A Brief Look at The Sound of Music

http://videobb.com/video/QJUUDSHFZDnr *

	"I think one of the major things a director has to do is to know his subject matter, the subject matter of his script, know the truth and the reality of it. That's very important." - Robert Wise

Robert Wise is an American Filmmaker whose work precedes the digital age, even though it inspires many people living in it. He is best known for his editing of Citizen Kane and the direction of West Side Story and the Sound of Music. Although his greatest critical successes were musicals, he is thought of as a man without a particular style or genre. He made many films ranging in style from film noir to horror to science fiction to historical.

Wise originally turned down The Sound of Music because he felt it overly sacherine in nature. He eventually took the job, after the hired director quit in pre-production, and the war movie he was worked on suffered production delays. The Sound of Music became one of the most financially lucrative film productions of all time and Wise received a Best Director Academy Award for his role in it. Even though the director was somewhat reluctant, it is easy to see how he utilized the strategy discussed in the above quote with great success.

The opening scene of Robert Wise’s the Sound of Music, which plays before the credits, is truly iconic.

In terms of actual action, very little occurs. A simply clad women sings a slow, light hearted song about a timeless tradition of freedom within and about the gorgeous mountains of Austria and her desire to merge with them and stay there forever, before grabbing a nun’s habit from the ground and running off to the next scene away from the hills.

Presentation brings it together beautifully. Wise knows his subject manner. The main subjects of the scene and of the movie itself are both the European countryside environment and Maria. It is amazing, how within the first few minutes both are characterized so well.

In this part of the movie, both benefit from bright, dramatic coloring. Long Aerial views of stunningly gorgeous countryside are shown in succession, for two minutes before the viewer becomes aware of Maria’s presence and vocals. The land is desirable and grand. A shot of the Von Trapp Manor serves as foreshadowing.

When Maria is introduced, the camera zooms in briefly on her upper body. She spins and remains in motion for the rest of the scene. Yet, she never takes up more than half of the screen. The hills and big blue sky never leave the frame, even as the central figure’s body is shot from different angles. Her singing is good and adds further to the tone and land characterization. It becomes clear that Maria is an uncommon person and that there is some absurdity in her song and dance. This depiction of Austria, however, is not absurd. The environment has an uplifting, strengthening power. It is the screen composition and artistry of her surroundings that marks Maria as a person on a path of self-discovery that will surely be a pleasure to watch.

It is lighthearted beginning to what is mostly a lighthearted film. This scene also has lovely contrast with the following scene, which takes place in a nunnery, amongst others. Eventually Maria will find herself in her interaction with the Von Trapp family and their adventures in cities and countrysides. After the film reaches the climax, she outshines and escapes the war torn hills to freedom with her family.

The central theme or to use Wise's terms "truth and reality" of The Sound of Music is that the spirit or song of people is what makes the spirit or song of a country. This theme is overly sweet and idealistic but it is easy to see how it might suit a media maker as they create a sound and look that brings hills to life.

* I do not condone the illegal streaming or pirating of movies, making a special exemption in this case because I feel as though every household in America probably has or had at one point possessed VHS tape of this one. Yet when pushed, I could not find a YouTube-esqe 3 minute clip of this movie that had not been digitally manipulated at some point to make a joke of it.