Mary Poppins (1964)

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Bill Walsh (screenplay) &
Don DaGradi (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 September 1964 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

See It Again and Again with that Supercalifragilistic Music! [re-release Australia 1976]

Plot:

A magic nanny comes to work for a cold banker's unhappy family.

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Banker | Bank | Nanny | Umbrella

Awards:

Won 5 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Julie Andrews	...	Mary Poppins
Dick Van Dyke	...	Bert / Mr. Dawes Senior (also as Navckid Keyd)
David Tomlinson	...	Mr. Banks
Glynis Johns	...	Mrs. Banks
Hermione Baddeley	...	The Domestic
Reta Shaw	...	The Domestic
Karen Dotrice	...	Jane Banks
Matthew Garber	...	Michael Banks
Elsa Lanchester	...	Katie Nanna
Arthur Treacher	...	The Constable
Reginald Owen	...	Admiral Boom
Ed Wynn	...	Uncle Albert
Jane Darwell	...	The Bird Woman
Arthur Malet	...	Mr. Dawes Junior
James Logan	...	Bank Doorman
Don Barclay	...	Mr. Binnacle - Admiral's Servant
Alma Lawton	...	Mrs. Corry - Old Woman in Park
Marjorie Eaton	...	Miss Persimmon - Old Woman in Park
Marjorie Bennett	...	Miss Lark - Old Woman in Park
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andrew	...	Dog (uncredited)
Robert Banas	...	Chimney Sweep (uncredited)
Marc Breaux	...	Cow (voice) (uncredited)
Art Bucaro	...	Chimney Sweep (uncredited)
Daws Butler	...	Turtle / Penguin (voice) (uncredited)
Cyril Delevanti	...	Mr. Grubbs (uncredited)
Harvey Evans	...	Chimney Sweep Dancer (uncredited)
Paul Frees	...	Barnyard Horse (voice) (uncredited)
Betty Lou Gerson	...	Old Crone (uncredited)
Clive Halliday	...	Mr. Mousley (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Citizen (uncredited)
Bill Lee	...	Ram (voice) (uncredited)
Queenie Leonard	...	Lady in the Bank (uncredited)
Doris Lloyd	...	Depositor (uncredited)
Lester Matthews	...	Mr. Tomes (uncredited)
Sean McClory	...	Hound / Reporter #4 (voice) (uncredited)
Dal McKennon	...	Fox / Hunting Horse / Reporter #1 / Carousel Guard / Penguin / Hound (voice) (uncredited)
Alan Napier	...	Huntsman / Reporter #3 / Hound (voice) (uncredited)
Marni Nixon	...	Geese (voice) (uncredited)
J. Pat O'Malley	...	Pearly Drummer / Master of Hounds / Huntsman / Hound / Horse / Penguin / Reporter #2 / Photographer (voice) (uncredited)
George Pelling	...	Hound / Reporter #5 (voice) (uncredited)
Thurl Ravenscroft	...	Hog / Andrew's Whimper (voice) (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Bank Clerk Near Safe (uncredited)
Larri Thomas	...	Woman in Carriage (uncredited)
Ginny Tyler	...	Lambs (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Stevenson

Writing credits
Bill Walsh		(screenplay) &
Don DaGradi		(screenplay) (as Don Da Gradi)
P.L. Travers		("Mary Poppins" books)

Produced by
Bill Walsh	....	co-producer
Walt Disney	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Irwin Kostal		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Edward Colman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Cotton Warburton

Art Direction by
Carroll Clark
William H. Tuntke

Set Decoration by
Hal Gausman
Emile Kuri

Makeup Department
La Rue Matheron	....	hair stylist
Pat McNalley	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Feiner	....	assistant director
Joseph L. McEveety	....	assistant director
Arthur J. Vitarelli	....	live action second unit director (as Arthur J.Vitarelli)
Tom Leetch	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
McLaren Stewart	....	animation art director
Tony Walton	....	design consultant
Al Gaynor	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert O. Cook	....	sound supervisor
Dean Thomas	....	sound mixer
Franco Bassi	....	sound engineer: Italian post-synchronization (uncredited)
Chris Pinkston	....	dialogue editor (restored version) (uncredited)
Kevin Porter	....	mix tech: restoration (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Ellenshaw	....	special effects
Eustace Lycett	....	special effects
Robert A. Mattey	....	special effects
George Brown	....	special effects (uncredited)
Marcel Delgado	....	special effects props (uncredited)
Danny Lee	....	special mechanical effects (uncredited)
Walter Stones	....	special mechanical effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bob Broughton	....	optical cinematography (uncredited)
Art Cruickshank	....	optical cinematography (uncredited)
Lee Dyer	....	effects animator (uncredited)
Jim Fetherolf	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Constantine Ganakes	....	matte artist (uncredited)
Ub Iwerks	....	special processes (uncredited)
Dan MacManus	....	effects animator (uncredited)

Stunts
May Boss	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Travers Hill	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Calvin A. Maehl	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Hal Ambro	....	animator
Jack Boyd	....	animator
Al Dempster	....	background artist
Don Griffith	....	background artist
Ollie Johnston	....	animator
Milt Kahl	....	animator
Ward Kimball	....	animator
Eric Larson	....	animator
Bill Layne	....	background artist
John Lounsbery	....	animator
Hamilton Luske	....	animation director (as Hamilton S. Luske)
Cliff Nordberg	....	animator
Art Riley	....	background artist
Frank Thomas	....	animator
Joe Hale	....	layout artist (uncredited)
Fred Hellmich	....	animator (uncredited)
Art Stevens	....	animator (uncredited)
Julius Svendsen	....	animator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gertrude Casey	....	costumer
Chuck Keehne	....	costumer
Bill Thomas	....	costumes executed by
Tony Walton	....	consultant: costumes

Music Department
Nat Farber	....	dance accompanist
Evelyn Kennedy	....	music editor
Irwin Kostal	....	conductor
Irwin Kostal	....	music arranger
Irwin Kostal	....	music supervisor
James MacDonald	....	assistant to the conductor (as James Macdonald)
Richard M. Sherman	....	music and lyrics by
Robert B. Sherman	....	music and lyrics by
Edmundo Santos	....	lyrics: Spanish version (uncredited)

Other crew
Xavier Atencio	....	nursery sequence designer
Marc Breaux	....	choreographer
Walt Disney	....	presenter
Bill Justice	....	nursery sequence designer
P.L. Travers	....	consultant
Dee Dee Wood	....	choreographer
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)
Larri Thomas	....	stand-in: Julie Andrews (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Productions (as A Walt Disney Production)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1964) (USA) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista Distribution Co., Inc.)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1981) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Walt Disney Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Buena Vista International Italia (19??) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1965) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Suomi-Filmi (1965) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Company (1964) (UK) (theatrical)
• ABC Family (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
• Gativideo (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1980) (USA) (TV)
• Walt Disney Home Records (2010) (France) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1999) (France) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (????) (Italy) (video)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• C.D.C.  Italian post-synchronized version made by (uncredited)
• Fono Roma  Italian post-synchronization faciliities (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | France:U | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | USA:Approved (PCA #20653) (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1972) | Germany:o.Al. | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:G | Japan:G

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Studios, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Julie Andrews was determined to nail the lullaby "Stay Awake". She took nearly 50 takes (most reports suggest 47) in the Disney recording studio to create the perfect "soft" voice quality for the song. Dick Van Dyke, on the other hand, took only one take to record his verses as Mr. Dawes, Sr. on "Fidelity, Fiduciary Bank".

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The robin that lands on Mary's finger in the "Spoonful of Sugar" sequence is an American, not British, robin.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bert:All right, ladies an' gents! Comical poem! Suitable for the occasion, extemporized and thought up before your very eyes! All right, 'ere we go!
[sings]
Bert:Room 'ere for everyone. Gather around.
[speaks]
Bert:The constable - responstable! Now 'ow does that sound?
[no response]
Bert:Hm.
[dashes over to Miss Lark, sings]
Bert:'Ello, Miss Lark, I've got one for you.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Law & Order: Nurture (#4.20)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Number 17, Cherry Tree Lane?

"Mary Poppins" is one of Disney's best live-action films and one of the most popular either. It's a light-hearted comedy and a delightful movie that is so much fun to watch. The movie looks dated for today's standards, but it is undeniably charming. In fact, its old-fashioned charm is timeless. It's a good movie and a classic, so the fact that it looks dated is not a major problem.

It's easy to understand why "Mary Poppins" is such a beloved classic: its simplicity, its magic, its special/visual effects, its beautiful songs, its good morals, its charm, its characters, its classic humor, its combination of live-action and animation and great actors. The way how this combines live-action and animation is very good. Amazing for its time and keeps working out fine.

The sceneries and landscapes of London city are stunning when Mary Poppins is floating on the air (angles of view never seen before or after this, not even in Peter Pan's movies). The walks through London's streets also allows us to know this beautiful city better, as well as its monuments and respective wonderful architecture. The landscapes through the roofs of London are simply amazing and the dancing numbers are excellent.

«Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious» is the longest and strangest word I've ever heard. Definitely a nonsense but charming word. In fact, I had to practice this word for about a month. Now I can say it easily, but I had serious difficulties to say this word at first.

"Mary Poppins" is an amusing and magical tale, with some valuable morals about family, education and stuff like that as well, combined with light humor.

The characters are interesting in general. Bert is a very cool guy which a cheerful personality, a fine artist, an excellent dancer and speaks with a cockney accent. Dick Van Dyke is awesome as Bert and the way he dances is incredible. He was in excellent shape here. He really dances like Ray Bolger.

The Banks children (Jane and Michael) are absolutely adorable. They're both sweet, innocent and so cute. Michael Banks is the funniest of the two, with his goofy faces in an adorable way and his hilarious way of being «extremely stubborn and suspicious». And they're portrayed by two of the most charismatic and talented child actors of all time: Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber. It's really sad that Matthew Garber went to Heaven so young (at the age of 21).

Mary Poppins is «the perfect nanny». A magical woman who is also firm and serious but kind and cheerful. Great performance by Julie Andrews, one of her very best. Winifred Banks is a lovable mother, greatly portrayed by Glynis Johns. George Banks is a workaholic, impatient, cold and very serious father most of the time, but at the end of the movie he changes radically his attitudes and becomes a jolly and lovable father. Good performance by David Tomlinson.

Uncle Albert is a character with a minor role but a strong presence. He's very jolly, maybe a little too much, but he's simply hilarious. Ed Wynn is awesome and hilarious as Uncle Albert, a role that resembles somehow the Mad Hatter from "Alice in Wonderland" (1951) - a funny coincidence, because he was the voice of the Mad Hatter. I admit that at first the whole "I Love to Laugh" sequence was a little too much for me, but I quickly got used to it and ended up finding it great fun.

The soundtrack is gold. There are so many lovely songs that it's difficult to chose a favorite. I have many favorites: "The Perfect Nanny", "Let's go fly a kite", "Stay Awake", "The Carousel Horses", "A Spoonful of Sugar", "Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)", "Jolly Holliday", "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", "Sister Suffragette", "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Penguin Dance". On the other hand, "A Man Has Dreams", "Step in Time" and "The Life I Lead" are nice too, but my favorites are definitely the ones I listed first. The only song I don't like very much is "Fidelity Fiduciary Bank". The only part I like in that song is «You'll see, Michael, you'll be part of railways through Africa, dams across the Nile, fleets of ocean greyhounds, majestic, self-amortizing canals, plantations of ripening sea».

Oh, I love the merry-go-round and the carousel horses of this movie. They're all beautiful. The merry-go-round has a very nostalgic effect for me - it reminds me about childhood. The merry-go-round was so much fun to be in. I also like the animated characters, especially the penguins and the fox.