25 Rarely Seen Photos from THE SOUND OF MUSIC Set

You’ve seen the photos of Julie Andrews twirling in the hills of Austria, but the Rodgers & Hammerstein archives have much more to explore from the classic 1965 movie musical. Here are 25 rarely seen photos captured while filming the movie!

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

1/25

Before She Says “I Do”

Julie Andrews poses between takes during The Sound of Music wedding processional scene – and most of us can agree we’re still dreaming of this dress six decades later. Fun fact: The ivory silk wedding gown was auctioned off in 2013 for $23,040.

2/25

The Infamous Helicopter Shot

The von Trapp child actors Kym Karath (Gretl), Duane Chase (Kurt) and Debbie Turner (Marta) pose in front of the helicopter that captured the famous opening scene from The Sound of Music. According to Julie Andrews, the draft from the helicopter nearly toppled her over during every take.

CREDIT: THE SOUND OF MUSIC FAMILY SCRAPBOOK

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

3/25

Directing “Do-Re-Mi”

A beautiful behind-the-scenes shot of The Sound of Music director Robert Wise as he leads rehearsal for the iconic “Do-Re-Mi” scene! Fun fact: This nine-minute musical number took nearly two months to shoot due to weather.

4/25

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Becoming a mother and playing Maria – not a problem with Julie Andrews. We love this behind-the-scenes shot of Julie sitting with Peggy Wood (Mother Abbess) while watching her 17-month-old daughter Emma on set.

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

5/25

One of Our Favorite Things: The Fox Studios Lot!

While taking a break from filming, Nicholas Hammond (Friedrich) and Duane Chase (Kurt) skateboard around the Fox Studios lot in their costumes from The Sound of Music. The skateboards were a gift from Alan Callow, son of the assistant director.

6/25

Between Scenes in Salzburg

A “candid” photo of Christopher Plummer (Georg von Trapp) on set. Since there was not much information on the real Captain von Trapp, Plummer took to the Salzburg mountains with an interpreter before filming. He met with Georg’s nephew to gain insight into his character.

CREDIT: EVERETT COLLECTION/20th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: THE SOUND OF MUSIC FAMILY SCRAPBOOK

7/25

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

The latest issue of Variety makes its way to The Sound of Music set in Salzburg – bringing Julie Andrews the news of her Oscar nomination for Mary Poppins! From left to right: Pamela Danova (Accent Coach), Julie Andrews, Angela Cartwright (Brigitta) and Heather Menzies (Louisa).

8/25

The Sound of Music Sisters

We love seeing these sweet moments on set. Kym Karath (Gretl) fixes Charmian Carr’s (Liesl) hair between takes. Did you know Kym auditioned for director Robert Wise at the age of five? She had already appeared in three other films!

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

9/25

The Hills Are Alive

On Thursday, June 4, 1964, the iconic opening shot for The Sound of Music was filmed in Melweg, Bavaria. But did you know that on the same day, the cast and crew also filmed the unforgettable ending featuring the family climbing over the mountains?

10/25

Making A Splash on Set

Splish, splash… Director Robert Wise pours water on Julie Andrews’ head in between takes for the rowboat scene. While the cast did fall into the water when the rowboat tips over, they would still need to be soaked every few takes. Talk about being troopers!

CREDIT: EVERETT COLLECTION/20^th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: GEORG STEINITZ

11/25

Marta’s Main Character Moment

Debbie Turner (Marta) smiles on set with The Sound of Music cast and crew. We really hope she got that pink parasol for her 7^th birthday!

12/25

The Real Maria von Trapp

In case you didn’t know: The Sound of Music is based on the real story of Maria von Trapp, and she’s pictured here (on the very right) on set in Salzburg! Fun fact: She makes a very brief cameo appearance during “I Have Confidence.”

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: RONALD GRANT ARCHIVE/ALAMY

13/25

Sixteen Going On… Twenty-One

When Charmian Carr began the audition process for The Sound of Music, she was hitting another major milestone after her Sweet Sixteen: actually turning 21 years old! Here she poses candidly on set.

14/25

The Stills Are Alive

Duane Chase (Kurt) peeks at life behind the camera. Duane was always interested in the “making” of movies and the technical aspects of how things work. To no one’s surprise, he went on to become a software engineer!

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20^th CENTURY FOX

15/25

A Bird’s-Eye View

A different angle of the famous “Do-Re-Mi” scene. Finish the lyric: “When you know the notes to sing…”

16/25

Coffee Before a Concert

Julie Andrews makes some coffee while chatting with co-star Richard Haydyn (Max). The actors are located at the Felsenreitschule – one of Salzburg’s most important concert venues. This is where the music festival scene was filmed, and where the real Trapp Family Singers performed at a choir competition!

CREDIT: EVERETT COLLECTION/20^th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20^th CENTURY FOX

17/25

Lights, Camera, Laughs!

While filming the wedding scene, Julie Andrews laughs with director Robert Wise. Julie Andrews was cast in The Sound of Music after Robert Wise viewed only three minutes of Mary Poppins. "That's our girl. Sign her.”

18/25

Introducing… The von Trapp Family Singers

Behind-the-scenes during a break from the music festival preparations. Fun fact: Both in the film and in real life, the family singers won first place in the Salzburg Music Festival.

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20^th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: GEORG STEINITZ

19/25

Hand in Hand Through the Hills

A production member escorts Julie Andrews and Kym Karath (Gretl) through the hills. Did you know that the “Do-Re-Mi” scene was filmed in nine different locations all over Salzburg?

20/25

A Drop of Golden Sun

Maria and the von Trapp kids biking around Lake Mondsee – which is now one of the most notable filming location destinations from The Sound of Music. If you visit Salzburg, you can also take a bike tour on this route and see the Zwölferhorn Mountain visible across the water!

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/20^th CENTURY FOX

CREDIT: EVERETT COLLECTION/20th CENTURY FOX

21/25

Maria and Her Makeup

Julie Andrews adjusts her makeup on set. Fun fact: the makeup artist for The Sound of Music was Ben Nye Sr., who was responsible for more than 500 feature films and TV shows spanning four decades. Other notable works include Gone with the Wind, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and The Fly.

22/25

Sun Naps on Set

While the Austrian hills may have looked peaceful, the setup for these shots in the hills were anything but. As Julie Andrews mentions in her memoir Home Work, the cast would have to wait hours for the equipment to be ready. Trucks were parked at the foot of the mountain and since there were no roads, the camera equipment had to be carried up on an ox-drawn cart.

CREDIT: RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN/WALTER GRUBER

CREDIT: EVERETT COLLECTION/20th CENTURY FOX

23/25

Layee odl layee odl oo!

Behind the scenes while filming “The Lonely Goatherd” performance. Did you know that the famous marionette puppet sequence was produced and performed by leading puppeteers of the day, Bil Baird and Cora Eisenburg?

24/25

Climb Ev’ry Mountain

The hills are alive! The von Trapp family runs hand in hand across the Austrian hills to capture promotional shots for 20^th Century Fox. Spotted: Christopher Plummer’s stand-in filling in for him!