'Sound of Music' rip-off


I can only imagine that this movie must have seemed like sure-fire gold in the years immediately following Julie Andrews' portrayal of a nun-gone-astray in "The Sound of Music" - particularly since the Broadway musical was also based on a true story.

In "Nun" there are even characters that mirror "Music" as far as nuns go: Agnes Moorehead and Greer Garson function in the same roles as Portia Nelson and Peggy White in "Music": one nun is totally disapproving, while the Mother Superior is all-knowing and tolerant.

And of course - Julie and Debbie both play guitars as part of their roles.
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

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I haven't seen The Singing Nun, but I do partially agree with you. It probably rode on the success of The Sound of Music. I'd like to see it someday--if only because of Agnes Moorehead and Debbie Reynolds. Overall, it doesn't sound that interesting, but I'll reserve judgement until I see it.

I was about 5 years old when the song was a hit. I do remember it being very popular--I think we learned it in music class in school! Just a catchy little tune.

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Jeanine Deckers ( the real Sister Smile) hated this film, Maria Von Trapp hated The Sounds of Music. Neither film told the real story accurately.

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My fourteen year old daughter loved it - she's seen SoM, but didn't draw a parallel. I think a better parallel is that they are both fictionalized versions of true stories involving music. I think that the calling to religion was more germaine in this story than in SoM. The fact that Dominic was quite popular The real song (not by Debbie Reynolds) reached #1 in 1963 and kept Louie, Louie from reaching that spot (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-singing-nun-reaches-1-on-the-u-s-pop-charts-with-dominique). I suspect that had more to do with it than being a SoM wannabe.

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In "Nun" there are even characters that mirror "Music" as far as nuns go: Agnes Moorehead and Greer Garson function in the same roles as Portia Nelson and Peggy White in "Music": one nun is totally disapproving, while the Mother Superior is all-knowing and tolerant.

Um name a movie about nuns that isn't like that? That's the same as saying all movies about high school are the same because one administrator is mean & one is tolerant. The same can be said for cop films because of the mean angry Captain or detective partner and the good guy cop. Sports film with the mean coach and nice assistant. Their stock characters for the genre. The only thing this film & TSoM have in common is a woman of faith who sings. The woman this film was about was a nun. Maria in TSoM never took any vows so she was not a singing nun.

You have the right to remain silent because whatever you say will probably be stupid anyway!

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'Sound of Music' rip-off


Yes and The Flying Nun TV series was a Singing Nun rip off.

Also Ricky Cordell (Dominique) played on The Flying Nun as well.

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"Sound of Music," however, pretty much defined the "nun-gone-astray" movie.

Let's not forget that "The Trouble With Angels" came out the same year as "The Singing Nun."

Prior to "Music," I think the most prominent "nun" movie was "The Nun's Story" with Audrey Hepburn back in the 50s. The nuns in that movie, particularly Gladys Cooper as the Mother Superior, come off differently (Cooper seems almost downright heartless).

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

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Maybe it became a trope because it mirrored reality? I don't know about the police community, but in the Navy it is quite normal to have a good cop/bad cop CO/XO. The CO is usually the nice guy, while the XO is the disciplinarian. Sometimes it is the reverse, but neither my husband nor I ever served with two good cops or two bad cops.

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I saw the film and never got The Sound of Music vibe. The "Singing Nun" committed suicide so I guess we could have ALL figured out this film was a fictionalised story of her life. Sad really. 🎸

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

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