Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Maria von Trapp's bestselling book revealed her uplifting journey from would-be-nun to determined governess of seven gifted but mischievous children, further chronicling her marriage to a retired naval officer and their daring escape from the Nazis in the early days of World War II. A 1956 German film of the family's story followed, and of course the wildly popular Rodgers & Hammerstein stage musical, which in turn led to a lavish movie adaptation. Director/Producer Robert Wise worked closely with screenwriter Ernest Lehman and his actors to purge overt sentimentality and reshape the previously established narrative, resulting in a surprisingly serious exploration of faith, destiny, and ultimately the courage to do what's right.

While almost the entirety of Wise's prior musical smash, West Side Story, was filmed on soundstages, The Sound of Music was shot largely on location in Salzburg, Austria, its overwhelming beauty making it a vital character impossible to incorporate into the play. Inspired work by music arranger/supervisor Irwin Kostal and director of photography Ted McCord helped to further elevate a likely hit into the highest-grossing movie in history, dethroning Gone with the Wind as the top moneymaker and bumped by The Godfather a few years later. Released in the middle of the 1960s, an era of profound social upheaval in the United States and elsewhere, the success of The Sound of Music stands as proof that wholesome family entertainment will always find an audience, even--or perhaps especially--during turbulent times.

The two words that kept coming up in my viewing were "big" and "beautiful." Captured on 65mm film, the movie opens with a series of spectacular wide shots that establish the breathtaking locale, before swooping into one of the most iconic shots in all of cinema. Every blade of grass, every leaf, every pebble and the unique texture of each costume is crisply delineated. Colors have never been more accurate and natural, the rolling green hills and blue skies beckoning as much as they did Maria, no doubt. Folds in the nuns' black habits and The Captain's dark suit as well as faces in shadow are wonderfully detailed, while bright highlights were undeniably stronger on the 4K disc versus the included HD Blu-ray. This most recent screening also struck me with the outstanding use of the 2.2:1 frame, not merely for the incomparable Salzburg vistas but for the keen placement of the characters: At every turn, Wise & Co. were using the image not merely to convey information but--in tandem with the music--to enhance the underlying emotion.

So, what about the SOUND of Music? Theatrically and across home entertainment formats, the soundtrack has transformed into a variety of state-of-the-art configurations, now for the first time in Dolby Atmos atop 7.1 TrueHD. The mix and the fidelity are absolutely flawless, welcoming us into this bygone world with a warm instrumental embrace. Overhead channels are used judiciously, the subtle environmental touches adding a bit of modern je ne sais quoi to this timeless tale. The lyrics and even the snippets of looped dialogue are always legible, and Individual little Foley effects are appropriately measured to each scene. The large crowd at the climactic outdoor folk festival also displays a full and lively presence.

Two commentaries are provided on both the 4K and 1080p discs; the first with the peerless Robert Wise, as humble as he is knowledgeable; the second a multi-participant affair with stars Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and Charmian Carr, choreographer Dee Dee Wood plus a real von Trapp, namely Johannes. The movie can also be viewed in sing-along mode.

Promoted heavily upon its original release and having been celebrated so many times over so many anniversaries, Sound has amassed a great many featurettes, reunions and other assorted video programs, so the HD Disc Three plays as a sort of "greatest hits." Quite a few of the vignettes are focused on the timeless city where the story is set, a key element of the movie's charm to be sure, although I was disappointed to see that Michael Matessino's excellent feature-length laserdisc documentary, From Fact to Phenomenon, was absent. A set of three pretty picture postcards is shrink-wrapped inside the package, too.

An entire generation or more grew up watching The Sound of Music on television, panned-and-scanned and often with footage snipped out, which I think actually qualifies as a misdemeanor in Austria. Yes, there have been other ways to enjoy it complete and uncut, but I have confidence that Disney's jaw-dropping, tear-jerking new 4K restoration isn't merely something good, it will endure as one of my favorite things... and hopefully one of yours.

Chris Chiarella