29. Salzburg: Sound of Music

My sisters and I know every song from The Sound of Music movie, and can recite most of the narrative as well. I pity the husbands and boyfriends that have tolerated our passionate involvement in the movie whenever we've watched it over the years.

Craig and I took a super fun 4 hour Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, where the exterior scenes in the movie were shot. Our tour guide downloaded a ton of info to us, and we did a sing-along in the bus to many of the songs. It was a blast. Due credit to Craig, who not only tolerated this tour like a trooper, but who was the one who tracked it down and suggested it in the first place.

If you're a Sound of Music afficianado, read on. Otherwise, you might want to move on to the next post.

Fun facts about the movie:

- Julie Andrews landed the part after Grace Kelly & Doris Day declined - not enough $ for them

- Sean Connery (can he even sing?) and Bing Crosby were considered for the Captain's role

-The Salzburg portion of the shoot, scheduled to take 6 weeks actually took 11 weeks, because they filmed during rainy season

- Christopher Plummer was a classically trained pianist, and would often spend evenings tinkling the ivories and enjoying an apertif in the company of Leisl, who confesses to having had a crush on him then.

- The movie took 9 months in total to film and incurred corresponding child actor issues, like Marta losing her baby teeth, and Frederick growing 6" during that time

- Edelweiss is not really an Austrian song at all! It was written by Rogers & Hammerstein for the movie. Many Austrians don't know the song at all.

- The Von Trapps did not escape Austria over the mountains. They took a train to Italy the day before the border closed, then came to the US, settling in Stowe VT, because it reminded them of home.

- Maria was not really in love with the Captain when she married him (what???). And he knew it. Rather than ask if she would be his wife, he tapped into her love of and devotion to the children, and asked if she would become the mother of his children. Of course, she did end up falling in love with him over time. 💕Baca lagi