James Plath Blu-ray Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC 45th Anniversary Edition 3-Disc BD/DVD Combo Pack (Nov 2)

—> See Link to our Blu-ray Review (below)

...the more you see it, the more it becomes one of your favorite things!

A nanny helps the singing Von Trapp family of Austria escape from the Nazis before World War II. This classic musical, set amid the splendor of Austria's Alps, chronicles a young governess's budding romance with her employer and the family's daring flight from Nazi rule.

"It's wonderful... Julie Andrews is irresistible."
—Daniel Webb, Total Film

"Julie Andrews' 1965 heroine is hard to beat... combining innocent enthusiasm with comic timing and a soaring soprano voice."
—Anna Smith, Empire

Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of one of cinema's greatest treasures, digitally restored and re-mastered in stunning Blu-ray High Definition!

20th Century Fox presents...
THE SOUND OF MUSIC 45th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray (& DVD) — Limited Collector's Set, and 3-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack »
(Now available - released November 2)

Limited Edition Collector's Set of "Favorite Things", includes an exclusive hand-painted Music Box, 100-page Scrapbook, 45th Anniversary Soundtrack and more!

(Also available in 3-Disc Blu-ray and DVD Combo Packs)

$89.99 Limited Edition Collector's Set
(3-Disc BD/DVD set with Special Collectibles)

$34.99 3-Disc BD/DVD Combo Pack

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Blu-ray HD Teaser (:51)


THE SOUND OF MUSIC — Explore further:
—> Blu-ray Review by James Plath »
EXCERPT: "The Sound of Music" is the most popular stage show in the world, with 500 performances produced annually in the U.S. alone. And the 1965 film version? How could it have been anything less than spectacular?

The music and lyrics were composed by the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein, who collaborated on their first musical ("Oklahoma!") in 1943 and what would turn out to be their last in 1959, when they finished the music for the Broadway production of "The Sound of Music." It featured their most popular song--"My Favorite Things"--and one memorable tune after the other, like "Do-Re-Mi," "The Sound of Music," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "Maria," "The Lonely Goatherd," and "Edelweiss," a faux-Austrian folk song so authentic-sounding that people would later swear that they learned it as children.

The story also was strong: about a romance that develops between a widowed Austrian naval captain and the governess of his seven children, intercut with subplots about how they fled Nazi Germany and became the von Trapp Family Singers.

"The Sound of Music" looks gorgeous on Blu-ray! The film was meticulously restored using a copy of the original 70mm Todd-AO camera negative and scanning it at 8000 lines. The result is a movie with more 3D depth, sharper edges (without edge enhancement) and more visible detail and textures. Tweed almost has a life of its own in 1080p.

The 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is also a big step up, with the songs never sounding better, especially the high notes. And the bonus features? Old features are combined with brand-new ones that are truly a fun mountain to climb. Without a doubt, the three-disc 45th Anniversary Blu-ray + DVD combo is the definitive version of "The Sound of Music," and one of the best Blu-ray releases in 2010.

"The Sound of Music" is one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's best scores, and that's saying something. It's a warm and wonderful movie that has "timeless" written all over it. And this Blu-ray combo is everything fans could have hoped for. I don't give many movies perfect scores, but it's tough to find fault with anything on this release.

(Click thru the Link above for the full review, including full details on the extensive bonus features!)

Los Angeles, CA – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment toasts the 45th anniversary of the five-time Academy Award®-winning The Sound of Music with its recent, highly anticipated Blu-ray Disc debut (Nov 2).

Starring Oscar® winner Julie Andrews in one of her most memorable roles, the film adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical follows Maria, a spirited young woman who leaves a convent and becomes a governess to seven unruly children. Her charm and songs soon win the hearts of the children and their father but when Nazi Germany unites with Austria, Maria is forced to attempt a daring escape with her new family.

Meticulously Restored and Re-mastered, The Sound of Music 45th Anniversary Edition is presented with new 7.1 audio and offers BD-LIVE: Live Lookup™ (powered by IMDb®); Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration featuring a Sing-A-Long, behind-the-scenes images, trivia and a location quiz; A City of Song with a virtual map of filming locations and interactive tour of the movie's locale of Salzburg, Austria; vintage programs including a hilarious send-up of The Sound of Music from Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews herself; an enchanting interview with the real Maria von Trapp on The Julie Andrews Hour; and, for the very first time in home entertainment format, a spectacular full-length documentary, "Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of American Music", hosted by Mary Martin; and much more.

Perfect for at home or on the go, The Sound of Music is available in 3-Disc Blu-ray and DVD Combo Packs. For a limited time, The Sound of Music is also available in an individually numbered Limited Collector's Set packaged in a keepsake box and featuring a 100-page "My Favorite Things" scrapbook, a 45th Anniversary Soundtrack, a reproduction of the original 1965 souvenir program, an exclusive hand-painted "My Favorite Things" music box and more (see image above left).

A perfect holiday gift, the set is priced at $89.99 U.S., $99.99 Canada. The Blu-ray/DVD combo packs are attractively priced at $34.99 U.S., $37.99 Canada, allowing fans the best of both viewing and value added options.

The Sound of Music will also be made available day and date for digital download across several EST platforms. The Sound of Music is available on the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com) as an iTunes Extras, which includes a sing-a-long version of the movie and more than 180 minutes of behind the scenes material.

Directed by Robert Wise and co-starring Christopher Plummer, the film garnered five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. A heartwarming story full of cherished songs such as "My Favorite Things," "Sixteen Going On Seventeen," "Edelweiss" and the title song, the film graces six different Top 100 lists by the American Film Institute including Musicals, Songs and Movies.

Details + BONUS FEATURES:
Screen Format: Widescreen (2:20:1)

Audio:
English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English 4.0 Dolby Surround
Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
French 5.1 DTS

Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
U.S. Rating: G
Total Run Time:178

Limited Edition Collector's Set:
* 2-Disc Blu-ray with all extras as detailed below
* Standard Definition DVD
* 45th Anniversary Soundtrack
* 100-Page "My Favorite Things" scrapbook
* Snapshots from Salzburg
* Reproduction of the original 1965 Souvenir program
* Exclusive "My Favorite Things" Music Box with letter of authenticity

Blu-ray Details - Disc 1:
* Feature Film remastered in 1080p Hi-Def with 7.1 DTS-HD Sound
* Your Favorite Things: An Interactive Celebration — All-New Immersive Viewing Experience with Behind-the-Scenes Images, On-Screen Lyrics, Trivia Track and Location Quiz
* Music Machine Sing-Along
* Audio Commentaries with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and Director Robert Wise

BD-LIVE: Live Lookup™ (powered by IMDb®)

Blu-ray Details - Disc 2:
* Musical Stages: Creating The Sound of Music — All-New Interactive "Backlot Tour" with In-Depth Featurettes on the Songs, the Stage Show & Movie, the Film and Sound Restoration and the Real-Life von Trapp Family
* A City of Song — Virtual Map of Filming Locations in Salzburg, Austria
* Vintage Rodgers & Hammerstein and The Sound of Music Programs
* Screen Tests, Rare Treasures, Interviews, Photo Galleries & More!

DVD Disc: (Disc 3)
* Feature Film In Standard Definition
- Newly Remastered Picture and Sound
- Optional Sing-Along Track
* Music Machine Sing-Along
* The Sound of Music Tour – A Living Story

Film Synopsis:
...the more you see it, the more it becomes one of your favorite things!
The Timeless Classic Every Family Should Share.

A nanny helps the singing Von Trapp family of Austria escape from the Nazis before World War II. This classic musical, set amid the splendor of Austria's Alps, chronicles a young governess's budding romance with her employer and the family's daring flight from Nazi rule.

Share the magical, heartwarming true-life story that has become the most popular family film of all time — Rogers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.

Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, the spirited young woman who leaves the convent to becomes governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp, an autocratic widower whose strict household rules leave no room for music or merriment.

Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, this timeless classic features some of the world's best-loved songs.