text: (Originally published by the Daily News on March 3, 1965. This story was written by Kate Cameron.)
  
  Robert Wise has transformed the delightful Rodgers and Hammerstein musical stage production of “The Sound of Music” into a magical film in which Julie Andrews gives an endearing performance in the role of Maria, the governess. Caretaker to the young seems to be Julie’s metier, as she has been nominated for an Academy Award for her performance last year in Disney’s production of “Mary Poppins,” P.L. Travers’ enchanting nanny.
  
  “The Sound of Music,” which Wise produced and directed for 20th Century-Fox, had its initial New York showing at the Rivoli Theatre last night. Filmed in Todd-AO and Deluxe color, it opens on a breath-taking panoramic view of the mountains surrounding the beautiful and ancient city of Salzburg, where the picture was shot in its entirety. It then pans to a shot of Maria singing a panegyric to her beloved mountains.
  
  From then on the real-life story of the Von Trapp family is unfolded on the screen in as rosy sentimental a manner as it was presented in the Broadway stage with Mary Martin in the role of Maria.
  
  The stage production was not received too warmly by the dramatic critics either here or in London, but the show was an outstanding success in both cities.
  
  Appealing to the whole family and giving Julie Andrews a chance to sing and perform charmingly, it presents Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp, a role that is sure to enhance the popularity of this fine actor.
  
  The screenplay by Ernest Lehman and Hammerstein’s book of the stage show were based on Baroness Von Trapp’s story of her life at Salzburg, her rejection as a nun because of her inability to conform to the rules of the convent, her work as governess to the seven motherless Von Trapp and the family’s melodramatic flight out of Austria in the middle of the night, just after the anschluss between Nazi Germany and Austria took place in the thirties.
  
  As befitting a musical show, the family story is presented with humor and sentiment. The fact that it is a true story adds to its audience appeal.
  
  The children are well represented by Charmian Carr, Heather Menzies, Nicholas Hammond, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner and a darling four-year-old, Kym Karath. Eleanor Parker, looking very beautiful, plays Von Trapp’s fiancee and Richard Haydn gives an amusing interpretation of the Max Detweiler role. Peggy Wood presents a dignified impersonation of the mother superior.
  
  Marni Nixon, that silver-throated ghost who has been haunting Hollywood for some time dubbing songs for the stars, makes her bodily appearance on the screen for the first time as one of the singing nuns.
  
  Rodgers has written two new songs for the picture and they add a fresh note to the film’s action. Three of the original numbers were dropped. The new songs are: “I Have Confidence In Me” and “Something Good.” The outstanding musical numbers of the original score are “Do Re Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Every Mountain,” “I Am Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title song.
  
  Wise’s direction is excellent, as he keeps his cast on the move throughout the slightly less than three-hour performance.
summary: “The Sound of Music” has Julie Andrews as an endearing baroness of the Von Trapp family.