Falling in Line: A Homage To Chris Plummer

The news in 2021 just keeps getting harder and harder when you learn who has died and who has lived. It’s not even springtime yet. Chris Plummer has died. He was in his 90s, and perhaps it was a time in coming, but it’d be nice if this year eased up on the celebrity deaths of people who positive impacted our lives.

I know Plummer from three roles: as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. Charles Muntz in Up, and Harlan Thrombey in Knives Out. He was a versatile actor who knew how to add tragedy to villains, and flaws to heroes. Plummer knew about depth, and bringing a serious approach to every role, no matter how big or small.

We are going to talk SPOILERS for each of the movies. You have been warned.

The Austrian Captain

Captain Baron von Trapp in the musical and movie was apparently not as brusque as he was in real life. The real Maria von Trapp once recalled that she was the disciplinarian and he was the kind one to the children. Nevertheless, Chris Plummer went with his interpretation, though he was annoyed that most people knew him for this role rather than for the rest of his work. He said he didn’t like…