On the Set
Spring in Salzburg isn't as delightful as it appears on film. In fact, the cast & crew suffered through many delays waiting for the rain to let up in the mountains. And with bitterly cold temperatues to endure, besides. The already difficult terrain became a muddy mess, and the crew had to resort to travelling in ox carts with their heavy equipment. Much of the down time was occupied by Julie Andrews-led sing-alongs, and many of the cast and crew members cite her unshakable good spirits as the most memorable part of the filming experience. But beneath that cheery exterior, Julie was experiencing many personal troubles. She had recently begun intensive psychiatric treatment which would last for several years, and she would soon separate from her first husband.
Virtually everyone involved (especially Julie Andrews & director Robert Wise) made an effort to tone down the film's schmaltz. Julie herself remarked, "What can you do with nuns, seven children, and Austria?" Wise placed emphasis on realistic settings and muted colors. The largely unknown Christopher Plummer was hired in hopes that his Captain would add some edge and depth to the film. Plummer would later look back on his famous role with some distaste, remarking that he hated be remembered "for something as lightweight as that," and even referring to the film as "The Sound of Mucus." Millions of fans did not agree, however; within 22 months, it had broken Gone With the Wind's box office record and would go on to gross over $160,000,000 worldwide.
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