The Sound of Music Companion Hardcover – March 3, 2015

Lawrence Maslon should be thanked and congratulated for offering a concise and informative Sound of Music book. Although there have been a few Sound of Music books written in the past, this book is probably the first of its kind to tell the story in a concise manner. The Hirsch book on the film and the reissued Max Wilk book on the stage show were great books in their own right, but I think this book tops them all.Although the numerous photos are the draw of this coffee-table book, a coffee-table book should offer much more than pretty photographs. For this it certainly delivers. His meticulously researched, well-written text tells us the whole Sound of Music story from Maria's birth to the first Austrian stage production in 2005. This book covers all important stops in the history of SOM up till now, and does not dwell too long on any one time period. An added treat is the inclusion of song lyrics and commentaries on the songs, explaining how they were written and what role they played in the musical. I admit there are a few typo errors in the text, but this well-researched book is jam-packed with facts of the musical. You could literally dip your teeth into it and come out a Sound of Music junkie. I do wish there were also lyrics and commentaries for I Have Confidence, So Long, Farewell and also The Lonely Goatherd.In short, a really great Sound of Music book that makes a splendidd addition to any Sound of Music collection, except that the print tends to be a little too small for the size of the book. Otherwise, a really wonderful book from cover to cover, and a seminal work in the entire world of this well-loved musical. I think this is a book that deserves to be in print forever.

This book is a must for all Sound of Music fans. It is interesting to read about how the movie was made and details the many behind-the-scenes issues that go into filming on location and in a movie studio. This book also contains many photos of the movie and the filming of many scenes. If you are the type that likes to see what happens when you go 'behind' the making of a movie then this book will help you do that. It also gives information on the Von Trapp family as well as comparisons with the true familie's ways and what the studio wanted to show on the screen. I wouldn't say it has too much Catholicism in it but it does show where Maria came from and a bit of her life inside an Austrian Convent. In between all of that, the movie is quite entertaining and the photography shows one of the most beautiful countries on earth: Salzburg, Austria! You'll be glad you have this in your Sound of Music collection!

I have been a Julie Andrews fan since she was in "My Fair Lady" even though I never got to see it, I got the album. Now I have the CD. I watched "Sound of Music" in the theater 14 times, skipping classes in high school, thinking I was the only one to have done so! Later I found others who had gone hundreds of times!! This book is totally delicious! I enjoyed every page and look forward to rereading it many more times!

This is a nice book but I thought they'd delve more into the actual filming experience for Sound of Music and it's really more the history of the Sound of Music from true life to book to musical play to movie. A little disappointing actually.

If you love this film you will love this book. All the info you need although adding the Sound of Music FAQ might be wise. I have them both and I think they both pretty much cover it all. Also Christopher Plummer's auto-bio is really good too. He was far from well behaved (or sober) during this shoot but he is pretty honest about it all.

If you love Dame Julie Andrews and "The Sound of Music" or the real life Trapp Family Singers, you'll love this book. Here you'll discover the basics of the true story with family photos, the story of the Broadway musical which was based upon their lives and the story of the film itself, with chapters centered around each song. Here you'll find out how they did it, where they did it, and why. Beautiful photographs, maps and personal memories compliment the story.

This is a beautiful volume that any Sound of Music fan would love to have. It is a comprehensive overview of not only the movie, but also the Broadway musical and the Von Trapp family themselves. Also included are the words to several of the songs from the movie, a true bonus as those songs are so beloved.

I have to be the Sound Of Music's BIGGEST fan. I loved the book. It even had some photos I'd never seen before. Having the forward written by Julie Andrews was a delight. Any true fan of this beautiful film will love this addition to their library.

Too often books of 'phenomena' are thrown together to capitalize on an all-too-eager fan base and are an utter waste of time (dare I say, incorrigible?). Not so this book. Its print quality, and huge collection of photos tracing the evolution from idea to stage to film deserves all the plaudits alone. Throw in the well-researched tale and you have a magnificent resource for the SoM fan. I would also recommend reading Maria von Trapp's own autobiography which is a lively and fascinating account of what really happened, but that is by the by. If you buy this you won't be disappointed. Adieu...

Exrlent book about the film, history and stars

Lawrence Maslon should be thanked and congratulated for offering a concise and informative Sound of Music book.Although the numerous photos are the draw of this coffee-table book, a coffee-table book should offer much more than pretty photographs. For this it certainly delivers. His meticulously researched, well-written text tells us the whole Sound of Music story from Maria's birth to the first stage Austrian production in 2005. This book covers all important stops in the history of TSOM up till now, and does not dwell too long on any one time period. An added treat is the inclusion of song lyrics and commentaries on the songs, explaining how they were written and what role they played in the musical. I admit there are a few typo errors in the text, but this well-researched book is jam-packed with facts of the musical. You could literally dip your teeth into it and come out a Sound of Music junkie. I do wish there were also lyrics and commentaries for I Have Confidence, So Long, Farewell and also The Lonely Goatherd.In short, a really great Sound of Music book that makes a splendidd addition to any Sound of Music collection, except that the print tends to be a little too small for the size of the book. Otherwise, a really wonderful book from cover to cover, and a seminal work in the entire world of this well-loved musical.

For An S.O.M. Fanatic Very Good

love it