Question 1

True or false: The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1965, beating 'Doctor Zhivago'.

Accepted Answer

True. It won five Oscars, including Best Picture. 'Doctor Zhivago' was its main rival but lost, though it also won several awards.

Question 2

True or false: Most of the outdoor scenes in the film were shot on a Hollywood soundstage, not in Austria.

Accepted Answer

False. The filmmakers shot extensively on location in Salzburg, Austria, and the surrounding Alps. Only interiors were built on soundstages.

Question 3

True or false: The song 'Edelweiss' was an old Austrian folk tune long before the movie.

Accepted Answer

False. It was written specifically for the musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Many fans mistakenly believe it's a traditional song.

Question 4

True or false: The real von Trapp family escaped Austria by hiking over the Alps into Switzerland.

Accepted Answer

False. They actually took a train to Italy, then traveled to the US. The Alpine hike was a Hollywood invention for dramatic effect.

Question 5

True or false: Julie Andrews was not the first choice to play Maria; the role was offered to another actress first.

Accepted Answer

True. Producer Richard Halliday initially wanted Audrey Hepburn, but she declined. Andrews was a backup who made the role iconic.

Question 6

True or false: The real Maria von Trapp was actually a governess to only one child, not seven.

Accepted Answer

True. She was hired to teach one daughter who was ill. The other six children had other tutors. The movie expanded the family for storytelling.

Question 7

True or false: Nazi swastikas were removed from all Austrian buildings during filming to avoid offending locals.

Accepted Answer

False. The filmmakers avoided filming real swastikas, but not to spare feelings—it was to prevent the film from being banned in Germany.

Question 8

True or false: Christopher Plummer disliked working on the film and called it 'The Sound of Mucus'.

Accepted Answer

True. Plummer found the musical saccharine and joked about its title. He later softened his view, but the quote is real.

The Sound of Music Trivia Questions