The Sound of Music (1965)
This may very well make me rethink my stance on musicals. I was swept away by the romanticism, the picturesque scenery and not the least Julie Andrews. I appreciate how the song are not just interludes but feel like a natural part of the story, and most of them are pretty good. It is also quite funny, and the whimsical parts are close to being overdone but keep it at a level where it is still endearing. Its length is a bit of a challenge as I found it to be strongest in the beginning and end, where the middle drags somewhat. The WW2 setting is mostly kept in the background in the first part as the overall tone is closer to a fairy tale, but the presence of the sinister threat is still there in small reminders. Which just makes the final half hour much more powerful with its seriousness.
Rating: 4