Why Chtistopher Plummer Hated “The Sound of Music”
May 7, 2024
source: Everett Collection
Christopher Plummer had strong criticisms of the movie, describing it as “awful, sentimental, and gooey.” He jokingly called it “The Sound of Mucus” and said he only added a “minuscule bit of humor” to his character.
In a 2011 interview, he admitted that playing Baron von Trapp was one of his toughest roles. He felt the character was boring and that portraying him was like “flogging a dead horse,” finding the subject matter too sentimental for his taste.
Plummer, with a background in serious stage acting, found it challenging to embody the light-hearted nature required for The Sound of Music. He gained weight from all the pastries he enjoyed while filming, requiring his costumes to be resized. Despite the team’s efforts to make Captain von Trapp more interesting, he found it difficult to relate to the character.
Over the years, however, Plummer grew to recognize the film’s impact, eventually gaining pride in his role. He acknowledged how the film charmed audiences, calling it “warm, touching, absolutely timeless” and finding himself “totally seduced by the damn thing.” He even appreciated how the movie provided relief from the violent nature of modern cinema, lauding it for its wonderfully universal and old-fashioned appeal.