I love this movie, it has always been a family favorite. we would watch it each year as we were packing to visit family for Christmas. i think that every family should watch this together at least once, its a classic!
The Sound of Music
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Outstanding family film features glorious music.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Sound of Music was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this is an outstanding family film, filled with glorious music ("Do-Re-Mi," "My Favorite Things," "Edelweiss, "So Long, Farewell"), a real-life love story right out of Jane Eyre, a courageous moral choice, and a heart-stopping escape. Some kids may want to know more about the Nazis and why the Captain makes the choice to escape with his family. Younger ones won't notice that the film takes place at a turbulent time in history.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the movie's theme and plot points. Why does Maria have a problem fitting in at the abbey? What does the Captain learn from Maria? What is the difference between the way the Captain, Max, and Rolfe react to the Nazis? What does the song, "Climb Every Mountain" mean? The people who wrote the song about "My Favorite Things" also wrote "Whistle a Happy Tune" in The King and I. How are the two songs alike (think about when Maria sings the song)? If you were going to write the song, what would be on your list of favorite things?
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More on The Sound of Music
What’s the Story?
This beloved musical tells the fictionalized love story of Maria von Trapp (Julie Andrews), who, as a postulant, is "not a credit to the abbey." While she means well, she's constantly in trouble. The wise abbess sends her away to be the governess for the seven children of stern widower Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer). The children are uncooperative until Maria wins them over, sharing her love of music and teaching them to sing. The captain's friend Max wants the kids to sing at the local festival, but the stern captain refuses -- at first. But when the captain hosts a ball, he begins to notice a certain singing governess more than he should (he's been wooing an uppity baroness and had intended to propose). At the same time, Nazi sympathizers are moving into his beloved Austria and preparing to take over -- and he'll be expected to join them. In the end, he chooses Maria, and entering the singing contest turns into an escape from the Nazis.
Is It Any Good?
THE SOUND OF MUSIC is filled with glorious songs ("Do-Re-Mi," "My Favorite Things," "Edelweiss, "So Long, Farewell") and has plenty for hopeless romantics to enjoy -- especially the sweet song, "Something Good," that the captain sings to Maria. It also effectively works in the tension and foreboding of the time period. Everyone in Austria has to make a choice when the Nazis arrive. The beau of Liesl, the captain's oldest daughter, becomes so committed to the Nazis that he's willing to betray the young woman he cared for. Even the nuns in the abbey must make a choice. It's worth discussing with older kids why this was such a tense time and why the Von Trapps made the painful decision to flee the country they loved.
Movie Details
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Director: Robert Wise
Run time: 174 minutes
Theatrical release: 03/29/1965, DVD release: 08/13/2002
MPAA Rating: NR
Run time: 174 minutes
Theatrical release: 03/29/1965, DVD release: 08/13/2002
MPAA Rating: NR
Our Members Say
See all 32 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
One of my all time faves!
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Perfect for anyone! I loved it!
This is one GREAT movie! I loved it so much! Julie Andrews is one of the best actress/singer I'v ever known. She really is good! This movie is kind of and adventure/romance. It's perfect.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
good music
SUPER! Good music, good actors, good scenery.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Perfect even for young children as they concentrate on the music.
We've been watching this in my family since my daughter was 3. The "war" theme in it isn't very scary, my kids asked questions about it which lead to me explaining a bit about WW2 in child friendly simplistic terms. The music is amazing....this movie is long, but even at 3 my daughter had no problem siting through it because it is so fabulous.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Outstanding classic
Although it's not the manliest thing to admit you saw "Sound of Music" and enjoyed it, hey...I enjoyed it. Not for young kids at all, ages 10+ is good. The whole Nazi plot is way too much for a child to handle, but the music just made you feel good.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
Excellent for a musically inclined, thoughtful child
This was a huge hit with my 4 year old daughter. She's seen it dozens of times by now, though rarely all the way through because it's long. Parts of it took some explaining, of course, but most of the characters are readily understandable and the songs are instantly accessible and addictive. I'm not sure there's a better way for a child to first encounter the huge topic of the Nazis: they're introduced well into the film as obviously bad but in a very nondescript way, they're ominous but not explicitly violent.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A Fantastic Movie!
Hi, I'm ten years old and I think this film is a great! Based on a true story Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer make the story come alive as a musical! At the end there is a part younger children may not like {when they hide from the Nazis guard but they do get away} in all a movie to see over and over again.
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
The Hills Are Alive!!
I love this movie. There is absoloutley NOTHING bad about this movie. I mean, it's a musical romance with lots of family and friend love. If you haven't seen this, you should go on Amazon or Blockbuster right now, and order it. My favorite song is My Favorite Things. I love this! This is my absolute favorite movie since I was young.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Amazing movie, totally a classic!
Amazing movie that has been a part of my life since I was about four years old! Great messages and music!
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
Best musical ever!
I love musicals and Julie Andrews! She done a good job in Princess Diaries and Mary Poppins and more!
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
My almost 4 year old daughter loves this movie because of all the children and the nanny. She has asked questions about why the family leaves home and I skipped the scenes where they are hiding but otherwise it is a winner at our house.
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Lives in California
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Touching Movie
This was a moving film and made me want to be part of it!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I watched this movie with my 3yo and 5yo. It is an extremely LONG movie and neither made it through-which means they didn't see the scary part! The 3yo couldn't really attend to the movie and was bouncing around the living room the whole time. My 5 yo got the story line. But...they are both singing the songs constantly now-listening to the sound track before bed, etc...Its really wonderful!
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
Bad!
THis had so much languge and sex in it i could beleive it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Truthfully, I lost six brain cells watching this.
It was an assingment that I had to watch for class, but I have watched it before and I can say, this is BORING! I don't learn anything from it, except that there was a crazy singing family. I know there is supposed to be an educational value in this movie related to the Nazis time period, but it is so boring to even learn about that interesting stuff in this musical... I didn't like it at all. I think I was falling asleep! Not think... know.
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
fun even for the toddlers
I was suprised that this was rated for 5+. My son began to love this at age 2. the music is brilliant and he loved seeign the child actors. the scenes toward the end when the family is being pursued at the convent are really the only ones requiring the fast-forward.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
This is an AWESOME movie!!!!
This is the most AWESOME movie EVER!!!! The music is wonderful, and it has a historic background and some funny moments. Julie Andrews is brilliant, as usual, and Rogers and Hammerstein had the best score EVER!!!! I can say that because I am a musician... I can appreciate it in its full potential. This is one of my absolute FAVORITE movies, along with Singin' in the Rain, Chariots of Fire, The Music Man, Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail, and others. This is my absolute FAVORITE movie, however. (I just contradicted myself, didn't I? Oh well...) The music is fabulous... I am listening to the soundtrack right now. A must see for any one of any age, though for younger children, the cirstumstances/history might need to be explained in further detail.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 43% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 43% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 29% | of parents say it's educational |
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