Thats what I've always said. She did fight for something she thought was hers but when she knew she lost she was so graceful, elegant and full of class. She is one of my favorite characters in the movie.
I feel like part of it was because she did love the captain. She continued to love him but realized he loved his children and the children did not feel love for her and she didn’t quite love them the same way. She leaves with grace because she knows that the man she loved would continue to be happy, just not with her.
She’s very intelligent in how she breaks it off with him. She says he’s too independent and she needs someone who needs her or her money desperately. No put-downs. No blame game. She builds him up by calling him an independent man and doesn’t diminish herself either and acknowledges that she does possess what certain men might need. Very subtle and classy.
As a child, I used to despise the baroness - however as I've grown older and into an adult, I actually enpathize with her and I appreciate how graceful she was during the breakup with Georg 🥺
She was such a classy lady. She wasnt mean or catty to Maria. She knew she wasnt maternal, but she wasnt hateful to the children. She bowed out with grace and supported the Georg wasnt in love with her.
Not mean or catty to Maria? There are two examples here of her playing on Maria's innocence. She knew that saying those things like that would make her run away. That is both mean and catty, but subtle. As for the children, you don't think that separating them from all that they know and sending them away to boarding school so that HER life is easier is hateful? It is, but again, subtly. People don't need to say harsh, cruel words to actually do something that is cruel. She kept her class in the breakup with Georg and I do feel sincerely for her, it isn't her fault that Georg loved someone else. But she was sneaky too. I love the way many different people can all see the same person in a slightly different light.
Although the Baroness was Maria's adversary, we have to admit that she was so beautiful, distinguished, and elegant that all eyes were on her like on a sparkling diamond! My respects for Eleanor Parker because she made this movie a serious piece of art!
Eleanor Parker owned this role and always will. Her “Baroness” is the best performance in this movie, aside from Julie Andrews’ - and the most underrated.
@@annettesjoy I loved this movie as a child and knew the soundtrack by heart. But: Chris Plummer never seemed sure what to do with this confusingly written role: a decorated aristocratic Naval Captain blowing a boatswain’s whistle? Is he a mean SOB? Is he grieving for his late wife? Is he a Viennese charmer, having taken up with the lovely and charming Baroness? Why does Georg make his children parade-march around, including the five girls - showing them absolutely no affection, until after Maria’s arrival? Why was he heading over the Alps on foot, one child’s rucksack and no suitcases, straight into Berchtesgaden? (I was actually relieved to learn later that the real escape was undramatic, efficient, and much safer for the family. Into northern Italy.) Yes, Christopher Plummer is at his best as the Austrian nationalist patriot, leading the audience in “Edelweiss”, I agree with you. He also looks scrumptious in black tie at the party, and in dress uniform at the wedding. BTW - I so very much wish the movie had ended with the wedding. The script goes off a cliff after that. But regardless of that, I do love the performances of Julie Andrews, Eleanor Parker, Peggy Wood, Richard Haydn as Max, and yes, Christopher Plummer.
@@corriepitt7630 I was 12 when I saw the movie and I was so enthralled with it the whole way through. When the movie ended, I came back to reality and realized I was in the movie theater. 🎬
@Annette Koch He sings well IRL but his singing was dubbed, much to his disappointment. They sure did find a perfect match. I would have never guessed. Still a seriously poignant scene that I adore.
I do kind of view her as a side villain (the main villains being the nazis) because she lead Maria to believe that she needed to return to the abbey, she had plans to send the children off to boarding school once she becomes their stepmother, and I think she cared so much about her money, to the point where she said that she’d prefer to date a man who wanted it. She was also a bit of a Karen in the stage musical this is based on.
I don't think she wanted a man who wanted her money. I think she wanted a man who had his own so wouldn't care about her money. So that kind of limits her potential romantic partners. Especially for a woman who had to be careful as, as soon as she married a man her money, power and property becomes his. Different times than today. Or at least I hope.@@FreddiePetrusewicz-ym9id
She is my favorite character in this movie and the screen dims a bit when she is gone. Eleanor Parker was so beautiful and glamorous and I just loved her in this.
I played the Baroness in a local production of The Sound of Music and loved it. She has two wonderful songs that unfortunately were cut from the movie. And I was lucky to have a great Max opposite me! Wonderful memories.
I always wondered how the Baroness faired during the occupation. Did she lose everything? How did she cope when Max was apprehended by the Nazi’s for aiding the Von Trapps? Did she stay in Austria or did she leave? What were her feelings knowing Georg was being hunted down? Was she ever interrogated in his wearabouts? Her response when the Nazi’s arrested all the nuns and sent them to camps? There’s definitely a fantastic fictional story there!!!
Great idea! But those would be big shoes to fill! So, who'd be perfect for that role in the 21st century? Cate Blanchett? Nichole Kidman? Scarlett Johanson? Blake Lively? Jennifer Lawrence? Vanessa Kirby? By their looks, elegant demeanor, and age I'd say between Blake Lively and Vanessa Kirby! With Kirby having the most striking eyes!
@@heatherfeather7199There you go! Maybe we should suggest it to someone in Hollywood! I'd be a great family movie in this day and age of craziness and lack of romance!
I love this movie and it's interesting how my perceptions have changed as I've gotten older. As a child I was drawn more to Maria and her interaction with the children through song. As an adult, I very much appreciate the dialogue between The Baroness and Georg, very mature and nuanced. She was able to bring out a charming and sophisticated side to Georg giving much needed dimension to his character beyond the domineering Captain from the stage musical. Despite Maria being the obvious heroine, I did enjoy the chemistry between Georg and Elsa. Eleanor Parker played the part with a grace, elegance and empathy that elevated her beyond a cartoon villain.
They don’t want Maria to leave them! Because, she was teaching them, how to sing! They couldn’t sing, until Maria stepped into the house! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Kudos to Eleanor Parker -- she was magnificent. To hold your own with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer is *very* impressive. But you left out the scene where she sees them dancing together and realizes he's slipping away. Heartbreaking and beautiful.
I didn't like the baroness when I was a child., but when I grew up I really did. She's a classy lady, sure of herself and her surroundings, and able to recognize when she was defeated. She also made a grand departure, as grand as her entrance.
It’s December 17 in the evening and The Sound of Music is on TV right now. The family is just about to make their getaway from the festival. The movie just never gets old
She was striking in this role. Never cruel or mean to anyone or the children, and yet she carried herself with so much grace and dignity even when she knew she lost the man she cared for. Although…I’m sure she was relieved the find out that the captain, Maria, and the children split as the nazis moved in. Can you imagine her hoofing it through the mountains in heels and a designer dress??
The Baroness was the epitome of grace to me as a child. This actress was absolutely gorgeous. I wish more young women of today would watch the classics, so they could have examples of what refined classy women behave and look like, rather than what it is they see today
The boarding school comment was alarming, because its always the women who make comments like this who have an underhanded agenda, where children & money are involved... yet the fact that she realized that Georg clearly didn't feel for her like he felt for Maria, didn't try to dissuade him, just took the loss with class, says ALOT. She can charm a man to being into her, but she'll charm herSELF right out, if she feels like there's competition.
Wow, I know she liked the captain but would not have been a great mother to the 7. I respect her for realizing the love between the captain and Maria letting them be together. Something women even men should learn and do
I mean if she didn’t wanna be a step mother to 7 maybe she should’ve gone with a dude with no kids but she wasn’t super mean which I appreciate. It does suck that he was kind of blatant in his liking Maria though, that must have hurt. I don’t think she was in love with him but she was his partner none the less. Glad she ended the relationship without any malice, but they had her show her sadness. Pretty darn well written character if you ask me.
I’m glad Georg felt that he and Elsa weren’t right for each other. Maria was the right woman for him because she taught him how to be a father to his children
I didn't like the fact that she said about putting the kids in boarding school... Maria aka Julie Andrews was the best woman for the Captain .❤️❤️❤️ She cared and loved the kids.
In the Hollywood Bowl sing-along events, the entire audience yells, “Boooo!” and “Hissssss….” every single time the Baroness is onscreen. Nothing like an angry mob throwing their boujie picnic food at the screen. 🎥