reviewsbyerin

"The Sound of Music" has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I recall watching it with cousins and friends on different occasions before I was 10 years old. I love the songs and the story and the scenery and the sets. This year "The Sound of Music" celebrated the 50th anniversary of its theatrical release, and in April my sister and I were able to see it on the big screen - a most delightful experience that made the film come alive in new ways.

I was at a used bookstore in early August and when I came across this book I knew it was coming home with me. Charmian Carr, who played Liesl, gives us an insider view on the filming of this classic movie. She talks about how she landed the audition unexpectedly (she wasn't an actress and had no aspirations to become one!), what it was like working with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, and how filming was split between a Los Angeles sound stage and on set in the beautiful Austrian countryside. She shares letters from fans about how "The Sound of Music" has touched their lives, and Charmian talks much about how the film changed her life - how she traveled for years promoting the movie all over the world, and how the relationships with some of the cast and crew remain strong to this day.

Along with a complete recounting of the events surrounding the film, Charmian shares her life story with sensitivity and grace. She came from a troubled home, but she and her sisters all overcame to have strong, thriving lives despite that challenge. She talks about how being recognized as Liesl all over the world was at times a burden, a second personality she could never escape, even though she had a tremendous amount of gratitude for every door "The Sound of Music" had opened for her. She writes about her marriage, her children, and her eventual career as an interior designer, including the time she spent getting to know Michael Jackson and decorating his estate.

Some of my favorite parts of this memoir were when she talked about meeting the actual von Trapp family members and forging friendships with them many years after the film had released. During filming in 1964 the actors didn't really meet the von Trapps, but as reunions and special events brought the actors and the family together over the years, a connection formed between them all.

Charmian gives plenty of space for talking about each of her "siblings" for the film: Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, and Kym Karath. Each one gets to share favorite memories and gets to tell about where the years have taken them. They have remained a close-knit bunch for half a century, bound together by their experiences on set.

Anyone who enjoys "The Sound of Music" would love this book. I've barely scratched the surface describing things it contained, as it is rich with details and anecdotes. I will certainly be watching the film again soon now that I've gotten to see it through "Liesl's" eyes, and this is my invitation for you to come along with me.