the Sound of Music page 2

the Sound of Music page 2 by ric Gustafson


One night in late November 1959, screenwriter Ernest Lehman watched the Sound of Music on Broadway. As he watched the show, he thought to himself that it could become a successful movie some day. Lehman wrote the script for the 1956 adaptation of the King and I. In the summer of 1960, 20th Century Fox bought the film rights to the Sound of Music. Lehman was hired in 1962.
Lehman's first draft of a screenplay was close to the final version. Two new songs from Rodgers were a new duet called ' Something Good' and ' I Have Confidence'. Lehman developed the character of the Captain played by Christopher Plummer different than the actor thought of the character. Plummer did not care for the Hammerstein song ' Edelweiss' and let the director know that. He wanted further development of his character which included moments between him and Julie Andrews.
Lehman also changed the relationship between Maria and the children. Lehman reassigned musical numbers and further developed the children's characters. The children's love for Maria grew as the story developed. ' My Favorite Things' became Maria's bonding number with the children. ' The Lonely Goatherd' became a puppet show. ' The Lonely Goatherd' and ' Do Re Mi' became grand production numbers. The Baroness played by Eleanor Parker changed several times during the writing process.


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Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric