Mary Poppins
Director: Robert Stevenson
Cast: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns
Inspired by the first four “Mary Poppins” books written by the late P.L. Travers, Disney’s “Mary Poppins” brings to life the nanny who is “practically perfect in every way” as she works her magic to bring joy and healing to the Banks family.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this film is illustrated in Mary Poppin’s promise to Jane and Michael. When the children ask her how long she plans to stay with them, she tells them that she will stay until the wind changes. Although the wind does indeed change when Mary Poppins leaves the Banks family, I don’t believe this is the wind that she meant to change when she made this promise to the children. It is not the wind, but rather, the children’s relationship with their father, George Banks, that Mary Poppins came to change. It is only after she has successfully healed the bond between Mr. Banks and the children that Mary Poppins is able to say goodbye to them.
When we first meet the Banks family, although they appear to be the quintessential British family, they are, for lack of a better word, broken. When the children are brought home by the constable, they ask their father to help them repair a broken kite. I believe that the broken kite symbolizes the fractured relationship that exists between George Banks and his children, Jane and Michael.
When Mr. Banks must hire a new nanny for his two rambunctious children after the old one resigns, the children give him their version of what the new nanny should be. Unimpressed by his children’s version of the perfect nanny, Mr. Banks destroys their note and casts it into the fireplace. When Mary Poppins arrives at the Banks home, it is the children’s note that she is answering, but while she is cheerful and pretty, she also possesses the qualities in Mr. Bank’s advertisement.
When Mr. Banks goes to face his colleagues at the bank, there is a moment where pauses to search for the woman who feeds the birds on the cathedral stairs, but alas, she is not there. I believe this moment symbolizes the beginning of the final step in Mr. Bank’s journey towards reclaiming his identity as a father and a man. When Mr. Banks fixes the children’s kite and presents it to them after he returns home after confronting his colleagues, this moment marks the end of his transformation and his relationship with the children, like the kite, is healed.
“Mary Poppins” truly is practically perfect in every way. The casting for this film is absolutely flawless, particularly for Julie Andrews who shines in the role of Mary Poppins. The characters are vibrant, the music is timeless and the message that is woven into the story is one that both children and adults can understand. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Robert Stevenson
Cast: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns
Inspired by the first four “Mary Poppins” books written by the late P.L. Travers, Disney’s “Mary Poppins” brings to life the nanny who is “practically perfect in every way” as she works her magic to bring joy and healing to the Banks family.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this film is illustrated in Mary Poppin’s promise to Jane and Michael. When the children ask her how long she plans to stay with them, she tells them that she will stay until the wind changes. Although the wind does indeed change when Mary Poppins leaves the Banks family, I don’t believe this is the wind that she meant to change when she made this promise to the children. It is not the wind, but rather, the children’s relationship with their father, George Banks, that Mary Poppins came to change. It is only after she has successfully healed the bond between Mr. Banks and the children that Mary Poppins is able to say goodbye to them.
When we first meet the Banks family, although they appear to be the quintessential British family, they are, for lack of a better word, broken. When the children are brought home by the constable, they ask their father to help them repair a broken kite. I believe that the broken kite symbolizes the fractured relationship that exists between George Banks and his children, Jane and Michael.
When Mr. Banks must hire a new nanny for his two rambunctious children after the old one resigns, the children give him their version of what the new nanny should be. Unimpressed by his children’s version of the perfect nanny, Mr. Banks destroys their note and casts it into the fireplace. When Mary Poppins arrives at the Banks home, it is the children’s note that she is answering, but while she is cheerful and pretty, she also possesses the qualities in Mr. Bank’s advertisement.
When Mr. Banks goes to face his colleagues at the bank, there is a moment where pauses to search for the woman who feeds the birds on the cathedral stairs, but alas, she is not there. I believe this moment symbolizes the beginning of the final step in Mr. Bank’s journey towards reclaiming his identity as a father and a man. When Mr. Banks fixes the children’s kite and presents it to them after he returns home after confronting his colleagues, this moment marks the end of his transformation and his relationship with the children, like the kite, is healed.
“Mary Poppins” truly is practically perfect in every way. The casting for this film is absolutely flawless, particularly for Julie Andrews who shines in the role of Mary Poppins. The characters are vibrant, the music is timeless and the message that is woven into the story is one that both children and adults can understand. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.