future.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It can it can keep you connected just to life, kind of. I mean and then it on top of that, it has historical context and is able to not only, you know, connect you to that time period, but, like, show you a little bit of, like, what was going on and without it being, you know, like, uncomfortable and very
Speaker 3:specific, I guess. Yeah. I feel like this film is very valuable and from all aspects, the aspects of showing history, family, coming of age, everything. So I I would say
Speaker 2:that this this movie definitely holds up.
Speaker 3:I completely agree. And I I hope that it holds up forever. Me too.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you guys for coming in and discussing The Sound
Speaker 3:of Music with us. Thank you. I'll be welcome to talk about The Sound
Speaker 2:of Music anytime. Yeah. And thank you to Audio Video Land for sponsoring this podcast. And to end it all off, so long farewell, Avida, sing goodbye.
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