Blast From the Past

“Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.”

-Walt Disney

Last week, I had this sudden crave for a night of Julie Andrews. I reminisced the time when I used to watch The Sound of Music everyday (fact: I really did watch it EVERYDAY when I was in Grade 3, never missed a day). As I was counting the days, months, and years that I haven’t watched the said movie, I was sad that I forgot the strong impact of this movie to me when I was a little girl. It may sound funny that I am actually contemplating on this issue, but after years of watching The Sound of Music, I am distressed that I suddenly stopped “remembering” it. Since the last time I watched it was in 2007, I decided to make a “renaissance” with my favorite movie (unprecedented). I began my mission by listening to my CD of The Sound of Music. Singing along with the cast, I felt the urge to continue this “feeling” by watching the movie. Oh, how happy I was again. I felt like I am the little Ayra again who will dance when Liesl and Rolf do their number, who will sing when Maria began to trek through the hills, and who will kiss the television as Maria softly kisses Captain von Trapp (I think that Captain von Trapp is my first crush:-)). This movie truly inspired me as a person, and like what Walt Disney said (quoted above), this movie (The Sound of Music) contributed a great deal of what I am now.

The Sound of Music (1965)

My “Julie Andrews fever” did not end there. I started listening to My Fair Lady (original London cast: Audrey Hepburn got the part for the movie because she was more popular than Julie before, she didn’t even know how to sing! Nevertheless, I still like Audrey.) I sang along with Julie Andrews as she sings The Rain in Spain and I Could Have Danced All Night. After that, I watched her other movies: Mary Poppins, Relative Values, Princess Diaries 1 and 2, and Shrek 2. I was overwhelmed after watching all of these (I still managed to do my assignments even though I did these).

My Fair Lady (1959)

A Little Bit of Broadway (1988)

Mary Poppins (1964)

Watching all of these made me really understand myself and why I am interested with these things that I am presently fascinated. I remember when I will insist to my group mates that all of our group works, assignments and school activities will be presented with a touch of Sound of Music. I was called “Maria” or “The Sound of Music girl” when I was in grade school because of my ardent love for this movie. I even told my parents that I will die for Julie Andrews! That’s how I love and idolize her. I know that this is too much, but she truly inspired me. In a way, she made me feel that I can do something with myself and I am a “someone” in this world. Even though there are billions and billions of people in this world, I feel like I can be someone who I wanted to be. I think that our first movies are really important to us. It hones us. It can define our personality. It can shape our future. The Sound of Music (my most favorite among Julie Andrews’ movies/plays) is something that I will treasure forever because it defines my childhood, something that I will never forget.

Relative Values (2000)