The Sound of Music

As totally enchanting as it was the day it was released, the 5 Academy Award-winning The Sound of Music comes to DVD in a special edition release that no one should be without. Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer star in this classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical based on the real-life Von Trapp family's flight from Nazi rule in Austria circa 1938. I am forever indebted to Fox for the care they've taken with this release, giving it not only a stunning video and audio remastering but adding a not-to-be-missed commentary by director Robert Wise, a similarly essential new feature-length "making-of" documentary ("does Julie Andrews ever age?!"), and at least another 90 minutes of extras. Put simply, if you aren't tempted to leap to your feet singing as you watch this one you'd better check your pulse. ("The hills are al-i-i-i-i-ve....!") See, there I go. Our highest recommendation. Editor's Choice. (S. C. Sickles)[DVD Review—Nov. 15, 2005—Fox, 2 discs, 174 min., G, $26.98—Making its fourth appearance on DVD, 1965's The Sound of Music (40th Anniversary Edition) boasts an impressive transfer and Dolby Digital 5.0 surround sound. DVD extras include a mix of older and newer extras, with the latter amounting to two introductions by star Julie Andrews, the option to view the film with karaoke subtitles, a new audio commentary (with costars Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and Charmian Carr, choreographer Dee Dee Wood, and Johannes von Trapp) to accompany the original one by the late director Robert Wise, the 63-minute retrospective documentary “My Favorite Things: Julie Andrews Remembers,” “From Liesl to Gretl: A 40th Anniversary Reunion” (34 min.), a 23-minute location featurette, “Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer: A Reminiscence” (20 min.), and the 13-minute featurette “When You Know the Notes to Sing: A SINGALONG Phenomenon” with highlights from the unprecedented sing-along event at the Hollywood Bowl. Older extras include “The Von Trapp Family: Harmony and Discord” episode of A&E's Biography series (47 min.), a three-minute restoration comparison, a brief segment from Mia Farrow's screen test, still galleries (with behind-the-scenes pictures, storyboards, lobby cards, and posters), and trailers and TV spots. However, some older extras are also lost, including the 1965 documentary Salzburg Sight and Sound and the 87-minute documentary The Sound of Music: From Fact to Phenomenon (although much of this turns up in the new 63-minute doc). Bottom line: if you own the original two-disc “Five Star Collection” edition, you probably don't need to add this one—although the karaoke feature is a nifty addition. If not, then you should pick this up. Also newly available are two other Rogers and Hammerstein classics—Oklahoma and State Fair—with the karaoke feature.][Blu-ray Review—Nov 9, 2010—Fox, 3 discs, 174 min., G, $34.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1965's The Sound of Music sports an excellent transfer with 7.1 DTS-HD sound. Blu-ray extras include two audio commentaries (the first with director Robert Wise; the second with costars Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and Charmian Carr, choreographer Dee Dee Wood, and real-life Von Trapp family member Johann Von Trapp), a “Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration” viewing option (with behind-the-scenes images, onscreen lyrics, a trivia track, and location quiz), a “Musical Stages: Creating The Sound of Music” section with featurettes on the songs (31 min.), the Broadway show (29 min.), the Von Trapp family (24 min.), and the film's restoration (12 min.); “A City of Song” virtual map of Austrian filming locations with featurettes and photo galleries (35 min.), numerous vintage behind-the-scenes docs and featurettes (254 min.), vintage docs on composer duo Rodgers & Hammerstein (181 min.), screen tests (27 min.), a clip from The Julie Andrews Hour featuring the real Maria von Trapp (17 min.), a clip from the 1962 performance showcase Julie & Carol at Carnegie Hall featuring Andrews and Carol Burnett (7 min.), “The Sound of Music Tour: A Living Legacy” featurette (3 min.), the “40th Anniversary DVD Introduction by Julie Andrews” (2 min.), vintage promos and trailers, a sing-along option, “Music Machine” song access, a bonus DVD copy of the film, and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a wonderful Blu-ray debut for a beloved classic.][Blu-ray Review—Mar. 24, 2015—Fox, 5 discs, 174 min., G, Blu-ray: $49.99—Making its latest appearance on Blu-ray, 1965's The Sound of Music: 50th Anniversary 5-Disc Edition sports a nice transfer with DTS-HD 7.1 sound. All of the extras from the previous Blu-ray release (see above) are included, along with an all-new “The Sound of a City: Julie Andrews Returns to Salzburg” documentary (60 min.), and a bonus 50th anniversary soundtrack audio CD. Bottom line: this is a wonderful edition of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, but if you already own the 45th anniversary edition then you probably don't need to add this one.]