The Von Trapp Family and their Sound of Music

LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com) — From Reel life to Real life the Von Trapp family sensationalizes human psychology.

It was The Sound of Music that portrayed a sweet and simple imagery of the family. If you have had a look, then you know well what I am telling. For those who didn’t catch up with the 1965 American musical film directed by Robert Wise let me brief you. The goodness of the movie is well depicted by its achievements - a total of five Academy Awards including Best Picture.

Unfortunately, the movie portrayed only part of what was real. Information became well manipulated until it finally reached the audience.

The movie was an adaptation of Maria’s book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Numerous alterations and omissions led to a major difference in the reel and real Von Trapp Family.

Maria came in not as a governess to the Von Trapp children but as a tutor to young Maria who then was suffering from scarlet fever.

Maria and George tied knots in 1927, a decade before the family left for Italy. The movie though portrayed them being married juz before the Nazi took-over and then their escape to Switzerland which was much in contrast with the reality.

The couple never shared a love story before their marriage, as per Maria,

I really and truly was not in love. I liked him but didn’t love him. However, I loved the children, so in a way I really married the children. . . . By and by I learned to love him more than I have ever loved before or after.

The movie featured only 7 of the 10 von Trapp children in reality. Also, the name, age and sexes of the children were tampered with in the musical.

George von Trapp was actually a gentle, warmhearted parent. He never actually disliked music as portrayed in the movie. He, much enjoyed being an active part of his family. This change is quite an objectionable one as it has adverse effects.

Their migration wasn’t a secret according to the von Trapp daughter Maria. In an interview she said,

We did tell people that we were going to America to sing. And we did not climb over mountains with all our heavy suitcases and instruments. We left by train, pretending nothing.

The von Trapp family priest, the Reverend Franz Wasner, had been their musical director for over 20 years instead of some fictional Max Detweiler, portrayed in the movie.

Finally, Maria - the step mother to the von Trapp children wasn’t really the sweet and simple lady as featured in the film. She had her problems too. This was revealed as Maria von Trapp, the young daughter of George said that their mother,

had a terrible temper. . . . And from one moment to the next, you didn’t know what hit her. We were not used to this. But we took it like a thunderstorm that would pass, because the next minute she could be very nice.

Who were the real von Trapps ?

Georg von Trapp was born in 1880. He became a national hero as a captain in the Austrian navy during World War I and was in command of submarines. He received the title of “Ritter” as a reward for his immense devotion and loyalty. Georg married Agathe Whitehead, in 1912. The couple had seven children together: Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna, and Martina. Agatha died of scarlet fever in 1922. Maria Augusta Kutschera was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1905. Maria Kutschera and Georg von Trapp married in 1927. They had three children together: Rosmarie, 1928 ; Eleonore, 1931 ; and Johannes, 1939.

So, that’s all I came to know about the von Trapps. If you have some more information do care to share with us.