So Long, Farewell – The Sound of Music

The legendary actor died at home in Connecticut with his wife of 51 years, Elaine Taylor, by his side. No cause of death has been released at this time. Plummer had a glittering career on stage and screen from his 1953 Broadway debut in The Starless Sky – a play that closed on its opening night – all the way to his 2018 Oscar nomination for All The Money In The World. He took home an Oscar in 2011 for Beginners, playing a man coming out as gay in his final years. But he will, of course, always be remembered as Captain Von Trapp in  1965’s The Sound of Music.

The Canadian actor brought a wonderfully dry and Saturnine tone to his iconic performance which contrasted perfectly with the more saccharine elements of a film he referred to as ‘The Sound of Mucus’ in 1966.

Over the years, Plummer himself has admitted that it wasn’t too far from what he was actually feeling while on set.

In one of their last ever appearances together in public, Plummer and Andrews delighted in teasing each other about his grumpiness, with evident affection.

Asked if her co-star really had been a ‘curmudgeon’ on set, Andrews replied: “‘Afraid so. But a delicious one. But I’m used to that because Blake was one also.”

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Andrews is referring to her late husband, Blake Edwards.

She also says that she embraces Plummer being a curmudgeon because he is, “a very dear one and a very good friend.”

Plummer, in response, pays tribute to the inspiring way Andrews’ lead the cast on set: “We followed her like Saint Joan into battle. You would have agreed with me had you been there.”

He then turned to his co-star and said: “It was your film and you drove it. And I didn’t want to have anything to do with it.”

Andrews replies: “Not then but you are glad now, I think.”

And he happily says: “Yes I am. I sure am.”

Plummer had spoken before about his understandable nerves performing his singing scenes alongside a Broadway leading lady, but also confessed he drank rather alot throughout the film shoot for other reasons, too.

On the Sound of Music 35th Anniversary DVD, the actor admitted he was completely inebriated for the shooting of the emotional and important music festival scene where the family performs Edelweiss before fleeing into the mountains.

He later explained his nerves: “I was shaking, I was terrified with a full orchestra the first time. Julie had to hold me, I would have fainted.”

But he also struggled with a role he felt did not challenge his full talents.

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Plummer said: “Although we worked hard enough to make him (Captain Von Trapp) interesting, it was a bit like flogging a dead horse. And the subject matter is not mine. I mean, it can’t appeal to every person in the world. It’s not my cup of tea.”

The actor confessed in his 2008 memoir, In Spite of Myself: “I was drinking like mad at the time… I was a pampered, arrogant, young bast**d spoiled by too many great theatre roles.”

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What is so wonderful is the peace and affection Plummer has found for his iconic role over the years.

At the 50th Anniversary celebration, he admits: “I didn’t want to have anything to do with it.”

Andrews tells him: “Not then but you are glad now, I think.”

And Plummer smiles and says: “Yes I am. I sure am.”

And so are we all. So long, farewell, Captain Von Trapp. May your memory bloom and grow forever.

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