Delightful, entertaining, beautifully-done, highly appealing classic, for sure.

I haven't watched it all the way through in years (as I did watch it in full - always loving it - so very many times throughout my prior years), but annually typically do enjoy catching some bits and pieces, here and there, of the ABC broadcast, if channel surfing.

Back when I was a teenager (16) I visited Salzburg, where many of TSoM's scenes were filmed. That made me appreciate and love the movie even more, seeing - and ever since then remembering doing so - various of the exact shooting locations.

Question for you, north: You don't enjoy the musical Grease? I'm not in to musicals (other than a few exceptions), but am tremendously entertained by that irresistible one.

@northcoast said:

At 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Check your local listings.

This film is very rarely shown on broadcast television nowadays. One reason-- besides, presumably, the desire to make people pay to watch it, via streaming -- might be its extreme length (four hours, including the commercials we have to put up with here on U.S. television).

Anyway, I'm not a fan of Musicals. Except for this one*. I'll be blocking off the time tonight to watch it, and I'll have my snacks and drinks ready!

*Now, I have seen some classify Barbie (2023) as a Musical. Despite all of the singing and dancing, it didn't feel that way to me. But, if Barbie is indeed a Musical, going by the classification standards of the (very large) group of people smarter than me, then I suppose I like two Musicals, then. But that's it!:) I generally find them insufferable.

It is airing on the BBC (UK, Europe) on 24 December 2023 without commercials. The running time - including credits - is officially 2 hours and 54 minutes.

Commercials - it seems more than one hour for this film - are a 'crime' against any musical experience, and its continuous interruptions - flashing visuals and cranked up volume of clashing sound bites - disturb the natural melodic flow of this film. How can you relax and enjoy the emotional mood-changing ambience, knowing that every 20-30 minutes there is a long line of people waiting, who - one after another - suddenly jump in front of you, shouting messages and waving some must-have product in front of your face, simultaneously encircling you with a wall of horrendous sounding disharmonious jingles that repetitively pound on your sensitive eardrums?

Aggravating this irksome intrusion is the thoughtless vandalism of editing and deleting of film scenes in favour of extra commercials. It impedes any possible opportunity to enjoy this classic musical as it is meant to be with its idyllic Salzburg locations and settings, and vibrant, colourful backgrounds, smoothly transitioning into harsher colours emphasizing the darker scenes, and the beautiful heart-warming performance of the actors and actresses in their lifelike period costumes, with the memorable songs accompanied by an impressive orchestra, which all together made the film alive with the sound of music.

"The Sound of Music (1965)" is one of my favourite musicals, that I have on DVD, so I can see it anytime. I even went to a sing-a-long festival on its 50th anniversary. Many people were all dressed up - like cosplay at a Comic Con - in Trachten dresses and lederhosen, and together we celebrated this once-in-a- lifetime event.

I can never sing this song without choking up.

Next week I'll be seeing the musical again, while enjoying a cup of warm, sweet smelling Glühwein, flavoured with citrus and mixed spices, which gives you that glowing feeling of cosy Gemütlichkeit during the holidays.

In the US, commercial broadcast networks' (such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) commercial breaks typically fall 10-15 mins. apart, and generally last 4-5 mins. each break (a minute or two shorter for 30 and some 60 mins. shows). Lots of interruptions, for sure.

@genplant29 said:

In the US, commercial broadcast networks' (such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC) commercial breaks typically fall 10-15 mins. apart, and generally last 4-5 mins. each break (a minute or two shorter for 30 and some 60 mins. shows). Lots of interruptions, for sure.

Imagine going to a Broadway musical and having a commercial break every 10-15 minutes.

Well, genplant, you got me. It's been eons since I've seen it, but I do recall liking Grease (1978), as well. So I guess that's three. But The Sound of Music is still my favorite Musical-- I've rated it an 8; Barbie was a 7, and though it's been a long time, going from memory I'd probably give Grease a 6 or a 7.

Now back to TSOM:

I'd forgotten the beauty of those opening, panoramic shots over the Austrian Alps-- no musical score during these sequences, just the silence of nature, interspersed by the sounds of birds chirping. Peaceful. Fantastic. The scenery and cinematography throughout the entire film was just so pristine, so lush. I am jealous, genplant, that you got to see so many of the shooting locations in person. I do wonder if you got to see those water fountains in Salzburg, with the water streaming out of the horses' nostrils/mouths. Really something else-- not to mention all of that other Central European Old World architecture.

I first saw this film in the early 1980s, and even back then I had a historical mind-- I love history, and later got a degree in History. Even as a child I knew my geography, and I remember asking my mother, "How can Mr. Von Trapp be an Austrian naval captain, when Austria has no coastline?" My dear mother knew the answer: Mr. Von Trapp had been in the Navy back in World War I, when Austria still bordered the sea. A smart Mom.

Wonder2Wonder:

Your criticisms are well-taken. Commercials are no fun. Yet another item on the long list of things where we Americans are disadvantaged compared to the continental Europeans and the British; I can only say that, to my eye, with four hours blocked off on the ABC network to show this film, the network had more than one hour to run commercials; my point being, to my eye at least, nothing was deleted from the actual film, except perhaps for some of the end credits. But I will admit that it had been years since I'd last seen TSOM, prior to tonight. But you are right-- the commercial breaks are a travesty. But I enjoyed seeing this classic again nonetheless.

I know, when it comes right down to it, that folks across the pond in the Old World think those of us here in the New are merely dragging our knuckles while throwing our shit at each other . . . but sometimes, we can and do have a little class.

In any case, it has been fun interacting with you and genplant.

A great ending to an enjoyable viewing experience (advertisements not withstanding;))

P.S.--

Wonder2Wonder, I almost forgot. You mentioned that you are going to have an alcoholic beverage with your BBC viewing. It so happens I enjoyed a glass(es) of Portuguese white wine with my viewing. Not really appropriate to the pedigree of the film, but enjoyable regardless.

@northcoast said:

P.S.--

Wonder2Wonder, I almost forgot. You mentioned that you are going to have an alcoholic beverage with your BBC viewing. It so happens I enjoyed a glass(es) of Portuguese white wine with my viewing. Not really appropriate to the pedigree of the film, but enjoyable regardless.

Glühwein is a traditional Christmas drink that you will find at the Christmas markets in Germany and Austria, and variations of this mulled wine in other countries. I'm certain that the Von Trapp family had Glühwein when they lived in Austria.