Go to Sound of Music Sing Along on Tuesday

[EDantes]

Posted: 10/22/10 at 4:09am

I went to the Sound of Music Sing Along on 10/19, and it was such an extraordinary experience. For those of you who love the movie, they're replaying it again nationwide on Tuesday, 10/26.

Did anyone else go to it this week? If so, how incredible was the movie on the big screen? I liked it so much, I shared my full thoughts here http://bit.ly/dolykj at Picktainment. It was really such a special, nostalgic evening if you loved that movie as a child. Thanks Julie, for being so wonderful!
Sound of Music Sing Along

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 10/22/10 at 8:31am

Got my tickets already for Tuesday night and I can't wait. It's my favorite movie of all time and I've never seen it in theaters. Did people dress up when you went?

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/22/10 at 9:42am

I'm going on Tuesday! I can't wait!

[WheelsofaDream2]

Posted: 10/22/10 at 1:28pm

I went last week, too, and it was SO much fun! It was really incredible seeing the movie on the big screen. My only complaint is that not enough people were singing! I'm actually considering going again next week with a different group of people.

Cockeyed, I was hoping to see a bunch of people in costumes, but there were only a couple of men dressed as nuns (which was hilarious).

[EDantes]

Posted: 10/22/10 at 5:43pm

Yeah, I really expected more costumes, too. I had heard stories about people coming as actual Alps, believe it or not (that must be an incredible costume), and we also had some bashful singers. I'm not going to lie... I was one of the bashful ones. When it comes to singing, I don't have confidence in me, hehe

I think participation comes from luck of the draw. What you really need is that one person who rallies the troops, singing loudly in the beginning so everyone else loosens up. I still can't get over how amazing the movie is... it seems like people today just don't appreciate the joy of song anymore. The whole world could afford to hear children singing unexpectedly, the way Captain Von Trapp does that first time.

Anyway, I'll stop with the grand statements, but I was just so overwhelmed by the joviality of the film.
Sound of Music Sing Along

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 10/22/10 at 10:26pm

I'll be the one leading the way on Tuesday, I suppose. I did a Sound of Music bus tour in Salzburg a few years ago and I broke out the sing along on the bus. So yes, I'll be that kid. If I dress up, however, I probably won't get more creative than a nun. Can't wait!

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/23/10 at 1:38am

I don't plan on dressing up, but I plan on being that kid that rallies up everyone in the theater to sing. After all, it is a sing along! I didn't pay all that money to just sit there. There are lyrics on the screen for a reason.

[EDantes]

Posted: 10/23/10 at 2:40am

degrassifan: I wish you had been there last week! It's amazing how shy people can be about singing. Loosen everyone up and you'll have a great chorus.

Also, something amusing about the words on the screen:

They even put the Latin words to the church chorales. Everyone got a huge kick out of that. If you sing those... major credit to you!
Sound of Music Sing Along

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/23/10 at 10:47am

The sad/funny thing is that I already know how to sing those Latin parts (Dixit Dominus, Rex Admirabilis, and Alleluia)...

Oh gosh. I can already see my friends/the audience giving me a look. Haha.

[EDantes]

Posted: 10/23/10 at 6:34pm

I can't speak for everyone, but I am pretty sure the look you'll get is amazement. You might leave the theater as popular as Maria.

If I had to guess, probably My Favorite Things had the most vocal support, but Climb Every Mountain and So Long, Farewell were also big hits.

Also, you might hear clapping at good moments and hissing when the Baroness appears (although I think she's a complicated character who gets a bad rap)
Sound of Music Sing Along

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/26/10 at 11:08pm

I just came back from the sing-along event and it was amazing!!!!!!!! It has always been my dream to see it on the big screen and that dream finally came true tonight! I went with six of my really good friends, with two of them seeing it for the first time. It started with the mini-documentary "I'll Sing Once More: The Sound of Music Today". It was a great ten-fifteen minute program about The Sound of Music's impact on popular culture and the true story behind the movie & stage play. Like I stated, it was good but it gave a little bit away for those who had never seen the movie. For example, there was a segment on Nonnberg Abbey and it stated that two very important things happened here: Maria was told to leave the Abbey and Maria's wedding to Georg. For people who haven't seen the movie, it totally spoils it for them.

After the documentary, the movie started. It was beautiful on the big screen. Everything was so vivid and clear. It feels like watching a 3-D movie. You lose so much detail when watching it on VHS, DVD, or on television. I have seen it over a million times, but there were things and people I never noticed before. For example, I could see the title of the book Brigitta was reading in the beginning. Also, the Festival Program had 1938 on it (for those who didn't know the movie took place then). I could even see the address to Villa Von Trapp. There were extra nuns, birds, and even party guests I had never noticed. In Maria's room, you can see the time of night when "Favorite Things" took place (it was after 8 when the song began and almost 10 when the scene ended), a bible on her table, and other things. Many people have stated that they can't see wedding rings on the main characters' hands. Even though I've seen them on the DVD, on the big screen you can clearly see the Captain's ring on his right hand, Maria's ring on her right hand, and the Baroness's huge diamond from her first marriage. Frau Schmidt even wears a watch! Also, places and people were exaggerated on the big screen. For example, Eleanor Parker's The Baroness was deliciously evil and conniving. There was a scene where it screamed to me that she deserved an Oscar nomination for her role. Lots of facial expressions, especially from Elsa, the Captain, and the children (Louisa seems like an angry middle child in most scenes). In the emotional scenes, you can see tears in Maria's eyes.

As for things I would change:

1. Correct the lyrics to "I Have Confidence" (instead of "It's healthy, all I trust I leave my heart to," the caption stated "It tells me all I trust I leave my heart to")

2. Add the intermission and Entr'Acte. My friends expected an intermission, but the film went straight into Act Two after the first act ended. Although I didn't leave my seat and the movie went by swiftly & didn't feel like 3 hours (it really went by really quick...nice pacing), I stil would have added the break so the audience could stretch and use the bathroom.

3. I would advertise it better and make it more than two nights.

All in all, it was a lovely experience. They even had the lyrics to the Preludium. When it appeared, the audience laughed but only one of my friends and I were brave enough to sing the Latin lyrics. I would certainly go again! I wish there was another showing! I'm hoping they do a proper re-release for the 50th anniversary in 5 years!

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 12:04am

I also just came back from it and I loved every single minute of it. The film is stunning in HD. For the first time ever I did not have to see a black widescreen when Maria ran back to get her habit after singing the title song. I also got to see all of the nuns all at once when they were talking about their opinions of Maria. On VHS after Sister Catherine says, "She's a wondeful girl some of the time" the film zooms towards Sister Agatha and Sister Sophia and there's not much to see, but I got to see so much more. The movie screen also allowed me to see the look on Louisa's face after Brigitta revealed who was who and how old they were. The Baroness was more evil than I remembered. I thought Salzburg looked more beautiful than ever. The audience was also singing in tune the entire time.

Updated On: 10/27/10 at 12:04 AM

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 12:49am

degrassifan, you may have been sitting right behind me...Lincoln Square in the city?

It was incredible finally to see my favorite movie onstage and, like others noted, to get to see beautiful details that I had never noticed before. I loved the sing-along aspect and our whole audience seemed to get really into it. I didn't mind funny comments made, but would have been annoyed had the girls sitting behind me decided to continue to recite the whole script (dialogue and lyrics) as they started to do at the beginning. It was nice to hear moments that I had somewhat glanced over in the past get huge laughs and remind me how funny they are.

The out of the ordinary highlight of the night was during the scene when the Nazis are searching with their flashlights for the von Trapps at the Abbey. A person in the audience pulled out a flashlight and shined it around the theater and we all just cracked up. It was a fantastic night and I'll be back in 5 years for the 50th anniversary!

[James2]

Posted: 10/27/10 at 3:03pm

Maybe this is just because I've never been to a sing-along before, but I wish the singing was the only interaction. Yes, the flashlight bit was funny (I went to the AMC Lincoln Square, for the reference), but did the audience have to boo and hiss over and over again for the Baroness and the Nazis?

I know this is an event for fans, but they could be a little more considerate for people like me who came to watch the movie and not to participate.