Remembering the Sound of Music

I'm taking a break from writing about someone who passed on. Ironically it's Nov. 1, and in the Philippines, this is a holiday for visiting the graveyard of loved ones. This time though, I've decided to remember one of the movies that made such an impression on me about 20 years ago.

I was in 6th grade the first time I watched "The Sound of Music". Top billed by great actors and singers like Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, this is one movie that will always put a smile on an otherwise cynical face. With Oscar Hammerstein II & Richard Rodgers' wonderful songs, plus respected director Robert Wise at the helm, it's a very pleasant nostalgic trip that childhood memories should be made of.

I think that the simple story coupled with beautiful music from the movie sealed its place as one of the great classics. True, it may be the typical plot (governess falls for the widower who's the father of the children she cares for), but it's hard not to love the songs and moments that best express life's most relevant highlights...from falling in love, betrayal, building trust, and protecting one's family to survive. If I were a critic, I'd give it 5 stars, no matter how cheesy it may sound. I think we need more movies that make life seem a little bit better.

To give credit to the topnotch cast, here's a list of their names and roles, courtesy of Yahoo Movies and Sound of Music.com:

Julie Andrews - Maria
Christopher Plummer - Captain Georg von Trapp
Eleanor Parker - Baroness
Richard Haydn - Max Detweiler
Charmian Carr - Liesl
Heather Menzies - Louisa
Nicholas Hammond - Friedrich
Duane Chase - Kurt
Angela Cartwright - Brigitta
Debbie Turner - Marta
Kym Karath - Gretl
Daniel Truhitte - Rolfe Gruber
Peggy Wood - the Mother Abbess
Anna Lee - Sister Margaretta
Portia Nelson - Sister Berthe


Photos from the film from Yahoo Movies.