In The Sound of Music, Maria (Julie Andrews), while waiting to take her vows, is sent to the home of the widowed and retired navy Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) to care for his seven rambunctious children. Maria discovers the children, who have previously run off several governesses, are most in need of a little love. When she teaches them to sing, she wins the love of the children and the captain. The film is based on the real-life story of the von Trapp family. Maria's book, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," first became a German movie and later a successful Broadway musical before its Oscar-winning release in 1965. In 1938 the von Trapps escaped their native Austria and Nazi occupation to avoid Captain von Trapp's being forced to serve in the German navy.

The 1965 release was directed by Robert Wise, recipient of three Oscar Awards. The screenplay was written by Ernest Lehman based on the book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and the stage musical by the legendary team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.