The Sound of Music
Day 1: Traditional Songs in Musicals,
How Songs Reveal Plot & Musical Film Genre
Film Notebook:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6lfA_fz8gQ
 The Sound of Music is typically seen as a popular and
classic family musical, passed down from one generation
to the next. What films have been important in your
family? Why do you think your family shared them with
you?
Types of Songs in Traditional Musicals:
Record these terms & definitions in your film notebook
 "I Want" song - expresses what a character is looking for,
hoping for, longing for, typically toward the beginning of the
show. A good "I Want" song can lay the foundation for strong
character development, and set the audience's expectations for
where the show might be headed.
 Conditional love song - How do you get your characters to
sing about being in love at the beginning of the show? You make
it conditional, writing the love song with an "if," a technique
pioneered by the great Oscar Hammerstein II. Sure, there's such
a thing as love at first sight, but it's a lot easier to buy with a
little dramatic irony: the characters don't know they're in love,
but we do.
 “I Am” song – expresses what a character feels in the moment
or how a character is introduced to the audience early in the
show
Types of songs continued:
 Comic list song - expresses wordplay and rhyme through
comedy; utilizes comedic elements to get the audience’s response
to a situation
 Dance craze song - more popular
about dancing and individual songs
tend to involve some rambunctious
gang to join in on the fun based on
situation.
when musicals were more
rather than plot; today, they
character enjoining the entire
a silly or even serious
 11 O’clock number - It used to be that Broadway shows started
at 8:45 pm. This meant that most shows would be wrapping things
up at around 11 pm, and it became a common practice to craft an
ultimate number that would really stop the show, often
allowing the star a chance to shine, downstage center; many times
the other stars are involved (but not always).
Identifying Types of Songs in
Musicals:
 Watch these clips and determine which category of song they
best represent based on your definitions:
 From Beauty and the Beast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK8Sk-xd7vw
 From High School Musical 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leGp_wEmCsU
Traditional Musical Songs—
Answers:
•
Beauty and The Beast’s “Belle’s Reprise” is an example of
an “I want” song
--literally says “I want”
--focuses on her desires/motivations for more than
what she has right now
•
High School Musical 2’s “Every Day” is an example of an
Eleven O’clock song
--features Troy & Gabriella, the main stars, as they are
coming back together after having some relationship
issues
--occurs towards the end of the movie, but isn’t the very
last number
Traditional Musicals, Songs & Plot
Development:
 As musicals evolved over time, they became less about
stars and individual songs and more focused on the plot
(or the “book”).
 Many traditional musicals carefully craft songs to
develop plot elements, like setting, conflict, etc.
 As you watch “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” from
Disney’s The Lion King, consider how the lyrics help to
develop the plot of the film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bGjlvukgHU
Musical Film: Genre & History
 Musical Film: a genre of film where songs
sung by characters are interwoven into the
plot, sometimes accompanied by dancing.
 Musical film evolved from Broadway musicals
after the introduction of sound film quality
and included background scenery and
location shooting that a small theater could
not handle.
 Many traditional musicals were adapted for
the screen as a result of their popularity, like
West Side Story, The King and I, and Grease.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Director: Robert Wise
Music: Richard Rogers & Oscar Hammerstein II
Choreography: Marc Breaux & Dee Dee Wood

Based on the 1959 The Sound of Music musical

Follows the story of a woman (Maria) training to be a nun who has reservations about
becoming one and becomes a governess to a retired naval officer’s (Captain Von Trapp)
children, as he is widowed. After bringing love, laughter, and music back into their lives,
she and the Captain fall in love and must try to escape Austria, as the Captain has been
called to serve the Nazis, a decision he is vehemently opposed to.

The setting is Salzburg, Austria in 1938 as the Nazis are taking control.

Filmed from March 26 through September 1, 1964, with external scenes shot on location in
Salzburg, Austria and the surrounding region.
The Sound of Music, starring:
 Julie Andrews as Maria Von Trapp
 Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp
 Eleanor Parker as the Baroness
 Richard Haydn as Max Detweiler
 Peggy Wood as Mother Abbess
 Charmian Carr As Liesel
 Nicholas Hammond as Friedrich
Background:
The film is based on the true story of the Von Trapp
Family Singers and specifically the first section of Maria
Von Trapp's book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers
(1949), but there were many alterations &
omissions.
--There were 10 children, not 7, and their names
& ages were changed
--Maria came to the family as a tutor, not
a governess
--Maria said she originally married the
Captain because she loved the
children, but later grew to love him completely
--The two married 11 years before the Nazi takeover,
not right before it
--The family was musically inclined before Maria
came into their lives
--Captain Von Trapp was a warm and caring father,
not at all like he is portrayed early in the movie
--The family did escape Austria before the borders
were closed, but did so by train to Italy, not by
dramatically walking over the Alps with suitcases
--The family priest, not their uncle, was their manager
Awards and Importance:
 Nominated for 10 Academy Awards
 Won 5: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Music (Scoring,
Adaptation), Best Sound, Best Film Editing
 The film was a major commercial success, becoming the
number one box office movie after four weeks, and the
highest-grossing film of 1965.
 By November 1966, The Sound of Music became the highestgrossing film of all-time—surpassing Gone With the Wind—
and held that distinction for five years.
 The film was just as popular throughout the world, breaking
previous box-office records in twenty-nine countries.
Following an initial theatrical release that lasted four and a
half years, and two successful re-releases, the film sold
283.3 million admissions worldwide and earned a total
worldwide gross of $286,214,076. Adjusted for inflation, the
film earned $2.366 billion at 2014 prices—the fifth highest
grossing film of all time.
 Continues to be a popular film with its own tour in Salzburg,
Austria
 A live remake featuring Carrie Underwood as Maria
premiered on NBC on December 5, 2013
 Lady Gaga performed some of the songs at the 2015
Grammy’s in honor of its 50th anniversary.
Your Turn:
As you watch the film, continue to
think about the various songs
used, what categories of
traditional songs they fit into, and
how they develop the setting or
plot of the film.