Mary Poppins (1965)

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Apparently Pamela Travers, the author of the books on which the film is based, hated it That fact is made abundantly clear in the movie Saving Mr. Banks, about the many times Travers and Walt Disney butted heads (figuratively speaking of course over the process of bringing the movie to the screen I can't, for the life of me, work out what Travers found so terrible about it Call me sentimental if you like, but, to my mind, Mary Poppins is just about as perfect a movie musical as you could hope for. The story is great, the acting is pretty much brilliant (even Dick Van Dyke's atrocious Cockney accent, in my opinion, just adds to the charm of the film) and the songs are nothing short of lyrically and musically genius. The only reason I haven't given this the full 10 (and I'm thinking now that I may have been a little stingy) is that, tonally the film could have been closer to the books. There is darkness - moments that are positively unsettling and even a little scary in the books, which are nowhere to be seen in the movie. Kids can handle darkness and even things that are downright creepy. Some kids really enjoy that type of stuff and for me, if Mary Poppins lacks anything, it's that. For the most part though Mary Poppins is an absolute treat, and it's no wonder that it has stood the test of time the way it has. It's a legendary movie for one very good reason: that it's really, really good.

I never realized what a high energy movie this was until I experienced all the singing and dancing. Nor does one consider Dick Van Dyke to be more than the rubber faced comic who performed as the amiable Rob Petrie on the television show that bore his name. But here, teamed with Julie Andrews, the musical pair light up the screen as a mystical, magical couple that teaches a couple of young kids how wonderful life can be. And in doing so, show their business obsessed father how to be a Dad in a world that too often doesn't have time for it's youngsters. The film is a mix of classic Disney animation and joyful live action with a sprinkling of catchy tunes that you'll be singing to yourself for a couple of days afterward. I can't remember when or where I first heard them, but songs like 'Spoonful of Sugar' and that Super etcetera, etcetera one have a tendency to linger in one's mind for a considerable length of time. Julie Andrews was made for the role of Mary Poppins, and Van Dyke clearly is allowed to strut his stuff in a way that demonstrates his versatility as an actor. You only got a hint of that in that opening scene of 'The Dick Van Dyke' show when he dancingly sidesteps the ottoman in his way; here he's hopping all over the place. The only thing that made me go huh? in the picture was during that tea party on the ceiling scene. Ed Wynn was classic as Uncle Albert by the way, but it seemed out of character for Mary to be so down on the 'laugh out loud' aspect of Albert's character. Here she was trying to convey a sense of wonder and happiness to her two young wards, and frowning upon those ridiculous jokes seemed out of place. But that aside, I had a pretty good time with the picture, and if I had to pick a favorite scene, I thought the penguin sequence with Bert (Van Dyke) was very cleverly done.

MARY POPPINS is a fantasy music comedy about a magical nanny who helps a distracted family in London. The screenplay is loosely based on P. L. Travers' book series "Mary Poppins".A family drama is enhanced with an audio-visual magic and explosion of colors. The film, which combines live-action and animation, simply, brings warmth to the hearts of people. Some very serious issues are being represented through comic songs and nimble dance. Mary Poppins comes sailing in on an east wind in order to help lively children in the Banks family. She is a certain kind of authority, which will save their dysfunctional family in an extremely miraculous way. Well, as long as the wind does not change its direction...Your imagination can do anything. That's the point, which returns the smile on your face and warmth in your heart. The atmosphere is filled with warmth and love. The scenery is great. Characterization could have been better, because an occasional theatricality with certain characters can irritate.Julie Andrews Mary Poppins is a magical woman and authority in her wonders that are almost endless. Simply, Ms. Andrews, with her angelic face, is the right choice for this role. Dick Van Dyke as Bert is a joyous as a sidewalk artist. Karen Dotrice (Jane Banks) and Matthew Garber (Michael Banks) are two lively and sad children at the same time. Regardless of the magical Mary, parental love makes miracles.David Tomlinson as George Banks is a disciplined and busy man who has no time for his children and their entertainment. Glynis Johns as Winifred Banks is his eccentric wife and somewhat distracted mother, who is lost in her own world.The fun begins when Mary Poppins opens her umbrella.

All joking aside from my summery, Julie was adorable in this film. I do NOT have a stomach for musicals (in film or on-stage), and nonetheless agreed to watch one for film class with Prof Bill. There are some catchy show-tunes, and my sons actually want to see if there's a CD out there somewhere with all the tunes on it for the car rides! In short, Mary Poppins is a magical nanny that uses her skills in home- keeping, song, dance, and a little white-magic to help rear some young, rich kids that seek a better relationship with their father. There are some AWESOME sets and sound stages designed for the movie. And some really talented actors, that Walt Disney was all over to get on this production. Dick Van Dyke is fun, but he looked and sounded more like a stoned Australian than a cockney fellow that sweeps chimneys. On a technical aspect, there are some great flying/floating scenes that I'm sure were unmatched for their time. One of my fave tech scenes was the magical staircase that was made out of London smog and soot, so the kids and gang could look out over the city.