Charmian Carr (1942–2016)

3.5 stars

Charmian Carr was the actress who played Liesl in “The Sound of Music”. She was actually 21-years old playing 16. The first half of the book is memories of making the movie, and the second half looks at some of her own life and family, as well as the ongoing friendships she had with the other children from the movie (and more). Before each chapter is a brief reminisce of someone who loved the movie. And there are plenty of photos throughout.

“The Sound of Music” is one of my all-time favourite movies. Every time she mentioned a scene or some dialogue or a song, I was able to easily picture it in my head. So it was fun to learn of so much that happened behind the scenes. Have to admit I knew none of the child actors’ names (until now!). At 21, but playing one of the children, Charmian was sort of between the adult and child actors on the set.

She was primarily very positive with things she said about the people and the making of the movie. But there were a few little things. But I really think she is sincere in how much making the movie meant to her. So I did learn a few things about Christopher Plummer (Chris) and Julie Andrews, as well. There was a chapter near the end that told more of the actual von Trapp family and their real story, since so much of the movie was fictionalized; that was very interesting.

I was tempted to rate this a bit higher, but I’m certain that’s only due to how much I love the movie itself, so I’ve kept it at a “good” rating.… (más)

This has to go down as my biggest "guilty pleasure" of the year. Part Memoir/Part Sappy-Love fest over the movie, The Sound of Music, I had to read this book. To give a little background, my eight year old self thought Liesl was HOT. She was my epitome of the perfect "woman" - that was a 21 year old playing 16-going-on-17 after all. Jump to current day, and in a moment of overwhelming indiscretion, I happened to mention that fact during a work party (there was a lot of drinking). While embarrassed, I was not ashamed, and it has become a running joke - and I still stand behind it - for her age, Carr is one handsome woman.

With all of that said, this book was a little hard to take. While I liked the movie and can recite parts of it by heart, I had no idea such a fluffy-cult has surrounded it. In between chapters discussing the casting, the actors, the locations, the filming, etc., there are clips from individuals who are obsessed by the movie. My problem is that Carr at no point makes fun of these freaks. They are just sitting there, waiting to be mocked, but that is not the nature of the book. Even in the personal moments of the memoir where she describes people who get offended that she acts like a "normal" person and not their ideal Liesl, she defends their actions as simply having been overly impacted by the film. Sorry Carr, they're off their meds and need to be restrained.

The timing of this read was good because last year my daughter and I did the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, Austria, so we knew some of the behind the scenes facts, but this book covers a LOT more background material. If you know the movie well, you will probably appreciated these details, too.

This would make a great "beach read" or something equally simple - and it is a fast read. I just couldn't give it a higher rating because it was too saccharin to consider it a quality recommendation… (más)

I'm certain I'm not the only little girl who, while watching The Sound of Music, hoped she would grow up to be as graceful and beautiful as Liesl. There was just something so feminine about her character, so delicate yet strong. So when I discovered this book, I had to see what the real woman behind Liesl was like.

Charmian (pronounced "Shar-mee-an") is gracious and thankful to have had the opportunity to play the role of Liesl in one of the world's most popular and beloved films. She was actually 21 at the time the film was made, even though she was playing a girl who was "Sixteen, Going on Seventeen" as the song says. In the book, she describes what it was like to work with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and of course, all her "celluloid siblings." They have stayed in touch all of these years and occasionally get together, which is very neat to know. In addition to the on-camera stars of the movie, Ms. Carr also paid homage to the genius and kindness of the movie's producer and director (Bob Wise), screenwriter (Ernest Lehman), choreographer (Dee Dee Wood), and associate producer (Saul Chaplin). Even though they took a chance making this high budget film, it is credited with ultimately saving 20th Century Fox from financial demise, after grossing $158 million (adjusted for inflation, that's equal to $1.022 billion).

Charmian Carr also includes in the book some personal details of her life before and after the movie, neither of which were exactly Hollywood perfect. She had a bitter, alcoholic mother, and a father who wasn't very much of a dad, to say the least. But she has made the best of what life has given her, and even eventually started her own interior decorating company, assisting clients such as Michael Jackson. She has two daughters, Emily and Jennifer, who are most definitely two of her favorite things.… (más)