Julie Andrews Hits the Big Time

Mar. 2, 1965 - Julie Andrews (pictured with Roddy McDowall) relaxed quietly today in a midtown hotel before her klieg-lighted arrival at New York’s Rivoli Theater for the premiere of “The Sound of Music.”

A few blocks away, in the home she shared with her late lyricist husband, Mrs. Oscar Hammerstein 2d acknowledged having seen the film adaptation of her husband’s last stage musical at a screening 10 days ago.

“I’ll have to drag out all those old superlatives about Hollywood,” Mrs. Hammerstein said. “It’s as close to perfection as any movie musical I’ve ever seen.”

The film is “my most difficult yet,” Miss Andrews said. “The hardest thing was the 11 weeks we spent in Austria,” the British actress explained. “It rained nearly every day and did terrible things to our nerve.” Miss Andrews had flown to New York from California with her husband and their baby daughter.

“The beauty of it is you really see Austria,” Mrs. Hammerstein said. “The streams, valleys, and mountains are the real thing. I know Oscar would have loved it. And there I go with the superlatives again. In a way, though, I expect it to be a tough evening.”

After the premiere tonight, Mrs. Hammerstein accepted a posthumous Humanitarian Award to her husband at a dance at the Americana Hotel.

The award was made by Basil O’Connor, head of the March of Dimes, sponsor of the premiere. Many well-known persons attended.

Miss Andrews was escorted by her husband, Tony Walton. Mrs. Hammerstein was accompanied by William Hammerstein, her stepson. Also present was Richard Rodgers, the composer.

Others in attendance were the film’s director, Robert Wise; Darryl F. Zanuck of 20th Century-Fox; Adlai Stevenson, Samuel Goldwyn, Helen Hayes, Bette Davis, Gen. James Van Fleet, Beatrice Lillie, and Harry Belafonte.

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