This is the film version of Rogers and Hammerstein's musical based upon
        the true story of the singing von Trapp family of Austria and their
        flight from the Nazis just before World War II.

        The story told differs from the real story in only in a few details:

•  the family escaped in two automobiles and not on foot
• The Von Trapps did not return to Austria after WW II, but
       settle in the United States.

  The Von Trapps arrived in New York with only $4 in their pockets
  and made their living for the next fifteen years as touring
  musicians. Georg died in 1947. Maria Von Trapp lived until the age
  of 82 at the Von Trapp family music camp in Vermont, called
  "Little Austria." She died in 1987.

              A von Trapp Family Chronology

  1920 Aug. 22 After World War I several leading German-
  speaking cultural figures including conductor Richard
  Strauss, poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal, and stage director Max
  Reinhardt developed the idea of an annual summer cultural
  festival to be held in Salzburg.

 1927 Maria Kutschera marries Baron Georg von Trapp
 1936 The von Trapp family sings at the Salzburg Festival
 1938 Anschluss: Hitler occupies Austria without resistance
 1938 The von Trapp family leaves Austria
 1942 The von Trapp family settles in Stowe, Vermont
 1949 The Story of The Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp
          is published
 1956 German produced film Die Trapp Familie released
 1958 Sequel Die Trapp Familie in Amerika is released
 1965 The Sound Of Music is premiered in New York and Hollywood
 1966 The Sound Of Music wins Oscar for Best Picture, Best
           Director, Best Adapted Score, Best Film Editing, Best Sound

   Video Study and Historiography:

  1) a. Captain Georg von Trapp was involved in which of Austria's armed forces?
         What job did he have?

      b. What was his military record?

  2) a. von Trapp earned the rarest decoration Austria can give.  what was this
          medal called?

      b. What title was granted to Georg von Trapp?

  3) a. Who was Georg's first wife?  How did he meet her?

      b. How did she die?

  4) How did Georg and Maria Kutscher fall in love and marry?

  5) a. How are Maria and Caaptain von Trapp alike in character?

      b. How are they different?

  6) What are the consequences of Maria teaching the von Trapp children to
      sing and have fun?

  7) Check out some of the von Trapp sites on the Internet to discover the
      accuracy of the family von Trapp story.  Answer the following:

      a. Do you think that Hollywood ruined the authenticity of the story or do
          you think that the film was a good portrayal of the time following
         World War I?

      b. What are some of the components of the film that make it historical?

  8) a. Why wasn't Maria able to conform to the rules of the convent?

      b. Why did the Mother Superior think that Maria should try life outside
          of the convent?

  9) What was the significance of the Austrian Flag and the song "Edelweiss"?

 10) Why do the von Trapps decide to leave their beloved Austria?  Explain
       clearly.

 11) The plots of many films turn on one or more ethical choices which must
       be made by characters in the movie.  Consider the characters of Georg
       and Max: Which of "The Six Pillars of Character" (trustworthiness,
       respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship) are involved in
       the plot of this film?   Give specific examples for each justifying your
       opinion.

       This Web site might be helpful to you in answering this question:

       SIX PILLARS of CHARACTER
 

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