Forever Liesel : a memoir of The sound of music

The magic of The Sound of Music lives on in the minds and hearts of everyone it has touched. Now, Charmian Carr, who in 1965 captivated moviegoers as Liesl "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" von Trapp, tells what it was like to be a part of the film that has become a cultural phenomenon. It's all here: from how she got the role (and why she almost didn't) to romances on the set and wild nights in Salzburg; from the near-disaster during the gazebo dance to her relationships--then and now--with her six celluloid siblings. Charmian offers stories from fans and friends and a treasury of photographs. And she reveals why she left acting, what she learned when she met the real von Trapp children; and how The Sound of Music has helped her get through stormy times in her own life. Forever Liesl celebrates the spirit of the movie and what it stands for: family love, romance, inspiration, nostalgia, and the joy and power of music.

"Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start...." At the age of 21, Charmian Carr, then Charmian Farnon, was cast as Liesl "16 going on 17" von Trapp in the now-classic "The Sound of Music." In an instant Charmian went from receptionist to screen ingenue and captivated audiences with her effervescent performance. Charmian is now "57 going on 58" and as beautiful and charming as ever.

"The Sound of Music" is undoubtedly the most popular movie musical of all time. The winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and named one of the three most popular films of all time by the People's Choice Awards, the film has become a cultural icon. Just in time for the 35th anniversary of the film's release, Forever Liesl is the book every fan has been waiting for. It is the first book about the movie written by a cast member -- someone who experienced the magic of making this movie firsthand.

Forever Liesl brims with heartwarming anecdotes and funny moments, from romances on the set to wild nights at the Bristol Hotel in Salzburg. Charmian recounts how she won her role with no acting experience, the near-disaster as they filmed the dance sequence in the gazebo, and her relationship -- then and now -- with her six celluloid siblings. She also answers the question she is asked most often: What was Julie Andrews really like to work with?

When "The Sound of Music" wrapped in 1964, Charmian Carr thought she would be saying goodbye to Liesl forever, but in reality, it was just the beginning. Since the March 1965 premiere, Charmian has served as the film's ambassador, travelling around the world, meeting millions of fans. Perhaps her most meaningful Liesl moment occurred more than 30 years after the film's release -- when she met the real von Trapp children for the first time.

This wonderful book captures why "The Sound of Music" has become the phenomenal success that it is -- why it endures, and why millions of fans love it so passionately. Stories from fans and friends whose lives were permanently changed by this remarkable movie, and 30 of Charmian's favorite photographs make Forever Liesl more than an affectionate memoir. It is a keepsake for anyone who considers "The Sound of Music" one of their favorite things.

Publishers Weekly

Published to coincide with the 35th anniversary of The Sound of Music, this memoir by the actress who portrayed Liesl von Trapp offers a detailed account of the creation of the classic, which won five Academy Awards. Carr was 21 at the time she was chosen to play the 16-year-old daughter of Baron von Trapp (Christopher Plummer), a wealthy widow who falls in love with a nun-cum-governess (Julie Andrews). Diehard fans of the tuneful romance may savor these somewhat dated anecdotes, such as the one about the day five-year-old Kym (who played Gretl von Trapp) nearly drowned during a shoot on an Austrian lake or how the famous opening shot of Andrews twirling in a meadow was captured by a camera man strapped to a helicopter. However, those who share Plummer's reputed opinion that the film lacks depth (he referred to the song "Edelweiss" as "boring, schmaltzy and trite") will find wading through this archival minutia tough slogging. One of the more interesting facts imparted in this otherwise syrupy account is the anger Carr and other cast members felt toward the studio, which took advantage of them by convincing them to do free promotion and to sign releases that prevented them from receiving any money generated by sales of the highly profitable sound track. B&w photos. Agent, Lynn Franklin; 10-city author tour. (Feb.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

This book tells the inside story of the most popular movie musical in history, by the actress whose life it changed, for the millions who can never forget it. The Sound of Music is more than a classic movie. It is a cultural phenomenon. Its magic lives on in the minds and hearts of everyone it has touched. Now, one of the members of the 1965 film's cast tells what it was really like to be a part of the phenomenon. Charmian Carr, who captivated moviegoers as Liesl "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" von Trapp, shares her memories of making the movie that shaped her life and captures just why The Sound of Music means so much to so many. - Jacket flap