There is charm, wit and movie magic to spare in Walt Disney’s adaptation of the P.L. Travers novel about a “practically perfect” Nanny who brings lots of changes—some welcome, some not!—to the Banks family of London in 1910, which includes two irresistible youngsters named Jane and Michael. Oscars went to Julie Andrews in her film debut, and to the songwriting Sherman brothers (“Chim-Chim-Cheree”). And what a triumph for Dick Van Dyke, playing Burt the chimney sweep, who sings, dances and acts with mind-blowing relish, and who turned 100 in December.
Discussion Date
February 5
Discussion Time
7:00 pm
Location
Virtual Event
on the event date, use the button below to join the discussion
movie details
starring
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke
creative team
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Written by Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi, and P.L. Travers
Music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
run time
2h 19m
where to stream
Disney+ (Subscription)
YouTube ($)
Film Introductions
by Bill Rudman
Can it be that Dick Van Dyke turned 100 in December, and that Julie Andrews will turn 90 in the fall?
Every baby boomer I know can vouch for it, because we can do the math, and we ALL saw this instant Disney classic when it was released in (gasp!) 1964. But the marvelous thing about Mary Poppins is that our children and grandchildren have seen it, too—probably more than once. In the genre of live-action movie musicals, its lasting appeal ranks with The Wizard of Oz.
So let’s revisit Walt Disney’s fantastic vision on February 5 in our “Let’s Go to the Movies...at Home!” series. And this time, in addition to being knocked out by the performances of the four leads (and elders Ed Wynn and Jane Darwell), please join me in admiring all the other achievements in screenwriting, direction, cinematography and the Sherman brothers’ delicious score, which includes the Oscar-winning “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” As Richard Sherman (who passed just two years ago) liked to remind us: “Every song had a purpose, a reason for being.”
Maybe you’ll be hungry for a Dick Van Dyke retrospective, and you shall have it! On YouTube can be found a terrific recent interview, and the PBS two-hour documentary Starring Dick Van Dyke is to be savored. It’s downright stunning to note that Mary Poppins was only Dick’s second film—and marked Julie’s movie debut.
I will avoid the “Supercali...” word, but you get the message.
How the Program Works
Join the Mailing list
On the appropriate Thursday, email list subscribers will receive an email with a video introduction from Bill Rudman. This video introduction gives an inside look at what to expect before viewing the film.
Watch the Film at Home
TMTP will provide a list of sites from which that month's film can be rented or purchased.
Join the Live Discussion
The following Thursday, Bill Rudman will host a live discussion via Zoom to discuss the film in real time!