| Odd Man Out Georg von Trapp |
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| Pronunciation: "Gay-orgg vawn Trap" Age: 48 Height: 6'0" Claim to Fame: Retired Naval Officer From: "The Sound of Music" Singing Range: Bass-Baritone (low F to E) |
| Georg von Trapp, often referred to as 'Captain', is a widower with seven children. The story of "The Sound of Music" follows his emotional recovery from the death of his first wife as he re-experiences love when he meets Maria, a nun he hires as a governess. The Captain's love of Austria, his wry humor and down-to-earth character are some of the qualities that make him so appealing to "The Sound of Music's" viewers, of which there are millions. Hardened by his loss, Georg's only form of running a home without a strong female presence is through tough discipline. The transition he goes through after knowing Maria turns him into a kinder man. |
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| Most Endearing Moments - Singing "Edelweiss" at the Salzburg Folk Festival and being overcome with his love for Austria that he is unable to finish the song without Maria's help. - When his deepest love is revealed during a conversation with his one-time fiancee, the Baroness Elsa Schrader. Elsa: Where are you? Georg: In a world that's disappearing. - The moment when Maria returns and looks at him in tears, knowing that he is getting married and he responds by looking at her - his own eyes full of worry. - His obvious change towards the children from a cold commanding officer to a playful father figure, "You were berry picking?" "You don't have them anymore?" Memorable Quotes - "Fraulein, is it to be at every meal, or merely at dinnertime, that you intend to lead us through this rare and wonderful world of ... indigestion?" - "Oh there's nothing wrong with the children. Only the governesses." - "You have brought the music back into my life. I had forgotten." - "Ah Max, you are funny. Expensive, but funny." |
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| The Captain's militaristic conduct had been his attempt to assuage his sense of loss, but Maria's intervention allowed his cold reserve to melt away. She had become his key to the real world, their love pointed out in their rendition of the Landler, an Austrian folk dance. Maria allowed him to return to his fatherly affection and thus became the obvious choice to accompany him in facing the future. This point was finalized in "Something Good", their duet in the film version of the musical, or "An Ordinary Couple" in the stage version. Note: Not once in the film version does Maria refer to him as 'Georg'. She calls him Captain, Sir and later, Darling. This however is untrue for the stage version of the musical. Note: There is another Maria/Georg scene that was cut from the final movie. It is just after Gretl says, "It'll be my first party father." and both Elsa and Max have left the room. Georg thenlooks around, his gaze falling on the guitar, the puppet show and where Maria had stood. Slowly, he walks ut to the terrace to stare at the lake. As the camera pans upward, Maria is revealed laning out her own window, also staring at the lake. |
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| The Real Georg von Trapp The real Baron Georg Ritter* von Trapp was born April 4, 1880. He was a submarine commander in the Austro-Hungarian Navy**. He married his first wife, Agathe Whitehead on March 1st of 1912. This marriage brought about the births of seven children, although their names are different*** than in the musical and film. After Agathe died of scarlet fever, one of the children fell ill with the same disease. Georg hired Maria Kutschera - a novice at the local abbey - to care for the child. He and Maria were married in Novermber, 1927. In the market crash of 1932 they lost most of their money, and used their singing group, "The von Trapp Family Singers" as a way to earn more. They became very renowned throughout Austria. In 1938, when the Nazis entered Austria, the von Trapps fled to America where the settled in Stowe, Vermont. Between their flight to freedom and Georg and Maria's wedding, three more children were born, Rosmarie, Eleonore and Johanes. Georg died in 1947 at 67. |
| * The term 'Ritter' is a title for the lowest ranking of lower nobility. This would make Georg a 'baronet'. ** Although Austria is now completely land-locked, at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, they held land on the coast. When the war was lost, the land was lost as well. *** The children in the musical are; Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Mart and Gretl. The real-life von Trapp children were; Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna and Martina. |
| by DeLorean McFly |
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