How do you solve a problem like Maria?

Rating: 8/10 (6 June 2012)

A microcosm of the idealistic and affluent Austria is The Von Tropp children, who are trapped in their mansion by their Navy Captain father, not quite got over the death of his wife. When along comes "innocent nun wash out" Julie Andrews as another nanny (again), well you know she's not going to simply take care of children despite their attempts to rattle her. 174 minute running time and silly set up out of the way, I must admit that the music and sentiment are absolutely timeless as is the anti-Nazi theme patriotically defended on screen by Christopher Plummer, who tosses his selfish Austrian babe. Clearly he saw something in Maria that was lost on the rest of us, but never the less after singing, dancing and performing incredibly intricate marionette routines, I guess we owe the Von Tropps and their singing instructor a free pass over the mountain.