Opinion: Why Die Trapp Familie is more Catholic than The Sound of Music

Hans Holt as Captain von Trapp and Ruth Leuwerik as Maria

Let me start off by saying that this article is not meant to demean or lessen the contributions of the artists who were part of the production of 1965’s The Sound of Music. I am merely trying to pinpoint the parts where Die Trapp Familie portrays Catholicism in a more accurate way. Later, I will write a separate article that reviews the film itself and see how it holds up to its more famous version.

WARNING: These contain spoilers for the film!

1. The very first scenes of the film are set in Nonnberg Abbey as the Reverend Mother says to Maria later on when she speaks to her of a position as a governess. Before Maria sets off to the house of the von Trapps, we see her visiting the church one last time while Salve Regina is being sung in the background. Now others may say that it was just for aesthetic purposes but the dedication to authenticity is laudable.
2. The Sign of the Cross. In the better-known version starring Julie Andrews as Maria, she only crosses herself about once and that’s when she prays during the thunderstorm. In this version, Maria’s habit of crossing herself while in the church for the last time and later praying over the food is more sincere. Ironically she doesn’t do this Catholic ritual while praying after she first arrives in her new room.
3. The captain in this version does not resent religious figures, when Maria blesses the food he does not give off the vibe that Christopher Plummer does like in the later version. Perhaps this is because the actual captain himself was a religious man, seeing as the film itself was based on the diaries of the real Maria I would count on this being the case.
4. The wedding scene. Before Vatican II, there is a short little ritual where the bride and groom’s hands are joined together and the priest’s shawl is wrapped around them. This makes sense to be missing from the 1965 version as Vatican II was already underway.
5. Maria and her ideals. Georg in the relationship is more pragmatic and realistic while Maria loves everyone even her enemies as Georg would say later on in the film. There is a clash of personalities throughout the movie but the captain often gives in to Maria’s wishes knowing that it is best for the family’s circumstances.
6. Martyrdom. The captain and Maria get into a discussion about what to do when the Germans come over with the former saying it is good that he would get arrested by the Nazis because it would prove to other Austrians what kind of government the Nazis have built for themselves. Maria replies she would not want a martyr rotting in a jail cell, saying that she would want to keep her husband.
7. Franz the butler reveals to Maria and Georg that he has been a member of the Nazi Party for the past three years. Despite this Franz encourages the captain to hide with the family after the police now overlooked by the Nazis come to visit the house again. Franz being a Nazi uses this cover to tell them that the family has gone on a trip up the mountains effectively dodging the possible arrest of the captain. This isn’t a popular opinion since Franz himself is a fascist and we know what happened afterward but this small gesture of loyalty helped the family escape.
8. A friend in a priest. A year after Maria and Georg are married and their son is born, they align themselves with a priest Fr. Wasner who teaches the children how to sing religious hymns and conducts them during their shows. This priest acts as a kind of uncle to the children and brother to both Maria and Georg during their difficult journey from wealth, poverty, and escape to America despite much of this not being shown.

There you have it, gang! I am sure there are more subtle areas in the movie that contain Catholic themes but this is the best that I could come up with. Have you seen Die Trapp Familie yet or is this your first time hearing about it? If you’re curious, the movie is currently available on YouTube in seven parts on TheVonTrappFamily channel.