The Hills Are Still Alive

There are few films as beloved as "The Sound of Music," which first hit theaters 40 years ago and went on to win five Oscars, including Best Picture. To celebrate, a new special edition DVD is in stores.

The movie, based on the hugely successful Broadway musical "The Sound of Music," made its way to the big screen in 1965, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

Andrews stars as governess Maria, sent to take care of the seven mischievous von Trapp children. In the end, she tames the children and falls in love with their father, Captain von Trapp, played by Christopher Plummer.

Julie Andrews shares some memories of making the movie with The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm..

Andrews says the first scene that was shot was a musical number. "Almost the first thing in the whole film. And it helped all the kids and me to just bond together," she says.

Looking back at the movie, Andrews says is an incredible experience, even though she admits it doesn't feel like it has been four decades. "It's so hard to believe it's 40 years, Hannah. It feels about 20, tops."

Andrews was a hugely successful stage actress and had just won an Academy Award for her role in "Mary Poppins." Next, she began working on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

"How lucky can anybody get? Because so many people say, 'Oh, what a wonderful thing.' But I'm the lucky one that got asked to do the role. So I think I'm very blessed," says Andrews.

The film is one of the most watched movies ever and Andrews has an idea why so many have fallen in love with "The Sound of Music."

"What is it that makes the film so successful? I don't know if it's any one thing, Hannah. I think there's a kind of innate decency and it's about honor and love of family and love of country. It's got the most beautiful scenery and the most beautiful music," says Andrews. "And wonderfully directed. But it was also very, very beautifully made. I mean, it was at the height of the sort of great golden-era musicals of Hollywood and everybody did their most superb work. I'm talking about lighting and sound and everything."

Andrews admits she had not seen the film in a "long time" but says the new DVD has many reminisces that were even a surprise to her. "There's some super stuff on it, stuff that I haven't even seen until I saw the DVD. I thought, well, where did they have that all these years?"

Part of the film's success can also be attributed to Andrews' co-star, Christopher Plummer. "You know what, I think he and, obviously, our director had a great deal to do with it. Christopher and perhaps something about the weather in the movie, which rained a lot when we were in Salzburg, but it made dark tumbling clouds and beautiful background instead of being a picture postcard look," Andrews says.

Andrews has not only acted in iconic movies such as "The Sound of Music" and "Mary Poppins," but has more recently worked on films such as "The Princess Diaries," "Shrek II," and also published a line of children's books with her daughter, Emma.

Andrew says she feels lucky having been able to be part of family entertainment for generations. "As I say, I was asked to do these lovely movies. I have a wonderful publishing in print that I share with my daughter. I'm doing so many exciting things I never expected at this age. I'm thrilled."