The Sound of MusicTurns 60! See Rare Behind-the-Scenes Photos from the Set of the Julie Andrews Movie (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Life imitated art on the set ofThe Sound of Music, the beloved musical that debuted in movie theaters on March 2, 1965.In the adaptation of the Broadway hit,Julie Andrewsstarred as kindly governess Maria, who looked after the seven von Trapp children in Austria at the dawn ofWorld War II. Andrews, then 29 and an up-and-coming actress, also took a motherly role off camera when it came to the young actors who playedthe children.“She was kind of a nanny for us,” recallsDuane Chase, who played mischievous Kurt von Trapp. “She helped, I wouldn’t say, keep us in line but corralled us.”Kym Karath, aka Gretl von Trapp, the youngest sibling, remembers Andrews, now 89, teaching them to sing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” a tune from her upcoming movieMary Poppins, before that film was even released. “She amused us a lot,” says Karath.To mark the milestone anniversary ofThe Sound of Music— which went on to win the Best PictureOscar— 20th Century Fox unearthed archival photos from behind the scenes. Though six decades have passed since the cast (some of whom have died, includingChristopher Plummer, who played the stern von Trapp patriarch) spent a magical few months together on the sets in L.A. and Europe, it’s clear it was a special time for all involved.Says Chase, “I am incredibly blessed to have been part of that."

Life imitated art on the set ofThe Sound of Music, the beloved musical that debuted in movie theaters on March 2, 1965.

In the adaptation of the Broadway hit,Julie Andrewsstarred as kindly governess Maria, who looked after the seven von Trapp children in Austria at the dawn ofWorld War II. Andrews, then 29 and an up-and-coming actress, also took a motherly role off camera when it came to the young actors who playedthe children.

“She was kind of a nanny for us,” recallsDuane Chase, who played mischievous Kurt von Trapp. “She helped, I wouldn’t say, keep us in line but corralled us.”

Kym Karath, aka Gretl von Trapp, the youngest sibling, remembers Andrews, now 89, teaching them to sing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” a tune from her upcoming movieMary Poppins, before that film was even released. “She amused us a lot,” says Karath.

To mark the milestone anniversary ofThe Sound of Music— which went on to win the Best PictureOscar— 20th Century Fox unearthed archival photos from behind the scenes. Though six decades have passed since the cast (some of whom have died, includingChristopher Plummer, who played the stern von Trapp patriarch) spent a magical few months together on the sets in L.A. and Europe, it’s clear it was a special time for all involved.

Says Chase, “I am incredibly blessed to have been part of that."

01of 12The Hill Are Alive with … CloudsFrom L: Heather Menzies, Julie Andrews, Duane Chase, Kym Karath and Charmian Carr in Werfen, Austria.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.Poor weather forced Heather Menzies (Louisa von Trapp), Andrews, Chase, Karath andCharmian Carr(Liesl von Trapp) to take a break while filming the“Do-Re-Mi”picnic scene in Werfen, Austria. “We were waiting out the overcast,” recalls Chase.

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The Hill Are Alive with … Clouds

From L: Heather Menzies, Julie Andrews, Duane Chase, Kym Karath and Charmian Carr in Werfen, Austria.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

Poor weather forced Heather Menzies (Louisa von Trapp), Andrews, Chase, Karath andCharmian Carr(Liesl von Trapp) to take a break while filming the“Do-Re-Mi”picnic scene in Werfen, Austria. “We were waiting out the overcast,” recalls Chase.

02of 12A Perfect MatchChristopher Plummer rehearsing “Edelweiss” with Julie Andrews.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.“They were both very witty,” Karath says of Andrews and Plummer, pictured practicing his performance of “Edelweiss” during a rehearsal. “I think that was one of the sources of their wonderful chemistry.”

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A Perfect Match

Christopher Plummer rehearsing “Edelweiss” with Julie Andrews.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

“They were both very witty,” Karath says of Andrews and Plummer, pictured practicing his performance of “Edelweiss” during a rehearsal. “I think that was one of the sources of their wonderful chemistry.”

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A Few of Their Favorite Things

Nicholas Hammond and Duane Chase with skateboards on the 20th Century Fox Studios lot.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

04of 12No Problems with MariaJulie Andrews juggling on set while filming the “Do-Re-Mi” scene.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.“She was really warm and congenial, and loving, patient and very sweet,” Karath says of Andrews, pictured juggling during some downtime on set.

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No Problems with Maria

Julie Andrews juggling on set while filming the “Do-Re-Mi” scene.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

“She was really warm and congenial, and loving, patient and very sweet,” Karath says of Andrews, pictured juggling during some downtime on set.

05of 12Pulling StringsFrom L, below: Angela Cartwright, Heather Menzies, Nicholas Hammond, Debbie Turner and Duane Chase, with lead puppeteers Bil and Cora Baird and their colleagues.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.Professional puppeteers (above) rehearsing“The Lonely Goatherd”scene with Angela Cartwright (Brigitta von Trapp), Menzies, Hammond, Debbie Turner (Marta von Trapp) and Chase.

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Pulling Strings

From L, below: Angela Cartwright, Heather Menzies, Nicholas Hammond, Debbie Turner and Duane Chase, with lead puppeteers Bil and Cora Baird and their colleagues.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

Professional puppeteers (above) rehearsing“The Lonely Goatherd”scene with Angela Cartwright (Brigitta von Trapp), Menzies, Hammond, Debbie Turner (Marta von Trapp) and Chase.

06of 12Keeping Warm"THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.“I don’t know why anybody thought it wasn’t going to be kind of chilly or rainy, but I think they sort of miscalculated,” Karath says of the young castmates bundling up in blankets at one point whilefilming in Salzburg, Austria.

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Keeping Warm

“I don’t know why anybody thought it wasn’t going to be kind of chilly or rainy, but I think they sort of miscalculated,” Karath says of the young castmates bundling up in blankets at one point whilefilming in Salzburg, Austria.

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A Team Effort

From L: Karath and Turner watching playback of a scene they’d just filmed with a crew member.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

08of 12In the HabitFrom L: Ada Beth Lee, Peggy Wood, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Doreen Tryden and Marni Nixon on set in Los Angeles.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.The women playing the nuns in the film — from left to right, Ada Beth Lee, Peggy Wood, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Doreen Tryden and Marni Nixon — strike a pose on set in Los Angeles.

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In the Habit

From L: Ada Beth Lee, Peggy Wood, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Doreen Tryden and Marni Nixon on set in Los Angeles.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

The women playing the nuns in the film — from left to right, Ada Beth Lee, Peggy Wood, Anna Lee, Portia Nelson, Doreen Tryden and Marni Nixon — strike a pose on set in Los Angeles.

09of 12A Serious Joker"THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.Chase remembers a joke the serious-on-screen Plummer, pictured above in his dressing room, told him on set — and a photographer capturing their laughter.“He signed on the back of it, ‘To the two laughing boys, your friend, Chris,’ " Chase says. “That is one of the few items I have from the movie that I really cherish.”

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A Serious Joker

Chase remembers a joke the serious-on-screen Plummer, pictured above in his dressing room, told him on set — and a photographer capturing their laughter.

“He signed on the back of it, ‘To the two laughing boys, your friend, Chris,’ " Chase says. “That is one of the few items I have from the movie that I really cherish.”

10of 12Like Riding a BikeFrom L: Cartwright, Hammond, Carr, Andrews, choreographer Mark Breaux, Chase and Turner.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.The cast wave at the camera while practicing their bike riding for the “Do-Re-Mi” sequence with choreographer Mark Breaux. From L: Cartwright, Hammond, Carr, Andrews, Breaux, Chase and Turner.

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Like Riding a Bike

From L: Cartwright, Hammond, Carr, Andrews, choreographer Mark Breaux, Chase and Turner.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

The cast wave at the camera while practicing their bike riding for the “Do-Re-Mi” sequence with choreographer Mark Breaux. From L: Cartwright, Hammond, Carr, Andrews, Breaux, Chase and Turner.

11of 12Lunch BreakFrom L: Chase, Hammond, Menzies, Cartwright and Turner.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.From L: Chase, Hammond, Menzies, Cartwright and Turner enjoyed some much-deserved downtime on set, complete with burgers and milk. “I remember us all enjoying pretty much everything,” Karath says of the kids' set experience.

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Lunch Break

From L: Chase, Hammond, Menzies, Cartwright and Turner.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

From L: Chase, Hammond, Menzies, Cartwright and Turner enjoyed some much-deserved downtime on set, complete with burgers and milk. “I remember us all enjoying pretty much everything,” Karath says of the kids' set experience.

12of 12So Long, FarewellFrom L: Andrews, Plummer and director Robert Wise.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.Andrews, Plummer and directorRobert Wiseare pictured above, between takes of filming the final scene of the movie — the family’s escape over the Austrian mountains — in Ahornbüchsenkopf, Bavaria.

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So Long, Farewell

From L: Andrews, Plummer and director Robert Wise.“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” ©1965 20th Century Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.

Andrews, Plummer and directorRobert Wiseare pictured above, between takes of filming the final scene of the movie — the family’s escape over the Austrian mountains — in Ahornbüchsenkopf, Bavaria.

source: people.com