DVD Reviews

The Sound of Music (45th Anniversary Edition) – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Nov 4, 2010, 16:47 GMT

Experience the world\'s most beloved family film as never before with this 3-disc 45th Anniversary Edition of Rodgers & Hammerstein\'s® The Sound of Music, Winner of five 1965 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture! In this true-life story, Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves the convent to bring love and music to the home of Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) and his seven ...more

The hills are alive with the sound of Blu-ray.  The Sound of Music has never looked better.  Fox lavishes on the special features as well making this a must have release.  The studio is on a roll with this fantastic release.

Novice nun Maria (Julie Andrews) is always running afoul of her superiors since she is more of a free spirit.  The head nun (Peggy Wood) of the abbey is sent word that a governess is needed for the von Trapp family and she recommends that Maria take up the position. 

Maria finds that the widowed Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) runs his home with an shipshape attitude, yet his seven children, Liesl (Charmian Carr), Friedrich (Nicholas Hammond), Louisa (Heather Menzies), Kurt (Duane Chase), Brigitta (Angela Cartwright), Marta (Debbie Turner), and Gretl (Kym Karath), have been through many governesses.   

They really don’t take much of a liking to Maria either.  The Captain is busy wooing Baroness Elsa Schraeder (Eleanor Parker) who is visiting with Max Dettweiler (Richard Haydn) who is looking for a musical group to launch a music festival.  The children begin to warm to Maria, but the Captain isn’t too pleased with her free spirited governing. 

However, he too softens when he hears the children singing again which they have not done since their mother died.  Max also enters the children into the festival and Maria and the Captain start to grow closer, much to the Baronesses chagrin.  Things get even more suspenseful when the Nazis invade Austria.

The Sound of Music is certifiably classic.  It may stand as the Julie Andrews film, certainly the one that will pop up most when she’s talked about (Mary Poppins and it may jostle for the top spot though).  It’s also one of Fox’s most beloved films and is certainly give the grand treatment in its high definition debut. 

In fact, so lovely and pristine is the restoration that you may just want to stop reading now and get down to your store of preference and pick it up.  It also features a grand turn from Christopher Plummer, an extraordinary actor, who makes what could’ve been a pat role into one that breathes. 

The entire cast is shepherded through with class and style by director Robert Wise and bolstered by Roger and Hammerstein’s unforgettable songs.  Are you still reading?  You really should be ordering this post haste or at least adding it to your list to Santa. 

I can’t say much more on the film but to echo the many critics and fans that adore it.  That adoration is only sure to gush when they get a look at the remastered 1080p high definition transfer. 

The film has had a troubled history on DVD and has never really looked as good as fans thought it should.  I suppose Fox took those criticisms to heart and pulled out all the stops and mounted a grand restoration.  Not only that but they’ve added so much extra content that it may take you days to cover it all. 

They’ve been on a roll lately with Rocky Horror, Moulin Rouge (of the ones I’ve reviewed, the Alien set looks fantastic and I’m hoping for that one from Santa), etc.  They’re certainly giving other studios a run for their money.

Keep up the good work (and maybe share some of that love with the MGM stuff you distribute). 

The Sound of Music is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.20:1).  Prepare to be amazed.  It is so much an improvement over what has come before.  Simply beautiful.  Special features are plentiful and are in high definition unless noted.  Disc one has the film.  The first one is the “Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration” that has four picture-in-picture options (pip behinds the scenes, onscreen sing-along lyrics, trivia track, and an interactive quiz). 

The Music Machine gathers together all of the film’s songs together (58 minutes).  A sing-along version of that is also available.  The film also has two audio commentaries: one from late director Robert Wise and the second from Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Charmain Carr, choreographer Dee Dee Wood, and Johannes von Trapp.  The disc is also BD-Live enhanced and offers online goodies (Live Lookup from IMDB, a bonus interview, and looks at other Fox products). 

Disc two is also a Blu-ray.  “Musical Stages” is an interactive tour of sets from the film.  Selections are divided up into songs, stage, family, and restoration.  Clicking on any of those icons will take you to over 90 minutes of featurettes.  You can also find the featurettes with an icon on the bottom of the main menu and select play all.  “A City of Song” is another interactive tour of Salzburg locations divided into videos, facts, and photos with featurettes clocking in over 30 minutes of videos about the locations. 

There are also some vintage programs (in standard definition).  These include the 87 minute “From Fact to Phenomenon,” the 63 minute “Julie Andrews Remembers,” the 19 minute “Reminisce” with Andrews and Plummer, the 33 minute “From Liesl to Gretl,” the 83 minute “Sound of American Music” about Rodgers and Hammerstein, the 93 minute “Sound of Movies” about the adaptations of R&H, audio interviews, and much more. 

“Rare Treasures” has screen tests, clips of television shows, and photo galleries.  “Publicity” features trailers, tv spots, and radio spots.  There is so much to explore that those paltry descriptions may only lead you to the tip of the iceberg.  Disc three is a DVD copy of the film.        

The Sound of Music scored five Oscars, including best picture, and Fox does it up in golden style.  This may be the release of the year with the meticuluous restoration and a goatherd of extra features.  My highest recommendation and certainly a great Christmas present.

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