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05/29/2006: "The hills are alive with many a true story"

I sat through The Sound of Music this afternoon, as it was the first time the mini-Ws had ever seen the movie. Mrs W reminded me that it was based on a true story, which I think is something I knew at the back of my mind, but I was a bit suspicious as to exactly how true. My hunch was that there probably was a von Trapp family who escaped the Nazis, but all the rest of it was serious Schmaltzburg. Having checked the veracity of the thing on the web, however, much more of it is legit than you might imagine. Even the unlikely things such as the Captain having served in the Imperial Navy of Austria. Where exactly did the Imperial Navy sail its boats, for crying out loud, given that the country is surrounded by those well-known oceans of Germany, Italy, Slovenia etc? Apparently the real von Trapp was a submarine commander. Maria arrived from an Abbey and they really did get married (although some years before the Nazi "Anschluss" of 1938). And, yes, the family did compete in the Salzburg Music Festival and win first prize.

Which all goes to show what a cynical sod I am. It was mostly true. And I look a bit stupid. So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night.