( CNN ) Fifty years after its premiere , `` The Sound of Music '' is still among millions of fans ' favorite things . The Julie Andrews film , about the von Trapp family and its `` problem '' governess , Maria , is beloved enough to have spawned audience singalongs . The performers who played the von Trapp children remain close , doing joint interviews and publishing a book . The film even prompted a live NBC musical , which -- though it was roasted by critics -- still managed stupendous ratings . Of course , there remains one notable dissenter : Christopher Plummer , who has long had a grudging opinion of perhaps his most famous role . `` It was so awful and sentimental and gooey , '' he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2011 . That may have been its charm . The movie , which premiered on March 2 , 1965 , went on to earn five Oscars -- including best picture -- and grossed more than $ 110 million in its initial run , equal to about $ 800 million in today 's money . That made it one of the most successful movies of all time at the box office , up there with `` Gone With the Wind , '' and it was n't truly surpassed until `` The Godfather '' came out in 1972 . It even helped save 20th Century Fox two years after the studio 's debacle with `` Cleopatra . '' No wonder the Mad magazine parody was called `` The Sound of Money . '' So , what ever happened to Liesl , Friedrich , Greta and all the rest ? Click the gallery to find out . You 'll find it 's `` Something Good . ''
` ` The cradle of Music '' celebrates 50th anniversary on March 2 . Film is widely beloved , was one of biggest hits of all time .