“Doe, a deer, a female deer.”

If that doesn’t bring a smile or a winch to your face you’re dead inside. The Sound Of Music is considered one of the all-time great musicals. Of course it seems a bit sentimental, saccharine and sappy by today’s tastes. Nevertheless, the movie still draws you in because those songs insidiously burrow into the hearts and minds of all who see it. The movie is uplifting with elements of danger and romance thrown in for good measure. It’s so sweet that you can get cavities from multiple viewings. Just kidding. In all fairness, the movie is great inspirational family fare. That’s why it’s shown annually on TV every holiday season. Did you know that this movie is also considered a savior? It single-handily saved 20th Century Fox from financial ruin. A few years prior, all of the studio’s financial resources were eaten up by that debacle known as “Cleopatra.” Looking for a sure-fire hit, the studio chief plucked a story about the Von Trapp family off their shelf. Apparently the story/rights had been forgotten and was gathering dust for years. They had the script written by Ernest Lehman and directed by Robert Wise (West Side Story). And the rest is history. When the film was released, critics dubbed it “The Sound Of Money.” Oh how right they were. It grossed over 200 million in its initial run, thus ensuring the studio’s survival. Of interesting note, prior to the release of Mary Poppins, the studio wasn’t sure about Julie Andrews in the title role. They thought she wasn’t photogenic enough!?! Puleeese!! So all together now…”the hills are alive with…”


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