Admit it. There's probably been more than one occasion when you've heard yourself singing about "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens." Whether you're the most jaded college student or the biggest tough guy, it's hard to deny the infectious spirit of The Sound of Music. Even if you haven't seen the movie, there's a good chance you know a couple bars from "My Favorite Things" or "So Long, Farewell," or are even just familiar with the work of Julie Andrews.

For some reason there's longevity in The Sound of Music that saves it from ever being outdated. Maybe it's even in the first breathtaking scene where Andrews' Maria is twirling around on the mountainside that makes this movie an automatic childhood classic. As a kid, it's easy to get caught up in that larger-than-life awe of Sound of Music's stunning natural scenery, which really sets the stage for the rest of the film. Everything about it is awe-inspiring, from the scene where Maria gleefully travels with the von Trapp family through the town and countryside on bicycles, to the scene where she and the children parade around their bedroom in long white nightgowns, singing away the evening's stormy winds. Sound of Music even has a genuine sense of humor, as we watch Maria cleverly dodge the children's pranks and slowly begin to chip away at the hardened exterior of Captain von Trapp. Of course, this leads to the inevitable budding romance between the two, and even though it's obvious what's going to happen, it's still exciting to watch the romance slowly develop.

Raindrops and whiskers aside, however, Sound of Music is a tale more grown up than many cynics would like to admit. Sure, for a child it's all about sunshine and laughter, but for an adult, the historical reality of the cheerful musical is pretty sobering. As the movie develops, signs of the growing Nazi regime become dark omens of greater perils to come. The scene where Captain von Trapp attends a party where one of the walls boasts a large Nazi flag gives a sense of chilling foreboding, as one by one, von Trapp's own friends become overtaken by the regime. Even more heartbreaking is the scene where Liesl's former sweetheart, who has become an officer for the Nazi party, betrays the family's hiding place.

Though these scenes are few, they smash the childlike idealism that was rampant earlier within film. Despite Sound of Music's darker turn, the frightening events only work to solidify the relationship between the von Trapp family and Maria. Sure, they may face the uncertainties of war and persecution, but their prevailing spirit and sense of unity ultimately alleviate the fears of worried viewers. The final scene where the family flees to the mountains isn't one of desperation; instead, it shows the family's determination to be free. In the end, whether you're a child or an adult, the hopeful spirit prevalent throughout Sound of Music has you believing the von Trapp family will eventually find that freedom.