A Favorite Thing: 50 years later, fans still captivated by ‘The Sound of Music’

Julie Andrews performs in "The Sound of Music." Julie Andrews performs in "The Sound of Music."

By Casey Phillips March 2, 2015 15 min read

Julie Andrews performs in “The Sound of Music.”

Maria (played by Julie Andrews, at top) spins atop an Austrian hillside in the intro sequence to “The Sound of Music,” which turns 50 today. Above: The Von Trapp children — Liesl (Charmian Carr), Friedrich (Nicholas Hammond), Louisa (Heather Menzies), Kurt (Duane Chase), Brigitta (Angela Cartwright), Marta (Debbie Turner) and Gretl (Kym Karath) — line up in formation for their father, Capt. Georg Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer).

[* "I will always cry when the captain first sings 'Edelweiss.' As a dad, it became my kids' most requested nighttime lullaby." , - Greg Howard * "Saw it for the first time in D.C. when it first came out. Loved it then and ever since. Every time I watch it, my husband says I react and enjoy it like it's the first time I've ever seen it." - Carolyn Massoud * "My grandmother would rent this from the local video store for me often when I would have sleepovers at her house as a child. I've seen the movie many times and almost every time was with her. She's gone now, so this movie brings back many wonderful memories for me." - Chastity Ward Davis * "My 8-year-old has known the words to most of the songs since she was barely old enough to sing. We sing together all the time, and it's just so much fun!" - Marissa Monroe McCauley, - Greg Howard , * "Saw it for the first time in D.C. when it first came out. Loved it then and ever since. Every time I watch it, my husband says I react and enjoy it like it's the first time I've ever seen it." - Carolyn Massoud * "My grandmother would rent this from the local video store for me often when I would have sleepovers at her house as a child. I've seen the movie many times and almost every time was with her. She's gone now, so this movie brings back many wonderful memories for me." - Chastity Ward Davis * "My 8-year-old has known the words to most of the songs since she was barely old enough to sing. We sing together all the time, and it's just so much fun!" - Marissa Monroe McCauley, * "Saw it for the first time in D.C. when it first came out. Loved it then and ever since. Every time I watch it, my husband says I react and enjoy it like it's the first time I've ever seen it." , - Carolyn Massoud * "My grandmother would rent this from the local video store for me often when I would have sleepovers at her house as a child. I've seen the movie many times and almost every time was with her. She's gone now, so this movie brings back many wonderful memories for me." - Chastity Ward Davis * "My 8-year-old has known the words to most of the songs since she was barely old enough to sing. We sing together all the time, and it's just so much fun!" - Marissa Monroe McCauley, - Carolyn Massoud , * "My grandmother would rent this from the local video store for me often when I would have sleepovers at her house as a child. I've seen the movie many times and almost every time was with her. She's gone now, so this movie brings back many wonderful memories for me." - Chastity Ward Davis * "My 8-year-old has known the words to most of the songs since she was barely old enough to sing. We sing together all the time, and it's just so much fun!" - Marissa Monroe McCauley, * "My grandmother would rent this from the local video store for me often when I would have sleepovers at her house as a child. I've seen the movie many times and almost every time was with her. She's gone now, so this movie brings back many wonderful memories for me." , - Chastity Ward Davis * "My 8-year-old has known the words to most of the songs since she was barely old enough to sing. We sing together all the time, and it's just so much fun!" - Marissa Monroe McCauley, - Chastity Ward Davis , * "My 8-year-old has known the words to most of the songs since she was barely old enough to sing. We sing together all the time, and it's just so much fun!" - Marissa Monroe McCauley, * "My 8-year-old has known the words to most of the songs since she was barely old enough to sing. We sing together all the time, and it's just so much fun!" , - Marissa Monroe McCauley, - Marissa Monroe McCauley]

A timeline

1880: Georg von Trapp is born. 1905: Maria Augusta Kutschera is born. 1922: Capt. Von Trapp’s first wife, Agatha, dies from scarlet fever. 1926: Kutschera is hired as a tutor for Capt. Von Trapp’s daughter Maria Franziska. 1927: Capt. Von Trapp and Kutschera marry. 1936: The Von Trapp family take first place at the Salzburg Music Festival and begin touring Europe. 1938: The Von Trapps leave Austria and travel to Italy, later embarking on a tour of America. 1944: The Von Trapps file for U.S. citizenship (securing it in 1948). 1947: Capt. Von Trapp dies. 1949: Publication of Maria Von Trapp’s memoir “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.” 1955: The Trapp Family Singers cease touring. 1956: Release of comedy/drama film “The Trapp Family,” based on the Von Trapp memoir. 1958: Release of “The Trapp Family in America,” a sequel to “The Trapp Family.” 1959: Debut of “The Sound of Music” on Broadway, starring Mary Martin. 1965: Premiere of “The Sound of Music” film, starring Julie Andrews. 1976: ABC broadcasts the film for the first time as an abridged version. 1987: Maria Von Trapp dies. 1995: NBC broadcasts an unabridged version of the film. 2014: Carrie Underwood stars in “The Sound of Music Live!” 2015: Lady Gaga performs a “Sound of Music” medley at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony.

Awards and honors

* Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director, Sound Mixing, Film Editing and Music. * Golden Globes for Best Musical or Comedy and Actress. * Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. * Writers Guild of America for Best Written American Musical. * American Film Institute selection on lists for best movies (No. 40), most inspiring stories (No. 41), greatest musicals (No. 4), best songs (No. 10, title song), greatest love stories (No. 27). * Library of Congress National Film Registry inductee (2001).

The sound(track) of music

* “The Sound of Music” * “Morning Hymn and Alleluia” * “Maria” * “I Have Confidence” * “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” * “My Favorite Things” * “Do-Re-Mi” * “The Lonely Goatherd” * “Edelweiss” * “Lndler” * “So Long, Farewell” * “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” * “Something Good”

Even under optimal conditions, an echo usually fades away after just a few seconds. Yet somehow, fans say “The Sound of Music” resonates as strongly today as it did 50 years ago when Julie Andrews’ first pirouetted on a hill, joyously belting out a song into the Austrian countryside.