Pope Leo XIV enthuses: The Sound of Music” for the 60th anniversary!

Pope Leo XIV enthuses: The Sound of Music” for the 60th anniversary!

The musical film “The Sound of Music” celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023 and remains a timeless classic. It tells the enchanting story of the singing nun Maria, who, as a nanny, wins the hearts of the seven children of the widowed Captain von Trapp. This film has captivated approximately 1.2 billion viewers worldwide, making it a cultural phenomenon. How oe24 reports that Pope Leo XIV also counts “The Sound of Music” among his favorite films.

The film, released in 1965 and directed by Robert Wise and based on the musical of the same name, is considered one of the greatest films of all time. Its plot, which takes place in Salzburg, deals with the escape of the von Trapp family from Nazi Austria. The film stars Julie Andrews as Maria and Christopher Plummer as Captain von Trapp. The musical originally premiered in 1959 and is based on Maria von Trapp's 1949 memoirs. The film's immense success led to it achieving the highest attendance of 1965 and one of the most successful film productions in history. Loud Wikipedia, the film surpassed previous records after just four weeks and has sold over 283 million copies to date.

The Vatican and film art

In the coming days, the Vatican will host a remarkable meeting between Pope Leo XIV and influential filmmakers. This Saturday, Oscar winners like Giuseppe Tornatore and Spike Lee will come together to discuss the meaning of cinematic art. How oe24 reports, the meeting is organized by the Dicastery for Culture and Education in collaboration with other Vatican institutions.

In preparation for the meeting, the pope released a video message in which he listed "The Sound of Music" among his favorite films. In addition to this film, he mentions titles like “Isn’t life beautiful?” and “Life is beautiful.” This selection shows an appreciation for films that address important social issues and touch the heart.

Tourism and cultural impacts in Salzburg

The influence of “The Sound of Music” on the city of Salzburg is significant. Every year the film attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists who want to visit the original filming locations. Loud salzburg.info Guided tours have become established that introduce visitors to the beauty of the film sets and explain the story behind the film in more detail.

The film sets were realized in and around Salzburg, which not only gave the city a tourist boost, but also strengthened the region's cultural heritage. The combination of history, music and film makes “The Sound of Music” an indispensable part of Salzburg’s identity.

With a planned release of a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in September 2025 to celebrate the anniversary, “The Sound of Music” shows that the film is still relevant today and exciting new generations.