'The Sound of Music' is 40 years old, yet star Julie Andrews says her prim image refuses to die By MICHAEL GILTZ JULIE Andrews is professionally polite and chipper.</p><p> Even if she hadn't starred in 1965's "The Sound, of Music" and 1964's "Mary Poppins" -two of the most ---~~- delightful and wholeĀ some musicals of all time -it's easy to believe she'd still be seen as proper and very well behaved. .</p><p> So if you're hoping Oscar-winner Andrews will dish dirt on her co-stars, you hope in vain.</p><p> Our image of the 70-year-old Andrews is these roles, even though she's worked consistently ever since.</p><p> Recent hits include "Shrek 2" and the upcoming "Shrek 3" (she voices a queen), "The Princess Diaries" fJ1ms (ditto), the TV movies based on the "Eloise" books, and her own line of best-selling children's books.</p><p> But Mary Poppins and Maria von Trapp keep demanding her attention. "Poppins" has just been turned into a critically acclaimed stage musical in London, which will likely hit New York in 2006.</p><p> And "The Sound of Music" is out on DVD Nov. 15 in a new deluxe set (Fox; $26.98) bursting with commentaries, new documenĀ taries and, of course, Andrews. "The Sound of Music" was an overwhelming hit.</p><p> Were you bored by the goody-goody image. ? It ain't true.</p><p> I knew at the time how lucky I was to get the role.</p><p> I think the press made a lot about my squeaky-clean image and my wanting to tweak it.</p><p> I think it bothered the press more.</p><p> So 1981's ''S.O.8.'' (your husband Blake Edwards' scabrous valentine to Hollywood in which you bared your breasts) wasn't meant to shock us ? Blake wrote "S.O.B.," and he knows me very well It was a fimny idea There's nothing wrong with tweaking your image every once in a while.</p><p> It's nothing I get uptight about, I assure you.</p><p> I suppose it's only fair people tease you for that wholesome image since you mocked "1be Sound of Musie in one of your concerts with carol BurĀ nett before you'd even been cast in the film.</p><p> The footage we see on the DVD extras of you perf0rmĀ ing "From Switzerland: The Plat Family" is funny. [Laughs] I had no idea I'd be playing the role at that point and was a bit nervous about it when they started to consider me.</p><p> Carol and I are talking about doing a retĀ rospective on those concerts.</p><p> Sort of a best-of.</p><p> One other big myth surrounding "The Sound of Music" is that you and Christopher Plummer despised each other during the filming.</p><p> He's very frank in the new documentary on the DVD, admitĀ ting he thought at the time the movie was beneath him.</p><p> He also says he behaved snobbishly and rather poorly on the set.</p><p> So isn't it true? No.</p><p> We were friends even before we went on the set.</p><p> We'd-been friends from the Broadway stage, but it certainly cemented the friendship.</p><p> We've worked together since, and we send each other notes and go to see each other's shows, and it's a very lovely friendship.</p><p> You were confused by the lyrics to "I Have C0nfiĀ dence." Your decision to play it as babbling nonĀ sense -Maria will say anything to convince herĀ self she's not scared -comes across perfectly.</p><p> The lyrics were complicated, and I wasn't quite sure what they meant. "Strength lies in nights of peaceful sillmber?" I had a real, "Hmro, what am I supposed to be doing" moment.</p><p> It actually helped the scene.</p><p> I did the best I could.</p><p> Many fans of the movie know the field in that opening shot where you sing the title song isn't reaDy that accessible on foot.</p><p> Tourists who go there have to take a troIley-car ride.</p><p> But I had no idea that the helicopters used to capture those sweeping first images came so close that you were getting battered to the ground again and again.</p><p> Yes.</p><p> It was fimny and ironic.</p><p> You see this loveĀ ly shot on mm, but I'm getting pummeled.
