The Movie - a family conquers the heart’s of the world with their songs!

The life memories of Maria von Trapp – which she committed to paper in the 1952 in the work entitled “Vom Kloster zum Welterfolg” (from monastery to world success) -- are the basis for the expensively produced entertainment movie “The Sound of Music.” The book already served as template for the 1958 German-Austrian joint production of “Die Trapp-Familie” (the Trapp family).

Back then Ruth Leuwerik stood in front of the camera as Maria, and Wolfgang Liebeneiner led the direction. In 1965, under the leadership of Robert Wise, “The Sound of Music” came into existence. In Germany the film was released into the movie theatres under the title “Meine Lieder - Meine Träume” (my songs - my dreams).

Maria von Trapp’s biography spellbound 1.2 billion viewers. Particularly abroad in the USA and English-speaking foreign countries the 1966 film – rewarded with five Oscars – achieved cult status and carried Salzburg’s charm and life experience into the world. Since 2005 the film is available on DVD. The book “The Sound of Music” supplies numerous tidbits of background information.

The true and nevertheless unusual history of a musical career is told within its pages. The spectator is transported into the Salzburg of the year 1938. Full of zest for life, the young probationary nun Maria is sent by the abbess of the monastery as a nanny into the family of the widowed Baron von Trapp. Quickly, Maria wins the hearts of his seven children and teaches them to sing -- until it is possible for this young generation to appear publicly as the “Trapp Family” act.

Since the baron intends to marry, Maria is sent back into the monastery. Yet Maria recognizes the fact that she does not wish to live without the baron and the children, and instead returns. The initially quite reserved Captain von Trapp succumbs to Maria’s natural charm and in the end leads her down the aisle to be wed.

In the aftermath, the family runs afoul the national socialists. Baron von Trapp refuses to join the German armed forces and is pursued by the Nazis. The final scene of the film shows the family at a joint concert in Salzburg after a successful escape from the Nazis via the Swiss border.