When you think of the breathtaking beauty of "The Sound of Music," you might not realize just how much work—and a little bit of luck—went into creating that magic. Filming in Austria brought its own set of challenges. The rain held up production for days, and Angela Cartwright, who played Brigitta von Trapp, recalls it fondly. "It wasn’t supposed to take as long as it did," she exclusively tells Closer. "But being with a group of kids made it unforgettable. I became fast friends with Heather Menzies, who played Louisa. We had an absolute blast despite the delays." It's these moments of camaraderie that make the film so special.
Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, "The Sound of Music" is a timeless classic. The filmmakers traveled to some of the most stunning locations in Salzburg and the Bavarian Alps to bring the von Trapp family's story to life. They also used an L.A. soundstage to create the perfect blend of authenticity and cinematic magic. One of the most iconic scenes in the movie is Julie Andrews singing atop a mountaintop at the beginning of the film. But even that scene wasn’t without its challenges. Capturing that perfect moment required more effort than you might imagine.
For Julie Andrews, filming that mountaintop scene was no walk in the park. Each time the helicopter circled back to its starting position, Julie was knocked off her feet by the rotor’s powerful downdraft. "We did this about six or seven times," she recounted on The Tonight Show. "I was spitting dirt and hay, and I kept asking, 'Couldn’t you take a wider circle around?' It was quite the experience, but we got the shot, and it was worth it in the end." This kind of persistence and determination is what makes "The Sound of Music" so memorable.
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Taking Risks: The Courageous Moments on Set
Julie Andrews wasn’t the only one putting her all into the film. Kym Karath, who played the youngest von Trapp, Gretl, had a particularly nerve-wracking moment. At just five years old and unable to swim, she had to film a scene where she tumbles off a canoe. An assistant director told Julie to keep a close eye on her. "I had to swim like mad to get to her, the poor kid," Julie recalled during an appearance on Graham Norton's show. "She went under at least twice, came up, and then threw up! But we got through it, and she was a real trooper."
Charmian Carr, who played Liesl, also faced her fair share of challenges. During the "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" dance number, she slipped while leaping across benches in the gazebo. The costume department had forgotten to put rubber soles on her shoes, and as a result, she put her foot through a glass pane. Thankfully, she only suffered a sprained ankle. Despite the injury, Charmian finished the scene with a bandage cleverly covered by makeup, and the crew gave her a well-deserved standing ovation. These moments of bravery and resilience remind us of the dedication it takes to bring a story to life on the big screen.
