Mary Poppins

"Mary Poppins." Many film critics call it the best Walt Disney movie ever made... the crowning achievement from a studio that has brought us such timeless classics as "Fantasia," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves," "Bambi," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Lion King." For my money, Mary Poppins tops `em all! This fabulous musical comedy, starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, and Glynis Johns, and based on the best selling British children's books written by P.L. Travers, ranks as one of the two best children's movies ever made. (The other being "The Wizard of Oz.") Where to begin? This is such an extraordinary movie!! It has everything that a great kid's movie should have: a wonderful story that teaches strong family values; a brilliant cast; absolutely stunning special effects (even by today's standards); and wonderful music. Here are just a few of the things I like best about "Mary Poppins:" THE ACTING is absolutely brilliant! Julie Andrews won a Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Mary Poppins. She imbues her character with the reserve so prevalent in British society during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. At the same time, she manages to convey a wonderful sense of joy, kindness, and compassion toward the children. Dick Van Dyke is superb as the carefree chimney sweep ans jack-of-all-trades, Bert. His relaxed comic style is perfectly matched to his character. And, while his Cockney accent doesn't quite deliver the goods accurately, it's nevertheless pretty good. (By the way, look for Mr. Van Dyke in a secondary role in this film. I won't tell you which one... but it's unlikely you'll miss him!) David Tomlinson is the third stand-out member of this fabulous ensemble cast. He's practically perfect as the pompous, stuffy martinet of a father, George Banks. Other cast members are excellent as well, especially Glynis Johns as Winifred Banks; and Ed Wynn in his hilarious role as the laughing man, Uncle Albert. THE WRITING: Screen writers Bill Walsh and Don Da Gradi adapted "Mary Poppins" from the series of British children's books authored by P.L. Travers (1899-1996) This is a tender story that addresses many family issues that were as problematic at the beginning of the twentieth century as they are today: responsibility, accountability, and the proper role of parents in the rearing of their children. In the Banks household, we find a family with many of the same problems that afflict today's families: two parents, each focused on their own interests, each so busy with their own lives that they have precious little time to forge and maintain loving bonds with their children. What are the possible consequences for the children? How can these problems be addressed and solved? The beauty of this story is that it's done in a way that's easy for kids, even younger ones (I'd say ages six and older) to understand and learn from. THE MUSIC: All of the music and lyrics in "Mary Poppins" are original... composed by Richard Sherman and his brother Robert. This film has some of the best songs ever to appear in a movie! Each song is in itself a classic: "A Spoonful of Sugar;" "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious;" (I think that's how it's spelled!); "Feed the Birds" (my personal favorite); Academy Award-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee;" "Step in Time;" and "Let's Go Fly a Kite" are but a few of the magical, sometimes whimsical, but always "practically perfect" songs that make this film such a wonderful musical experience. And then there's THE MAGIC... the special effects! In its day, "Mary Poppins" was on the "cutting edge" of movie-making technology. Examples of these (what were then) ultra-modern special effects: this was one of the first films to use miniature robotics for animation. (That robin that lands on the window sill during "A Spoonful of Sugar" is a miniature robotic bird!) And, of course, this is also one of the first films to combine real-life actors and animation extensively (the entire sequence with Mary, Bert and the children inside the sidewalk chalk picture.) These special effects may seem a bit tame when compared with today's computer-generated graphics, but make no mistake: they're still eye-popping! Go beyond all the glitz and glitter of the film, and you'll find at the heart of "Mary Poppins" a simple story about family, with important lessons for all of us - children and adults alike - on how we can make our homes better and happier places to live. By today's standards, "Mary Poppins" may seem a little old-fashioned, even dated. But it's still a great kid's movie! With a well written, touching story, superb music, and outstanding special effects, it's at once brilliantly funny, poignant, joyous, carefree, and just plain marvelous entertainment. It earns my highest recommendation.

I was always a Mary Poppins fan as a child, but thanks to the new Saving Mr. Banks movie I've been re-obsessing myself with her. To prepare myself for a full Mary Poppins experience, I read the original books , watched Saving Mr. Banks, and finally popped in the new Blu Ray transfer of this iconic movie. Combined, the grandeur of Mary Poppins had me in tears. There is something about her, both Disney's and Travers' versions of her, that embodies imagination and seems to be both the essence of jollity and the earnestness of tragedy. Having read the books, I understand why Travers did not want her Poppins to receive the Disney treatment, but unlike her, I believe the adaptation was a brilliant work of art that added dimension to the books rather than take them away. As for the Blu Ray itself, I found the transfer to be exquisite. There's no question that the movie has never looked or sounded this fantastic on home media before. The half-animation half-live action sequences were even more magical than I remember as a child. I was afraid the added HD would reveal some of the '60s special effects, but actually they still boggle my mind even by today's standards. The soundtrack includes some of the best songs from any musical, ever. OVERALL: The story and back-story of Mary Poppins is nearly as incredible as the film itself. It's a miracle the film was ever made, but were it not for Travers' disagreeable critiques and prolonged refusal to sell the rights, there's no doubt in my mind that the movie would not have been nearly as good as it was. The improved special effects, Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, the Sherman Brothers, Walt himself, who must have realized that his own death wouldn't be far off - it was a symphony of extraordinary talent that happened to come together and create one of the masterpieces of cinema. And were it not for Poppins, it is unlikely that we would have Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. For art lovers, all this history is positively juicy. If you've seen this movie before, even if it was years ago, I definitely recommend reading the books and watching Saving Mr. Banks before re-watching, but either way, Mary Poppins is a classic and will be cherished by everyone.

I was nine years old when Walt Disney produced the first movie I remember being a "must see": Mary Poppins. After seeing it numerous times as a child, I bought the new DVD - thought I might enjoy seeing it again and sharing it with my nieces and nephews. Mary Poppins retains the same magic and wonder that I remember experiencing as a child. She still remains this enigma - who was she really? Where did she come from? What was really going on between her and Bert? The movie answers none of these questions - it just lets them float in the air like it's magical heroine. And that's part of its charm. The film seems to live by Mary's maxim: "I never explain anything". Technically - the film holds up as well, even in this age of digital everything. I was amazed to learn (in the "Making of" documentary that's included on the CD) that the film was shot entirely on the Disney soundstages in Burbank. They never went on location; they never even went outside. London is "painted in" in a series of beautiful matte glass paintings. (If I remember correctly, even today, it is the largest number of glass background paintings ever used in a film.) Julie Andrews, of course, is "practically perfect in every way" as Mary - a much more idiosyncratic character than the governess she famously played in "Sound of Music" a year later. And that clear soprano voice - never showy, always in character - just lifts the film. Dick Van Dyke is wonderful as Bert - though accents are clearly not his strong suit. But as a comic, a mime, a singer and a dancer he is charming as the Jack-of-all-trades friend of Mary. The DVD looks great. It's letterboxed - but it wasn't shot in wide screen format - so you don't loose much on your TV screen. The colors are snappy and true. There is a new "Making of" feature, produced especially for the DVD hosted by Dick Van Dyke and featuring interviews with Julie, and some of the other technical team that are still around. There is some great home movie footage of the chimney sweep dancers rehearsing "Step in Time" outside in the California heat stripped down to their skivvies. The one thing on the DVD I do NOT appreciated is a long series of promos for other Disney video releases that you can't cancel out of easily and skip to the film. I think it's rather shameless forcing kids to sit through those commercials to see their favorite movie. All in all - a beautiful presentation of a classic film that adults and children can enjoy together.

Good movie, family classic. Bought it for my mom for her birthday.

If you are of a certain age, (and maybe any age!) you will no doubt go into instant childhood mood from the first titles to the final scene of this great Disney musical film classic. Your toes will tap. Your face will grin from ear to ear. And a flood of memories will flow for 2+ hours. I can still recall my childhood wonder at how in the heck did Dick Van Dyke dance around with those penguins and the sheer fantasy of chimney sweeps dancing in formation on the London roof tops! I think most every child at some point wanted Mary Poppins to come into their lives. And Julie Andrews gave an Oscar winning performance (her first film role) that gave equal measures of joy, sternness, magic and a bit of melancholy. This Blu-ray remaster does not disappoint. Grain is present but never detracts. Colors, blacks and a nice sense of depth to the fantastic painted London sets all give a visual treat. The DTS surround is full and well balanced. Admiral Boom's cannon really does go BOOM! And all of the wonderful songs and dialog are clear as a bell. The special features are rich and varied. This should be a definite addition to the movie collection.

Is there really much new to say about this classic Disney film that helped launch the movie career of Julie Andrews? Probably not, but for the handful of people who haven't seen this film, this DVD is a must-buy. Strangely enough, Disney is not releasing a Blu-ray version just yet, so this edition will have to tide over video buffs until that occurs. The 1964 classic is based on the books of P. L. Travers, with a few Disney liberties thrown in. Travers' nanny, Mary Poppins, is somewhat more harsh and unpleasant in the books than in the film version. However, it is obvious that she is hiding a heart of gold inside and that she truly does love the children she takes care. Two of the children did not make the transition from the book, but they are definitely not missed. Julie Andrews is able to bring out the many facets of Mary Poppins without compromising the character, and of course her voice is legendary. The Sherman Brothers whipped up some of their most memorable tunes including "Jolly Holiday," "Spoonful of Sugar," and "Let's Go Fly a Kite." In a nutshell, the story is about a magical nanny who swoops in to take care of the Banks children, Jane & Michael, and also help their father realize what he is missing by ignoring them the way that he does. Along the way she treats the children to adventures with a street performer/chimney sweep, Bert (Dick Van Dyke) as well as her Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn) who loves to laugh. One of the most memorable and touching sequences is the "Feed the Birds" numbers, with veteran actress Jane Darwell making her final screen appearance. One of Walt Disney's favorite songs, it is sure to bring a tear to many eyes. For those that have Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition) , here's what's missing on this edition: * Deconstruction of a Scene: Jolly Holiday & Step in Time sequences are examined thoroughly. * "I Love to Laugh" Game (not a big deal for me!) Here are the extras that ARE included: Backstage Disney * Disney on Broadway (All New to DVD) - "Mary Poppins from Page to Stage": The story of Mary Poppins from book to Broadway as the creative team and cast prepare to take the long running show on tour. A very well-done documentary on the stage production of "Mary Poppins," detailing almost every aspect of the production that began in London. Especially interesting is how P.L. Travers did not want any "Americans" involved in the stage production, as she was truly not happy with what Disney did with her books. This feature takes you all over the globe: interviews with the 2 leads are held in NYC at Sardi's restaurant; an interview with one of the Sherman Brothers is filmed in Beverly Hills; interviews with the stage productions composers George Stiles & Anthony Drewe are held in England (they did a fantastic job of blending their compositions seamlessly with the Sherman Brothers' songs from the film). You'll also hear from Bob Crowley, the scenic and costume designer, detailing how he came up with the sets (inspired by the book's illustrations) and changes he made for the touring production. All in all, a very fascinating extra! - "Step in Time": The Broadway cast of Mary Poppins performs the number "Step in Time" from the show. This is a nice glimpse into the stage production. Although it doesn't quite have the pizzazz of the filmed number (what a tough act to follow), the choreography, sets, and costumes work together to create a fantastic production. Especially effective is the use of costumes and make-up to create the illusion of the chimney sweeps are in black and white, making Mary Poppins in her red dress stand out even more. - Step in Time - Downloadable MP3 featuring the Broadway cast of Mary Poppins singing "Step in Time," featuring Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins and Gavin Lee as Bert. - Video Intro By Scenic & Costume Designer, Bob Crowley - Bob Crowley's Design Galleries: Concept art, costume designs, set designs and set models for the Broadway musical * Audio Commentary: with stars Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice and songwriter Richard Sherman. There are a few archival comments included from Walt Disney and others. Fantastic track that really adds to the enjoyment of the film. Especially interesting is the "Feed the Birds" number, where Sherman talks about Mary Poppins instilling social responsibility into the children by planting the idea of feeding the birds with tuppence, thus setting off the important string of events at the end of the film. It is refreshing to hear that so many years later, both Andrews & Van Dyke (as well as Dotrice) still have a fondness for this film and the experience of making it. * Poppins Pop-Up Fun Facts: View fun-filled facts about the creation of the movie during viewing. Mirrors some of the information from the commentary track, but still enjoyable to learn some of the behind-the-scenes info as you are watching the movie. * "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of Mary Poppins": The definitive behind-the- scenes look at how this unique and beloved film came into being. * Movie Magic: A look at the special effect techniques used to bring the magical world of Mary Poppins to life. This one is interesting, but appears to be geared more towards the young ones and early teens. Doesn't really go very deep. * The Gala World Premiere: Footage from the Red Carpet. What a feast this is; a few different rolls of film (mixing bw and color) have been edited together to recreate as much as possible of this magical evening. See Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Ed Wynn, Cesar Romero, and so many more classic stars. Even Walt & his wife are on hand (it even appears that Walt is gently chastising the costumed Mickey character at one point). * Dick Van Dyke Make-Up Test for his role of the elder Mr. Dawes. On the commentary track, Karen Dotrice (Jane Banks) admits that during filming, she was not told that Dick Van Dyke was playing the elder Mr. Dawes. She thought it was just some old smelly man who was close to death! * Trailers, Ads and More from the Original Release and Reissue of the Film * Mary Poppins Still Art Galleries Music & More * Disney's Song Selection: Sing along to "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and any of the film's other memorable songs as the lyrics pop up on screen. Each song can be selected separately or while watching the film. * Magical Musical Reunion: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and songwriter Richard Sherman reminisce about making Mary Poppins and the music that makes it so special. * A Musical Journey with Richard Sherman: A delightful magical journey through some of the film's locations with co-composer Richard Sherman, who reveals surprising secrets about the music of Mary Poppins along the way. * Bonus Short: "The Cat That Looked at a King": Live action and animation based on a chapter from P.L. Travers' sequel "Mary Poppins Opens the Door." Julie Andrews hosts this short done in the style of the whimsical chalk drawings from the movie "Mary Poppins." Vocal talents of Sarah Ferguson, Tracey Ullman, and David Ogden Stiers. * Deleted Song: "Chimpanzoo": A reconstruction of a song that did not appear in the movie using original storyboard and concept art, accompanied by a new rendition of the song performed by co- composer Richard Sherman. Personally, I agree with the deletion of this number! Specs: Video is original aspect ration of 1:66:1, and audio is 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound with French & Spanish language tracks & subtitles. The picture, as in the 40th release, is fantastic. Colors bright, image sharp. The 5.1 mix is fantastic, especially during the musical numbers--all of your speakers will get full use! I read another review on here that only seemed to get front-speaker action, but I clearly heard music and effects loud and clear from my rear speakers, giving a very nice surround effect. There are also sneak peaks into the next Tinker Bell installment as well as other upcoming DVD/Bluray releases (Monsters Inc and Pinocchio this Spring and Beverly Hills Chihuahua).

The 2013 movie "Saving Mr. Banks" offers some insights into Walt Disney's difficult dealings with P.L. Travers, the deeply damaged and damaging, tortured and tormented author of the "Mary Poppins" books. As "Saving Mr. Banks" is a different movie, I won't go into it here. But, given Disney's prolonged difficulties with the prickly Mrs. Travers, it is a minor miracle that the movie "Mary Poppins" turned out to be an uplifting masterpiece, full of healing, hope and, yes, magic. Yes, Mrs. Travers HATED Disney and the movie. Well, Travers and her protestations be damned! The rest of the world embraced it. The 2013 Blu-Ray release looks Supercalifraglisticexalidocious, even though the Blu-Ray format and technology does reveal some of the movie-making magic tricks. But, fantasy does require a healthy, happy suspension of disbelief. And, after 50 years, "Mary Poppins" holds up remarkably well. Mrs. Travers' "Mary Poppins" books are a whimsical collection of quaint and magical short stories. But those hoping, possibly demanding, for a literal adaptation are seriously deluded. The books have NO plot. Mary Poppins comes and goes arbitrarily. The screenplay by Don Degradi and Bill Walshe gives "Poppins" a plot and a purpose. There is definitely a reason for Mary Poppins to arrive and a reason for her to leave. In between her arrival and departure, there is a profound emotional journey for audiences of all ages. True, there is more vinegar than sugar in Mrs. Travers' Mary Poppins. In a 1964 interview, Julie Andrews explained her approach to the character, "At first, I thought I would play Mary Poppins very stiff and exactly like the books. But that didn't seem very human... so I finally decided to mix a bit of warmth in with it." Apparently, Mrs. Travers was adverse to any suggestion of warmth whatsoever. As portrayed by Julie Andrews, Mary maintains her aura of enigmatic mystery. She is a nanny on a mission; with a no-nonsense demeanor, crisp and efficient, employing clever amounts of reverse psychology in her dealings with children and adults. Mrs. Travers did vehemently object to Disney's casting of Dick Van Dyke as Poppins' platonic pal Bert. Her objections on this point are partially valid. As an American in a British cast, Van Dyke, with an awful Cokney accent, stands out as the only "non authentic" actor in the cast. Still, Van Dyke has excellent chemistry with Andrews, playing Bert with an appropriate sense of childlike enthusiasm and wonder. He is also excellent in the exuberant musical numbers by Robert and Richard Sherman. Perhaps to make up for his questionable casting as Cockney Bert, versatile Van Dyke also plays Mr. Dawes, the extremely elderly Senior Officer at the bank where Mr. Banks is employed. Mary Poppins literally flies down into the Banks household, and just in time. The atmosphere is complete chaos since Katie Nanny (Elsa Lancaster) quit. Mrs. Banks (Glynis Johns) seems a warm and loving mother, but she is preoccupied with her political involvement with the Suffergettes. She humorously tells her maid (Hermione Baddley) after returning home from a meeting, "Ellen, put these things away. You know how the cause infuriates Mr. Banks." Mr. Banks (David Tomlinson) is harried and weary from his job at the bank. Quickly employing herself as the new nanny, Mary Poppins and her friend Bert take Jane and Michael (Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber) on magical adventures; including a Jolly Holiday inside one of Bert's sidewalk chalk drawings, and a tea party on the ceiling with Mary's giggling Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn). Mr, Banks is infuriated to hear of this ridiculous nonsense. Using her trademark reverse psychology, Mary Poppins suggests that he take the children with him on a trip to the bank. This sets the events in motion that will save Mr. Banks, making him a real, emotionally connected father. Her mission accomplished, Mary Poppins flies away, in unsentimental fashion. The movie was, and remains, an outstanding critical and commercial success; nominated for 13 Academy Awards; winning Best Special Effects, Best Song ("Chimm Chimm Cherrie") and Best Musical Score for Robert and Richard Sherman, and Best Actress for Julie Andrews. The only person who did not share in the success was Mrs. Travers, who never allowed herself to. Cold as ice and emotionally damaged and unreachable, Mrs. Travers always hated Disney and wouldn't allow a moment of happiness to shine through her embittered heart. The Blu-Ray includes all The Special Features from previous DVD releases. The only section I do not like is the "Page To Stage" section; about the Broadway adaptation with Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee as Mary Poppins and Bert. Mary Poppins may also be in books and on stage. But the film remains Mary Poppins best and most magical medium; for only on film does Mary Poppins truly soar and fly into into all of our hearts.

Good movie

Inventive and enthused with quality all thru it, Mary Poppins holds up well over forty years since its release. The story is based on the Mary Poppins books written by Pamela Travers, and what a crackerjack story this adaptation turns out to be. Mother & Father Banks advertise for a nanny to tend their rowdy children. The children, after being less than impressed with previous holders of the post, decide to write their own advertisement. But Father Banks tears it up and puts it on the fire place ready for burning. The torn paper mysteriously floats up the chimney and finds its way to Mary Poppins who glides down from the sky with her umbrella to fill the vacancy. It's evident from this point that Mary is no ordinary nanny, and all she comes into contact with will have their lives changed for ever. Mary takes the children on a series of delightful journeys that take in meeting an array of interesting people and animals, and it's thru these wonderful escapades that we the audience live vicariously thru. The film has all the hallmarks of a Disney classic, wonderful songs from Richard & Robert Sherman, animation fusing delightfully with live action, colour to dazzle the eyes, and of course a charming and career making performance from Julie Andrews. Much has been made of Dick van Dyke's woeful cockney accent, and in truth it's almost cringe inducing, but his performance is so brim full of gusto and effervescent fun, we should surely let it go in the name of splendid entertainment values. The restoration job done on the 40th anniversary DVD does the film proud, and it's hopefully opened up the film to be seen more by the modern day audience, because Mary Poppins is an ode to joy, an ode to good behaviour, and basically an ode to being practically perfect--just like Mary herself actually. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious 9/10

Très contente de mon achat, très beau film plein de nostalgie.

Mary Poppins é um filme divertido, leve e cheio de valores familiares. Apresenta o comportamento incoerente de vários personagens e os conduz de volta aos aspectos valiosos da vida familiar.

un super film image +son au top

Good film kids love it