Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins

“One of the most innovative musicals of all time” is the kind of phrase that should be scrawled across any poster or cover for this film. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was at some point in its 50-year history. Mixing animation with live action, characters addressing the audience directly and even touching on women’s rights, expounded by its pragmatic protagonist, every moment is filled with magical surprise.

The running time may be well over two hours, but bursting with colour in every meticulously rendered setting and filled with incredibly choreographed musical numbers, it would be impossible to imagine any of the brilliantly orchestrated scenes being cut from the film, and as such the length is never felt.

Another of the film’s major selling points is Julie Andrews’ unforgettable depiction of the title character, a role which saw her win the 1964 Oscar for Best Actress. Now I don’t put much stock in awards, but this is a performance that deserved all the acclaim it received. And joining her is a superb cast which includes Dick van Dyke as the indefatigable Bert and David Tomlinson as the irascible Mr. Banks.

In some ways the ending is atypical, because when I was a child I felt a happy ending would have meant Mary Poppins staying with the children forever. But the moment the family is finally reconciled really does tug at the heartstrings, as much as Mary Poppins’ departure does. And if you want more heartstring-tugging combined with a few heart-wrenching sobs, then you should follow this film with Saving Mr. Banks. The latter is a dramatised insight into Walt Disney’s battle with Mary Poppins’ creator P.L. Travers as Disney tries to obtain the rights to her books in order to bring the beloved character to the world of cinema. It’s well worth a watch, even if we know how the battle ended, as Disney brought us a film which is “practically perfect in every way.”

Originally published on Amazing Picture Box.

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