Saving Mr. Banks
Director: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, Annie Rose Buckley, B.J. Novak, Jason Schwartzman, Ruth Wilson, Rachel Griffiths, Kathie Baker, Ronan Vibert, Andy McPhee
When one considers the iconic film, “Mary Poppins”, what comes to mind? Is it a rosy-cheeked nanny with a unique gift for being “practically perfect in every way?” Or is it perhaps the nonsensical words and heartfelt songs that were first imprinted in your mind as a child and that you revisit as an adult? For P.L. Travers, the woman who first created the beloved character of Mary Poppins, it is none of those things. For her, the Banks family…and especially Mary Poppins, herself, are truly her family.
Tinged in bittersweet nostalgia and inspired by a remarkable true story, Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks follows the journey of two extraordinary storytellers, Walt Disney, and Pamela Travers, the creator of Mary Poppins, as they attempt to breathe new life into the world’s favorite nanny. Spurred on by a promise he made to his daughters, Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) embarks on what would become a 20-year quest to obtain the movie rights to "Mary Poppins." The author, P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson), proves to be an uncompromising curmudgeon who has no intention of letting her beloved characters become mangled in the Hollywood machine. However, when the books stop selling and she finds herself in need of money, Travers reluctantly agrees to consider Disney's proposition.
Promises are a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere are promises illustrated more poignantly, than in the characters of Pamela Travers and Walt Disney, and how keeping their promises help to define and shape them both as storytellers.
One thing that stands out the most in this film is the character of P.L. Travers, (Emma Watson) herself. While initially her character appears cold and untouchable, it soon becomes clear that her stringent demeanor is a mask that hides a lifetime of pain and buried grief. The true essence of P.L. Travers may be seen in the deep paternal bond that she shares with her father and the promise that father and daughter make to each other that they will never ever lose one another. reveals a lonely woman with a broken heart who desperately yearns for joy, but is so burdened by the painful memories of her past and her fear of being hurt again that she is unable to truly embrace it. While there are moments in the movie when she allows the softer side of herself to shine through (especially with her driver), the moments are uncertain flickers that vanish as quickly as they come.
The story of Mary Poppins represents a tangible link to Pamela Traver’s past. Her reluctance to allow Disney to recreate Mary Poppins in his unique and whimsical style stems from the notion that for Pamela Travers, Mary Poppins is more than a mere character brought to life on the page; she is family. As she watches her father, who is in many ways her hero, succumb to a lingering and painful death, the one person who can restore a sense of order to Pamela’s life is her Aunt Ellie, the woman who would become the inspiration for the character Mary Poppins. The sharp contrast between P.L. Traver’s vision of her story, which is steeped in truth, and Disney’s interpretation, which is softer and tinged in whimsical romance, creates a smoldering ember of conflict that eventually explodes into a firestorm. It is only when Disney truly understands the bond between Pamela Travers and her beloved character that she finally concedes to grant Disney the rights to her character, Mary Poppins – a decision she would soon come to regret deeply.
Pamela’s reluctance to entrust her beloved character to Walt Disney is reflected in the bond she shares with the Mickey Mouse doll that Disney left for Pamela in her hotel room. When Pamela first arrives in Los Angeles to negotiate the contract for Mary Poppins, she immediately discards all the gifts in her room, save for one…a Mickey Mouse doll, whom she allows to remain in the room with her, facing into the corner. When Pamela is agonizing over her decision to relinquish Mary Poppins to Disney, she allows Mickey to join her on the bed and she hugs him…taking a small measure of comfort from his presence. When Disney shares his life story with Pamela, in her home, his understanding of why Mary Poppins and the Banks family are so very important to her is reflected in Disney’s familial bond with Mickey Mouse. We also see Mickey Mouse sitting at the table with Pamela, as she signs the contract…meaning that Pamela brought Mickey back home with her, when she returned to England. And when Pamela arrives for the premiere of Mary Poppins, the only person to acknowledge her presence – apart from her faithful valet and trusted friend, Ralph, - is Mickey Mouse…who has been brought to life, as his character, to escort Pamela into the film premiere of Mary Poppins.
“Saving Mr. Banks” is truly practically perfect in every way. The casting is exceptional, but the brightest stars were Tom Hanks, who brought Walt Disney to life and Emma Thompson, whose portrayal of P.L. Travers was nothing short of extraordinary. While the film conveyed an aura of bittersweet nostalgia and emotional storytelling, there was a deeper purpose to the film which allows the audience to see the story of Mary Poppins from an entirely different perspective, and not only see it, but believe it. This film is highly recommended to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2023 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, Colin Farrell, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, Annie Rose Buckley, B.J. Novak, Jason Schwartzman, Ruth Wilson, Rachel Griffiths, Kathie Baker, Ronan Vibert, Andy McPhee
When one considers the iconic film, “Mary Poppins”, what comes to mind? Is it a rosy-cheeked nanny with a unique gift for being “practically perfect in every way?” Or is it perhaps the nonsensical words and heartfelt songs that were first imprinted in your mind as a child and that you revisit as an adult? For P.L. Travers, the woman who first created the beloved character of Mary Poppins, it is none of those things. For her, the Banks family…and especially Mary Poppins, herself, are truly her family.
Tinged in bittersweet nostalgia and inspired by a remarkable true story, Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks follows the journey of two extraordinary storytellers, Walt Disney, and Pamela Travers, the creator of Mary Poppins, as they attempt to breathe new life into the world’s favorite nanny. Spurred on by a promise he made to his daughters, Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) embarks on what would become a 20-year quest to obtain the movie rights to "Mary Poppins." The author, P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson), proves to be an uncompromising curmudgeon who has no intention of letting her beloved characters become mangled in the Hollywood machine. However, when the books stop selling and she finds herself in need of money, Travers reluctantly agrees to consider Disney's proposition.
Promises are a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere are promises illustrated more poignantly, than in the characters of Pamela Travers and Walt Disney, and how keeping their promises help to define and shape them both as storytellers.
One thing that stands out the most in this film is the character of P.L. Travers, (Emma Watson) herself. While initially her character appears cold and untouchable, it soon becomes clear that her stringent demeanor is a mask that hides a lifetime of pain and buried grief. The true essence of P.L. Travers may be seen in the deep paternal bond that she shares with her father and the promise that father and daughter make to each other that they will never ever lose one another. reveals a lonely woman with a broken heart who desperately yearns for joy, but is so burdened by the painful memories of her past and her fear of being hurt again that she is unable to truly embrace it. While there are moments in the movie when she allows the softer side of herself to shine through (especially with her driver), the moments are uncertain flickers that vanish as quickly as they come.
The story of Mary Poppins represents a tangible link to Pamela Traver’s past. Her reluctance to allow Disney to recreate Mary Poppins in his unique and whimsical style stems from the notion that for Pamela Travers, Mary Poppins is more than a mere character brought to life on the page; she is family. As she watches her father, who is in many ways her hero, succumb to a lingering and painful death, the one person who can restore a sense of order to Pamela’s life is her Aunt Ellie, the woman who would become the inspiration for the character Mary Poppins. The sharp contrast between P.L. Traver’s vision of her story, which is steeped in truth, and Disney’s interpretation, which is softer and tinged in whimsical romance, creates a smoldering ember of conflict that eventually explodes into a firestorm. It is only when Disney truly understands the bond between Pamela Travers and her beloved character that she finally concedes to grant Disney the rights to her character, Mary Poppins – a decision she would soon come to regret deeply.
Pamela’s reluctance to entrust her beloved character to Walt Disney is reflected in the bond she shares with the Mickey Mouse doll that Disney left for Pamela in her hotel room. When Pamela first arrives in Los Angeles to negotiate the contract for Mary Poppins, she immediately discards all the gifts in her room, save for one…a Mickey Mouse doll, whom she allows to remain in the room with her, facing into the corner. When Pamela is agonizing over her decision to relinquish Mary Poppins to Disney, she allows Mickey to join her on the bed and she hugs him…taking a small measure of comfort from his presence. When Disney shares his life story with Pamela, in her home, his understanding of why Mary Poppins and the Banks family are so very important to her is reflected in Disney’s familial bond with Mickey Mouse. We also see Mickey Mouse sitting at the table with Pamela, as she signs the contract…meaning that Pamela brought Mickey back home with her, when she returned to England. And when Pamela arrives for the premiere of Mary Poppins, the only person to acknowledge her presence – apart from her faithful valet and trusted friend, Ralph, - is Mickey Mouse…who has been brought to life, as his character, to escort Pamela into the film premiere of Mary Poppins.
“Saving Mr. Banks” is truly practically perfect in every way. The casting is exceptional, but the brightest stars were Tom Hanks, who brought Walt Disney to life and Emma Thompson, whose portrayal of P.L. Travers was nothing short of extraordinary. While the film conveyed an aura of bittersweet nostalgia and emotional storytelling, there was a deeper purpose to the film which allows the audience to see the story of Mary Poppins from an entirely different perspective, and not only see it, but believe it. This film is highly recommended to anyone who loves Disney at its best.
© 2023 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.