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THE MIRACLE OF WALT DISNEY'S "PRACTICALLY PERFECT" MUSICAL MASTERPIECE

Posted by DEWEY MEE on Apr 3rd 2024

We all know that P.L. Travers, author of the "Mary Poppins" stories, hated what Walt Disney did to her book series. What Disney, and more specifically screenwriters Bill Walsh and Don DeGradi, and songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman, "did" was to give the essentially plotless and pointless Poppins stories a cohesive plot line and clear purpose.
Given how obstreperous and difficult the sour and prickly Travers was with Disney and his creative staff, it's a miracle the movie was made at all; let alone a movie filled with music, happiness and hope-- all qualities that Travers detested.
The Banks household is in total chaos when nasty Katie Nanna (Elsa Lanchester) abruptly quits. The lovely Mrs. Banks (Glynis Johns) is involved in the Suffragette movement. After she sings the rousing "Sister Suffragette", she humorously says, "Put these things away. You know how the cause infuriates Mr. Banks." Mr. Banks (David Tomlinson) is too harried from his job at the bank to take much notice of what is going on around him.
A gusty East Wind blows several sour-faced nannies away as Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) flies down from the clouds. The "practically perfect" Poppins is a no-nonsense, uncanny nanny with an odd carpetbag of magical tricks. She also cleverly uses "reverse psychology" in her dealings with children and adults. As portrayed by Julie Andrews, Mary Poppins is every bit as enigmatic, wonderfully weird, and mysterious as Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka.
With her jack-of-all trades partner Bert (Dick Van Dyke), Mary Poppins takes Jane and Michael Banks (Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber) on a series of magical adventures. But magical, fun adventures do not sit well at all with Mr. Banks. So Mary Poppins suggests that he take the children on a "serious" trip to his bank. When the bank trip goes awry, Mr. Banks learns the importance of being a caring and loving father.
Everyone, except P.L. Travers, of course, shared in the film's enormous and deserved success. The film was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards; winning five-- including "Best Musical Score: Richard and Robert Sherman, Best Special Effects" and "Best Actress": Julie Andrews.
Fun Fact: Julie Andrews had hoped to follow "Mary Poppins" with the film version of "My Fair Lady", which she had played to great acclaim on Broadway and London stages for nearly three years. But clueless studio boss Jack L. Warner failed to recognize the movie potential of Andrews. Audrey Hepburn finally agreed to "My Fair Lady" before Elizabeth Taylor could grab it for herself. Andrews was free to also film "The Americanization Of Emily" and "The Sound Of Music." When she picked up her Golden Globe Award for "Mary Poppins" in February, 1965, she thanked Jack Warner for making "all of this possible." Julie Andrews definitely knows how to throw shade "in the most delightful way."