 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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The Sound of Music
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- NR
- Genre: Musical
- 1965
Common Sense Media says
Outstanding family film features glorious music.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this classic film is rich in character, music, and story, as well as filled with positive messages. In the final 10 minutes there are a number of suspenseful scenes that may be frightening for some children, including the main character being held at gunpoint. Kids might be curious to learn more about Nazis and World War II after watching this movie. There’s some moderate alcohol consumption and one character smokes. The romantic scenes are limited to gentle embraces and brief chaste kisses.
What's the story?
This beloved musical tells the fictionalized love story of Maria von Trapp (Julie Andrews), who does not fit into the abbey where she lives. 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.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how the movie compares to more recent musical films. How is this one different or similar? What makes this movie a classic?
Talk about the songs in the movie. What does the song, "Climb Every Mountain" mean? What about "My Favorite Things"? If you were going to write the song, what would be on your list of favorite things?
How do the filmmakers create tension in the last few minutes of the movie? What effects do they use? How do you feel when watching the ending?
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Parent of 3 year old
September 8, 2010
AGE
First half perfect for preschoolers
Our 3.5 year old daughter adores this movie, but she only sees the 1st half of the show (we end it after "So Long, Farewell"). I think that the chase & gun scenes later in the movie would be very scary to her right now, but the 1st half of the movie is just right for a preschooler with lots of singing, dancing, etc. A bonus for our household: The scene with "My Favorite Things" features a thunderstorm, which has made our daughter less fearful about lightning and thunder in general.
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Kid, 11 years old
September 5, 2010
AGE
OMG, love this movie even though it is so old. So romantic and its just such a good movie with very good songs.
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Teen, 17 years old
June 8, 2011
AGE
Perfect 10/10
The Sound of Music is the most popular musical in history many memorable moments kids at 5 and till the end shall love this masterpiece when i was younger me and my parents watch this movie all the time with my grandfather now he is dead last June watching this movie again flooded a lot of childhood memories this will be my last movie to watch when my parents or i die
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Parent of 4 year old
October 17, 2009
AGE
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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Parent
March 21, 2011
AGE
Great for the entire family
Love this for watching with my 4 year old and 18 month old. Pick any disney movie, any one ... an it is scarier than this.
The singing is lovely and my girls love to dance and clap along.
There is some close dancing and a couple of kiss scenes.
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Parent of 2 year old
February 19, 2011
AGE
Musical Numbers Great For All Ages!
We have been showing our 2 year old the musical numbers and he loves them. Do-Re-Mi, My Favorite Things, So Long, Farewell, and Lonely Goatherd all are fantastic out of context. We have tried to watch the movie with him from the beginning, but in the first 30 minutes so much of it was going over his head that he quickly lost interest and walked up to the TV to turn it off. We'll just stick to the musical parts until he is quite a bit older.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 21, 2011
AGE
Excellent ??????????
I love this awesome calssic! The music is beautiful and moving, and the plot is cute, and actually true. Julie Andrews has an amazing voice and the children are adorable! I really reccomned it!
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Teen, 14 years old
April 25, 2010
AGE
good
very long movie, musical will keep you entertained but you can get bored after awhile
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Parent of 3 and 3 year old
November 21, 2010
AGE
The kids love the music
We love this movie, but we always end it at the wedding, the kids love dancing to the music.
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Teen, 15 years old
April 22, 2011
AGE
One of My Favorite Things
Some scenes of drinking in a very excellent classic, but it is very long. 174 minues to be exact. Yet there is nothing parents will find too upseting other than the context that it takes place during WWII. Like other classics, kids will like the musical parts, and adults will enjoy just as much if not more.
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| Topics: | history, music and sing-along |
| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Robert Wise |
| Cast: | Charmian Carr, Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Run time: | 174 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 2, 1965 |
| DVD release date: | August 13, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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