What a great dad to cultivate that love of good movies and music in you!
Two quick notes:
- my dad was friends with the von trapp family from staying at their ski lodge in Vermont for years and years.
- edelweiss (my fav song from the movie) was deliberately written to be an old Austrian folk song and was so well done that mark steyn says that German and Austrian audience members in the early years used to come up to the producers and (impossibly) say they remembered their parents singing it to them as kids!
I had the World's Greatest Dad, Adrian. He had a job as a teenager in the WWII years working at a movie theater. He watched ALL the movies, and through the 1960's he always saw every first run film. Every one. And then the films went .. the way the films went, and he had to be a lot more selective. One of his jobs was switching out the movie posters (and now I know that you will begin to feel it coming!), which he had to put into the trash. YIKES.
We've never been to the Trapp Lodge, nor all that far from here, because now it is a place for folks with deep pockets and the "Trapp Family events" sound more like hokum than music to me. We can't afford such a place. I'll bet your dad told you some great stories from those early days of the von Trapps in Vermont!
I believe the story about "Edelweiss." Hammerstein was a lyrical genius, indeed. And he and Dick Rodgers had a system, that Dick would write a tune and give Oscar the idea for a scene or theme in the play, and Oscar would only then write the lyrics. That worked, and for them it worked very well. And it made for great authenticity. "The Sound of Music" may have done a little sleight of hand with the details, but it was as true to the spirit of the times and the story as a musical could be, I believe.
I, too, have fond memories of seeing The Sound of Music in a very crowded theater with my grandmother & one of my sisters who was "old enough" to go. It was such a delightful experience & has been a favorite ever since! It's interesting that My Favorite Things has since become a song played at Christmas, presumably because it mentions snow & packages.
I believe (& say to whomever will listen) that the movie has one of the most romantic scenes ever filmed (Maria & the Captain in the gazebo), and they only share one kiss!
That like is for your entire comment, Nan. And yes, the mention of snowflakes evidently was enough to turn "My Favorite Things" into a Christmas song, haha. I never associate it with Christmas, however!
Aw, Jack, that's nice of you to say. I asked Tony last night if he thought I should take the reference to my dad out of my piece, and he said "NO!" My dad was the youngest guy I ever knew, up to the last. He was very responsible, but he never lost his ability to enjoy the smallest things. Or the biggest, as well!
A little off the topic but fun fact: Richard Rodgers spent time the summer before my freshman year at Pius X School of Liturgical Music, where nuns and priests would come to learn Gregorian chant. Since he was Jewish, he wanted the opening prelude (“Dixit Dominus”)to be as authentic as possible. He succeeded beautifully and the story circulated for years at the college, when it was still Catholic (Manhattanville).😢
WOWWWW, Monica. That's a great story, and I believe it, too. Rodgers had classical training and it showed. It's just like him to do that. And yes, I sigh for the losses at Catholic and other Christian colleges and universities. After the horrible betrayal of my husband during his 27th year at Providence College (2016), he began to call the place "St. Eustaby Catholic College," because, well, it used to be Catholic, but went the way of all politics. PC was what everyone called it, and by the time we left the place it was about as politically "correct" as possible.
Anne, I'm sorry to get this reply in so late today! My other "favorite" musical is "Singing in the Rain." I just love Gene Kelly! And AS a musical, I think that one is just perfect. But it is REALLY hard to choose a favorite from such great options. It's kind of like when we wonder, how was it that certain very great actors never won the Academy Award. There was just so much greatness -- and everyone kind of took it for granted. Now we can see it ALL for the terrific art it was.
Thank you! It is difficult for me to select a favorite from the several great numbers in the show. I will just say that before the movie came out, and before I was aware it was a Broadway musical, I recall our teacher leading the class in singing Do-Re-Mi.
Steve, I'm just getting to today's comments, late. I was thinking yesterday what my favorite SONG from "The Sound of Music" is. To tell the truth, it's probably the overture, because that was composed of ALL of the songs! It was so delightful to see this film in a big theater, with programs and everything. Before our move to NH a few years ago, I had all of my childhood theater programs in pristine condition, packed away with my college papers and early writing. I was so distress at the move, that I lost track of the box and found it about two years ago in our very "breezy" barn, in a tub. Well, those things are mostly lost, now. Alas! I have the memories!
Nan: (Way off topic here.)
Agreed, but I'd also nominate the scene toward the end of Houseboat when Cary Grant is dancing with Sophia Loren. 😊
That's a movie I've not seen, Jack--will have to add it to the To-Watch List!
One more comment about Julie being too young for the Broadway production. I thought at the time Mary Martin was too old for it!
What a great dad to cultivate that love of good movies and music in you!
Two quick notes:
- my dad was friends with the von trapp family from staying at their ski lodge in Vermont for years and years.
- edelweiss (my fav song from the movie) was deliberately written to be an old Austrian folk song and was so well done that mark steyn says that German and Austrian audience members in the early years used to come up to the producers and (impossibly) say they remembered their parents singing it to them as kids!
I had the World's Greatest Dad, Adrian. He had a job as a teenager in the WWII years working at a movie theater. He watched ALL the movies, and through the 1960's he always saw every first run film. Every one. And then the films went .. the way the films went, and he had to be a lot more selective. One of his jobs was switching out the movie posters (and now I know that you will begin to feel it coming!), which he had to put into the trash. YIKES.
We've never been to the Trapp Lodge, nor all that far from here, because now it is a place for folks with deep pockets and the "Trapp Family events" sound more like hokum than music to me. We can't afford such a place. I'll bet your dad told you some great stories from those early days of the von Trapps in Vermont!
I believe the story about "Edelweiss." Hammerstein was a lyrical genius, indeed. And he and Dick Rodgers had a system, that Dick would write a tune and give Oscar the idea for a scene or theme in the play, and Oscar would only then write the lyrics. That worked, and for them it worked very well. And it made for great authenticity. "The Sound of Music" may have done a little sleight of hand with the details, but it was as true to the spirit of the times and the story as a musical could be, I believe.
I, too, have fond memories of seeing The Sound of Music in a very crowded theater with my grandmother & one of my sisters who was "old enough" to go. It was such a delightful experience & has been a favorite ever since! It's interesting that My Favorite Things has since become a song played at Christmas, presumably because it mentions snow & packages.
I believe (& say to whomever will listen) that the movie has one of the most romantic scenes ever filmed (Maria & the Captain in the gazebo), and they only share one kiss!
Thanks for your post, Debra!
That like is for your entire comment, Nan. And yes, the mention of snowflakes evidently was enough to turn "My Favorite Things" into a Christmas song, haha. I never associate it with Christmas, however!
Debra: Many many thanks for taking us along for a ride through a childhood as special as yours.
Aw, Jack, that's nice of you to say. I asked Tony last night if he thought I should take the reference to my dad out of my piece, and he said "NO!" My dad was the youngest guy I ever knew, up to the last. He was very responsible, but he never lost his ability to enjoy the smallest things. Or the biggest, as well!
A little off the topic but fun fact: Richard Rodgers spent time the summer before my freshman year at Pius X School of Liturgical Music, where nuns and priests would come to learn Gregorian chant. Since he was Jewish, he wanted the opening prelude (“Dixit Dominus”)to be as authentic as possible. He succeeded beautifully and the story circulated for years at the college, when it was still Catholic (Manhattanville).😢
WOWWWW, Monica. That's a great story, and I believe it, too. Rodgers had classical training and it showed. It's just like him to do that. And yes, I sigh for the losses at Catholic and other Christian colleges and universities. After the horrible betrayal of my husband during his 27th year at Providence College (2016), he began to call the place "St. Eustaby Catholic College," because, well, it used to be Catholic, but went the way of all politics. PC was what everyone called it, and by the time we left the place it was about as politically "correct" as possible.
I love it that we are not only contemporaries but kindred spirits. Dying to know, Debra, what is the second of your two favorite musicals of all time?
Anne, I'm sorry to get this reply in so late today! My other "favorite" musical is "Singing in the Rain." I just love Gene Kelly! And AS a musical, I think that one is just perfect. But it is REALLY hard to choose a favorite from such great options. It's kind of like when we wonder, how was it that certain very great actors never won the Academy Award. There was just so much greatness -- and everyone kind of took it for granted. Now we can see it ALL for the terrific art it was.
Thank you! It is difficult for me to select a favorite from the several great numbers in the show. I will just say that before the movie came out, and before I was aware it was a Broadway musical, I recall our teacher leading the class in singing Do-Re-Mi.
Steve, I'm just getting to today's comments, late. I was thinking yesterday what my favorite SONG from "The Sound of Music" is. To tell the truth, it's probably the overture, because that was composed of ALL of the songs! It was so delightful to see this film in a big theater, with programs and everything. Before our move to NH a few years ago, I had all of my childhood theater programs in pristine condition, packed away with my college papers and early writing. I was so distress at the move, that I lost track of the box and found it about two years ago in our very "breezy" barn, in a tub. Well, those things are mostly lost, now. Alas! I have the memories!