The Big Picture

• The rowboat scene in The Sound of Music was nearly fatal for the youngest cast member, resulting in a terrifying ordeal.
• Julie Andrews was tasked with saving the child from drowning, as the actress playing the young girl couldn't swim.
• The incident was a result of poor planning and could have ruined the film, but fortunately, everyone was rescued and the film maintained its lighthearted reputation.

The Sound of Music is a classic film based on the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name. With Julie Andrews as the leading lady, the songs are beautifully performed and Maria (Andrews) is as charming as can be. As a result, almost 60 years after its release, the film is still instantly recognizable. It tells the story of the large von Trapp family coming together with the help of the free-spirited Maria. Maria is sent to the family to take care of the von Trapp children, Leisl (Charmian Carr), Louisa (Heather Menzies), Friedrich (Nicholas Hammond), Kurt (Duane Chase), Brigitta (Angela Cartwright), Marta (Debbie Turner), and Gretl (Kym Karath). But she arrives to find that their father has enforced strict rules that need to change for her charges to behave like the children they are. As she helps the father learn how to relate to his seven children, Maria and Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer) fall in love.

For the most part, the film is blissfully light as it shows the family growing closer, but the threat of the Nazi villains certainly shifts the tone. Still, it is remembered as a happy musical and it's a well-earned reputation. However, behind the scenes, it wasn't always so happy — or even safe. The beloved musical featured seven von Trapp children, two of whom were played by actors under the age of ten, which complicated the production. Like with any film, things were expected to go wrong to an extent, but some mistakes are more terrifying than others. Few events could be quite as far from the film's light-hearted tone as the story Andrews shared in a 2019 interview. The actress revealed that one scene from The Sound of Music was nearly fatal for the cast's youngest member.

What Is 'The Sound of Music' About?

The Sound of Music captures the joy of singing as it explores Maria's considerable impact on the von Trapp family. Maria shows up and changes the lives of the von Trapp children, giving them music lessons and showing them love and patience. In the end, she convinces their father to be more involved. As expected, the scenes between Maria and the children are some of the film's most fun and carefree, as she actively tries to brighten their lives. They share several iconic songs, from "Do-Re-Mi" to "My Favorite Things," and find joy together as she allows them to act like children rather than small, orderly adults.

But it was one of these scenes when things almost went horribly wrong during filming. After an excursion into the mountains, Maria brings the children home in a rowboat. As they approach their home, happy and singing, they see their father on the dock. Maria and the children stand in the boat to greet him, but it isn't steady under their feet. Their movement rocks the boat until it knocks them all into the water as they laugh. Based on their reactions, the moment seems light-hearted and fun for the children (despite their strict father being less than pleased by the condition he finds them in). However, this proves the talent on-screen because the scene isn't as innocent as it may seem to the audience.

What Accident Happened on 'The Sound of Music' Set?

All these decades later, Julie Andrew remembers the terrifying ordeal that occurred as they filmed the rowboat scene. Just before the camera began rolling, she was informed that the youngest actor, Karath, couldn't swim. As the actress was only around five at the time, it's not surprising that this was an issue. But rather than a positioning floatation device nearby, the proposed solution was for Andrews to get to her quickly after the boat tipped to prevent the child from drowning. This put a lot of pressure on the actress, especially because Andrews was only given this task right before they began the scene, but they went ahead. Watching the film, anyone can see Andrews standing next to Karath in the boat, and as it rocks, she steadies the child a few times, preparing for the fall. However, when the moment came, things didn't go as planned.

As they were filming, the boat rocked more violently than expected, and Andrews fell backward while Karath went forward, complicating the plan. Andrews recalls swimming as fast as she could to get to the little girl as Karath flailed in the water. According to Andrews' memoir Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, some crew members dived into the water to help, fearing she wouldn't make it fast enough. Karath went under a few times as everyone made a mad dash to save her. Ultimately, it was Heather Menzies who completed the rescue, just like in the film, when Louisa can be seen carrying the younger girl out of the water. Though rescued, Karath swallowed water in the process and got sick after she made it to safety. The incident was terrifying for everyone involved, but fortunately, it wasn't any worse. Even so, the traumatizing experience understandably resulted in a lifelong fear of water for Karath.

'The Sound of Music' Still Has a Strong Reputation

While Karath was quickly rescued, the time when she was in the water was frightening for everyone present, and for Karath most of all. Sending an actor who couldn't swim toppling into the water was a big risk for the production, and they should have taken more precautions. Andrews' last-minute assignment to save the child was poor planning that could have gone horribly wrong and ruined an otherwise perfectly wonderful film. A different result would have given the film turn darker than it's alternate ending. Since everything turned out well and no one drowned, The Sound of Music can keep its lighthearted reputation. But it came dangerously close to disaster in filming. Karath nearly drowning is a dramatic story that is still terrifying decades later.

Though nothing tragic occurred, Andrews' story certainly gives a different perspective to the film's history, suggesting that there may be more stories than fans know. And the legendary actress doesn't leave fans wondering. Andrews recounts this story and more about the making of The Sound of Music in her 2019 memoir which she co-wrote with Emma Walton Hamilton. The book also features stories from throughout her career, including her work on other classic films such as Mary Poppins and Victor/Victoria. In her years of acting, Andrews has no doubt seen many accidents, but hopefully, few are quite as scary as this event.

The Sound of Music is available to watch now on Disney+ in the U.S.

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