The Trapp Family (1956)

Don't Believe the Hype

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

"Die Trapp-Familie" or "The Trapp Family" is a German German-language film from 1956, so it is already over 60 years old. The director is Wolfgang Liebeneiner and this is one of the more known works from his truly long and prolific career. And it's not just the people who made this film, but also those who starred in it back then who were enjoying pretty successful careers, such as actress Ruth Leuwerik who died not too long ago in her 90s and who plays the main character here, even if the title refers to a whole family. I think Leuwerik did a good job overall here and certainly elevated the material in its weaker moments. But still I must say that I did not enjoy the watch here as much as I hoped I would. The early scenes at the monastery and also the ways in which she breathes life into the rigid kids were fine and okay to watch just like the way she gets together with the dad, but when they actually are the family the film is talking about, then it all becomes pretty boring and feels at time like a poor man's Sissi film, which is once again not Leuwerik's fault. I also think it could/should have been 15-20 minutes shorter. The color should not be taken for granted looking at when this came out and it sure adds something to the overall product, but it's also not enough to make up for the glaring weaknesses and lengths in the second half. This is a film that is at least partially based on real events and characters and also from a biopic perspective I hope it could have been better. I see there is a sequel, but from what this one here developed into I have zero interest in seeing it any time soon and same is true for the more recent, more modern film on the Trapp family. The music side here is tolerable, nothing more. Overall I think the weak and forgettable in here is more frequent unfortunately than the quality stuff and that's why I give this pretty old film a thumbs-down. Watch something else instead.

The Trapp Family is directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner and is based on the book written by Maria Von Trapp.This film tells the story of the Von Trapp family who inspired The Sound of Music.As much as I love the Julie Andrews musical this earlier German film is much more realistic and should be just as well known as the musical.Young Austrian Nun Maria (Ruth Leuwerik)is sent to the home of Baron Captain Von Trapp(Hans Holt)to become governess to his children. As she spends more time with the family she wins the heart of the Captain and the children. A dark cloud soon descends upon the family though with the outbreak of the Second World War. The Nazi's order the Captain to join their Navy and he refuses, the family must flea Austria and make a new life for themselves in America.Hans Holt is marvellous as Captain Von Trapp and appears closer in age to the real life Captain. Ruth Leuwerik is enchanting as Maria, she has a real glow about her and excels as the kind Nun who brings joy back into the lives of this family.The romantic scenes between the Captain and Maria are beautiful and you really feel their growing romance and affection for one another. The children do a good job and are all very natural in their respective roles. There is a real feeling of warmth to this film and period authenticity. This is highly recommended to fans of the real family and of the musical.

The Trapp Family,also known as Die Trapp-Familie, is a German film that tells the story of the von Trapp family singers based on the musical memoirs of Baroness Maria von Trapp.The German cast includes Ruth Leuwerik,Hans Holt,Maria Holst,Josef Meinrad and Friedrich Domin.It tells the story of Maria,a young woman who gets into the consternation of the nuns in an Austrian convent.This prompted Mother Abbess to send her to become a governess for the seven children of a naval officer and widower,Captain Georg von Trapp.It later leads a romance between Maria and the captain that leads to marriage and eventually a famous group of family singers.In addition to their escape from Austria to Switzerland during World War II,the movie also includes the family seeking singing engagement in the Unites States during the 1950's.While it may not be as popular and enduring as the Sound Of Music,I think that the movie did a better job of telling the story of the von Trapp family as it focused more on them rather than great songs that it was going to provide nor as to much it was going to entertain the audience.It may not be a timeless movie unlike the movie musical and it could be considered dated as it was released almost 50 years ago.Nevertheless, it still a wonderful film to watch.

This is the film that started it all and via the musical gave us the film "The Sound of Music". This is the film of which Baroness Von Trapp after its premiere said: "Nothing is true, but it is wonderful". Well, wonderful it is not, but it ìs a fairly well-made, ditto scripted and entertaining film about Maria who would become Baroness Von Trapp. Ruth Leuwerik, who always would blossom under Liebeneiner's direction, is convincing as Maria and Hans Holt is the perfect Baron Von Trapp. Fine set design and as usual very good music by Franz Grothe.It is not as saccharin as "The Sound of Music", and it should be considered a typical product of its time with its optimistic "to every problem there is a solution" premise; it may be that this premise was in the minds of the makers rather than the life of the Von Trapps. As such it was a modern fairy tale for German 50's audience with Maria as the fairy-godmother; this role is emphasized by the last shot of the film in which Maria looks straight at the viewer and says "Gute Nacht" as a kind of blessing.Liebeneiner directs with light touch and knows how to tell the story economically, but neither he nor the scriptwriter seems very at ease in dealing with the thread of Nazism and the subsequent 1938 Anschluß of Austria; not surprising however as Liebeneiner could not have had a clear conscience on the matter. The script suggests that after their escape from Austria the Von Trapps went straight to the USA, while in fact they toured Europe and went to the USA in 1939 for an American tour; the trouble with the immigration never existed.The film is loosely based on the memories of Maria Von Trapp, which she published in 1947; the family had already stopped with their singing. The story goes that the producer's agent lead Maria to believe that German law forbid payment of royalties to foreigners. Later she found out that this was not true, after which she received a lump sum of $ 9.000,--!. The story of the film (and its sequel "Die Trapp Familie in Amerika") was sold to Broadway producer Richard Halliday and the rest is history.