Forever Liesl : A Memoir of The Sound of Music

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 256 pages
• Published by: Unknown April 1, 2001
• ISBN 10 Number: 0140298401
• ASIN: B000EMSNVC
• Book Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 2.4 ounces

Product Review
Charmian Carr played eldest von Trapp daughter Liesl in the mega-successful film version of The Sound of Music, and judging from her earnest memoir, the story's sentimental wholesomeness rubbed off on her permanently. It's a "great movie," she avers, acknowledging that the critics thought otherwise; she was "honored" to be part of it, and her onscreen siblings became her lifelong friends. Carr's reasonably interesting chronicle of shooting the film is interspersed with personal narratives by people who love it: a nine-year-old boy who found comforting parallels between the distant but ultimately loving Captain von Trapp and his own recently deceased father; a girl who got the video for Christmas just after her brother had surgery; and so on. The author tempers all that sweetness and light with frank accounts of her parents' divorce, her mother's alcoholism, and later conflicts with the studio over financial remuneration for promoting the movie. Adult costars Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews come across as consummate professionals less enthralled by the experience than their youthful supporting cast. But in general the book is determinedly upbeat and definitely not for the cynical. Those who share Carr's rapturous regard for The Sound of Music and even those who don't but are willing to be touched by sincere emotion will enjoy her stroll down memory lane. --Wendy Smith --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Published to coincide with the 35th anniversary of The Sound of Music, this memoir by the actress who portrayed Liesl von Trapp offers a detailed account of the creation of the classic, which won five Academy Awards. Carr was 21 at the time she was chosen to play the 16-year-old daughter of Baron von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), a wealthy widow who falls in love with a nun-cum-governess (Julie Andrews). Diehard fans of the tuneful Romance may savor these somewhat dated anecdotes, such as the one about the day five-year-old Kym (who played Gretl von Trapp) nearly drowned during a shoot on an Austrian lake or how the famous opening shot of Andrews twirling in a meadow was captured by a camera man strapped to a helicopter. However, those who share Plummer's reputed opinion that the film lacks depth (he referred to the song "Edelweiss" as "boring, schmaltzy and trite") will find wading through this archival minutia tough slogging. One of the more interesting facts imparted in this otherwise syrupy account is the anger Carr and other cast members felt toward the studio, which took advantage of them by convincing them to do free promotion and to sign releases that prevented them from receiving any money generated by sales of the highly profitable sound track. B&w photos. Agent, Lynn Franklin; 10-city author tour. (Feb.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: Forever Liesl: A Memoir of The Sound of Music (Hardcover) Charmian Carr has written a lovely tribute to this movie, which is one of the great hits in the history of American film. It certainly has a special place in my life, as it has for almost 27 years. Ms. Carr recognizes the adoration people have for this film, and she writes about it accordingly. What I think is special about her and her authorship of this book, is that she APPRECIATES her fans, fans of the movie, and is quick to acknowledge this in the narrative. I admire this tremendously. So many actors that appear in such a celebrated film shun fans and devotees and regard them as no doubt obsessive and looney. Charmian does none of this. She continously credits viewers of "Music" with its success. This book is a leisurely read, easy to like, not too long and yet not too short. As a "Music" fan, I personally would have liked it longer, but nevertheless, it is a comprehensive account of one of the masterworks of film musicals. Thank you, Charmian Carr, for being one of "My Favorite Things" for 35 years! Comment | Permalink | (Report this)