Some fifteen years in the past, after I was however a freshly minted faculty graduate, I interned at Turner Traditional Films in Atlanta. It was the dream for an avid Outdated Hollywood fan. Even at 21, I might throw down details about Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart like somebody 70 years my senior. I as soon as had a dialog with TCM patron saint Robert Osborne about Myrna Loy — whom most of it is best to Google as a result of she was merely chic. However that’s inappropriate.
One among my duties was to assist reorganize their huge library of informational packets on numerous motion pictures, prepared to drag anytime they wanted analysis for the intros/outros on the primetime lineup. Each manilla envelope, stuffed to the brim with picture copies, was meticulously alphabetized. Once I received to the “S” part, nonetheless, I observed a curious omission: “The Sound of Music.” I used to be perplexed. Not solely was it a private fave, but it surely was maybe one of many 4 or 5 most cited private faves of many a film buffs. Then I used to be instructed: “The Sound of Music” had by no means aired on TCM.
For years, as maybe twentieth Century Fox’s most beloved movie property, the seminal musical was solely aired often on tv, usually on an annual foundation on one of many main networks. For the final couple a long time, ABC has proven it each Christmas. It will definitely aired round Easter on Freeform. However in these showings, it has all the time been paired with commercials — not in its full, widescreen, uninterrupted glory. After Fox was purchased by Disney, nonetheless, the potential for the printed scope of “The Sound of Music” increasing rapidly turned a actuality. It rapidly ended up, in any case, on Disney+ and Hulu, the primary time it had been streamed.
Again to TCM — which did showcase the film, together with a Q&A with none apart from stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, for its fiftieth anniversary on the TCM Traditional Movie Competition in 2015. I occurred to work that fest, and it was a giant, huge deal. That opening shot projected on the enormous TCL Chinese language IMAX display? Chills.
But it surely had nonetheless not aired on TCM, the last word house for all issues traditional. I imply, it’s within the acronym. And it didn’t air on the channel within the years after that buzz-worthy screening.
That modifications now. Tonight, really, in case you’re studying this on August 2, really.
For TCM’s annual Summer time Underneath the Stars at present, Christopher Plummer is the principle attraction and at 8 p.m. ET, “The Sound of Music” will lastly make its debut on the channel — some 60 years after its launch and 31 years after TCM launched.
Positive, there at the moment are a myriad of the way to look at the film — however who can resist an introduction from host Ben Mankiewicz, filled with details and his distinctive model of humor? I’d virtually absolutely wager he’ll hit on Plummer’s private disdain for the challenge — he as soon as referred to as it “The Sound of Mucus” — although that did ultimately heat over into one thing extra resembling affection.
“As cynical as I all the time was about The Sound of Music. I do respect that it’s a little bit of aid from all of the gunfire and automobile chases you see nowadays,” Plummer instructed Self-importance Honest in 2015. “It’s type of splendidly, old-fashionedly common. It’s received the dangerous guys and the Alps; it’s received Julie and sentiment in bucketloads. Our director, pricey outdated Bob Smart, did maintain it from falling over the sting right into a sea of treacle. Good man. God, what a gent. There are only a few of these round anymore in our enterprise.”
“The Sound of Music” may also be re-released in theaters on September 13, 14, and 17 by Fathom Occasions. However watch it tonight, August 2, uncut and industrial free, on TCM at 8 p.m. ET.