With its themes of family and goodness triumphing over evil, The Sound of Music is widely regarded as a Christmastime staple. Those curling up to watch it with their own loved ones, however, may not realise that the von Trapps were, in fact, a real family - with even more singing children than the film depicts.
A sweeping musical drama released to acclaim in 1965, The Sound of Music is set during the dark days of Nazi-occupied Austria and sees lively trainee nun Maria (Julie Andrews) fall for stern yet principled widower Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) after being hired as a tutor for his seven children.
In time, free-spirited Maria connects with her young charges and eventually Captain von Trapp through her love of music, even setting up the von Trapp family choir. Long after her fellow nuns realise that convent life isn't for her, Maria comes to the same conclusion, wedding the captain and bringing joy into the bereaved household once more.
The true story, based on the real Maria's 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, hits many of the same notes. Like their fictional counterparts, the real von Trapps fled Austria after the Nazi invasion, making a new life for themselves in Vermont. They also enjoyed great success as singers in Austria and the US as the von Trapp Family Choir.
There are, however, a few stark differences, with ten von Trapp children instead of 'just' seven. The real Captain von Trapp, who shared seven children with his first wife Agathe: Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna, and Martina, before welcoming Rosmarie, Eleonore, and Johannes with Maria. But what happened to them next after that daring escape?.
