Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)

Rating:
Summary: "I Know a Man with a Wooden Leg Named Smith!"...
Review: ...and if you know the punchline to that one, then you've already seen "Mary Poppins", the best live-action movie ever produced by Walt Disney Productions in the master's lifetime. London is brought to the screen beautifully, gray and coal-based but not without parks and trees--but how wonderful everything becomes when we pop off into a sidewalk chalk drawing! Then the English countryside explodes with color and talking/singing livestock, even though penguins aren't quite native to the British Isles.

The chalk drawing is courtesy of Bert the erstwhile chimney sweep and it's he also who introduces us to Cherry Lane and its unhappy inhabitants, the Banks family. Unhappy because the two children Michael and Jane are being neglected while the parents pursue a banking job and the suffragette movement. What's needed is a good nanny to take things in hand, and right on cue, down lands Mary Poppins on the doorstep. Michael and Jane are convinced she has magical powers and even magical friends, but Father is convinced otherwise, although he can never best her in conversation. How the Banks family get in touch with each other and the power of familial love is the crux of the matter, and it couldn't happen without the intervention of Mary Poppins.

Julie Andrews is a stand-out in her debut role, and never looked lovelier than here in her dark wig with a proper amount of hair--not that close cropped signature hairstyle she's had since "The Sound of Music" that does nothing for her. She's a prim know it all with a lovely soprano voice, who slyly indulges in magic from time to time. Dick Van Dyke has a double role as Bert, her roguish beau and as old Mr. Dawes, the greedy head of the bank where Mr. Banks works. David Tomlinson is great as the civil servant dad, the sort of fellow cariacatured by John Cleese so well. Glynnis Johns has less to do as Mother, but still good. And other supporting roles amply filled by Reta Shaw, Hermione Baddeley, Arthur Treacher, Ed Wynn, Elsa Lanchester, and Jane Darwell (in a nonspeaking role as the Bird Woman of St. Paul's, her last role). And not to forget those wonderful child actors playing Michael and Jane! Not a moppet between them.

"Mary Poppins" is a delight from start to finish. Set yourself about finding it and pop it in the VCR asap.

Rating:
Summary: Mary Poppins Gold Collection DVD
Review: I can't believe that I hated this film when I was a kid, you would think that I would have liked it more back then. But about 3 months ago, I bought this DVD and saw the film for the first time in around a decade. I cannot believe it's the same movie, in fact, I started to wonder if I was even paying attention to it back then as it was playing.

The film is nothing less, and probably a lot more than a classic. Julie Andrews completely submerges herself into the character. She definitely deserved the Oscar that she got. The song's are strong, but a few stand out above the rest. Such as, "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "``Chim-Chim-Cheree".

I hope a Special Edition DVD will be released in the future, becuase I am very interested in seeing more behind the scenes documentaries, detailing the Visual Effects that were created for the movie. The Gold Collection DVD, does offer a good documentary that gives a lot of insight, but there has to be a lot more, and I would like to see it. The "Hollywood Goes to a World Premiere" featurette, is a great extra.

I do agree that this was Walt Disney's greatest LIVE ACTION film, but I do not think it's his greatest acheivement. That goes to "Snow White", which influenced motion picture history a lot more than "Mary Poppins" did (and I'm not trying to lessen this film, in anyway).

Rating:
Summary: Practically Perfect
Review: In this day of plotlines running the speed of light, the pace of Mary Poppins is an acquired taste, but what a feast it is. All the Sherman and Sherman songs are good; "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "A Spoonful of Sugar" cast a giant shadow, but among the others is the poignant "Feed the Birds" ("Tuppence"), a gentle hymn for charity, and a showcase for matte painter Peter Ellenshaw's beautiful renderings of St. Paul's Cathedral. Ellenshaw and his mystical views of London in 1910 aren't meant to be literal, just imaginative, and fuse the animation elements with live action while acting as a strong character within the film. The music and choreography are both thrilling in the chimney sweeps' production number, "Step in Time". Staged by Marc Breux and Dee Dee Wood, and inspired by Michael Kidd, it uses movie magic to augment terrific dancing. Both "Feed the Birds" and "Spoonful" are in the third act, dishing up more visual sugar just when similar family films are winding down. "The Making of Mary Poppins" is very good and the 1964 promo film of the world premiere at the Chinese Theater is tacky and enjoyable. The two hour and twenty minute film seems effortless, but other 60s family films that attempted to emulate its magic fell short. They're on DVD too, but stick with Mary.

Rating:
Summary: It's a Jolly Holiday With Mary
Review: Julie Andrews won the 1965 Academy Award for Best Actress in this delighful musical adaptation of the popular British children's books. And deservedly so. From the moment she descends from the sky as Poppins and lands on the front steps of Jane and Michael Bank's home, there's absolutely no stopping her. Here, as in the many films she would make over the next five decades, Andrews graps hold of a part, takes it that extra mile and never once disappoints. As Poppins, she is magnificent. But there's more to the part than just singing about tea parties on the ceiling, popping in and out of chalk pavement pictures or spoonfuls of sugar. Sure, she's the nanny we'd all love to have. But in the story, her character arrives just in the knick of time to put a dysfunctional family back together in true Disney fashion. The songs are great. In particular, "Chim-Chim Cheree," "Spoonful of Sugar," "I Love to Laugh" and "Supercalifragilisticexpalidocious." The rest of the cast, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice, Glynis Johns, David Tomlinson, Matthew Garber and Ed Wynn, also add to the fun. Hard to believe that it's been 37 years since this film was first released. Nontheless, it's just as entertaining as it was way back when. It's also fun to sit back and watch a whole new generation of kids and their parents discover the magic and wonder of this terrific Disney film. Rent it today. Or Buy it. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: "Perfect Nanny"
Review: Mary Poppins is my favorite movie. I love the charictors, the singing, the dancing. It is fun for the whole family. When I was alittle girl I watched it over and over again. I love to dance with the chimeny sweeps; I can't do everything they do, but still. This is the best master piece Walt Disney ever created besides Micky and friends. I love it and I am a teen.

It is about a fun nanny who has magic. That is probobly why I like her. There is never a dull moment when Mary Poppins is around: fox hunting, laughing in the air, riding a merry-go-round without the going arout. One of the best parts of all, supercalafagilisticexpialadocious.

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Summary: Mary Poppins is a Fantastic Movie!
Review: Mary Poppins is one my favorite Disney movies, it is mostly a live-action movie but includes a wonderful animated sequence. While it may be said that Mary Poppins is long for a Disney movie it can also be said that the movie moves at a fast pace and it's so fun to watch that you don't notice how much longer it is then the average Disney movie unless you are watching it on TV with tons of commercial breaks with boring long winded commercials. Mary Poppins is an adorable movie, the acting from Julie Andrews Dick Van Dyke, Ed Wynn, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Glynnis Johns and David Tomlison is very good and the rest of the cast is pretty top-notch too and the songs are wonderful and so catchy and I highly recommend this movie. I gave away my old video tape because I was going to buy this DVD but I will hold off and wait and see if it is true that they are putting out a new special edition two disc set.

Rating:
Summary: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Review: Wonderful story of a nanny who comes riding on an umbrella into the lonely lives of two children to transform their world and that of the entire household with her whimsy, her magic, her love and songs and spoons full of sugar.
Julie Andrews plays the magical nanny of the film's title; Dick Van Dyke with the rubbery face and legs is her clownish beau Bert, the chimney sweep. Ed Wynn plays the uncle whose waves of giggles carry him soaring up to the ceiling. Set in Victorian England, the pompous father and fatuous mother are transformed by Mary Poppins' special brand of love, compassion, and understanding.
This movie was a blend of animation and live action, one which creator Walt Disney considered to be his crowning achievement. And then, of course, there's the music: A Spoonful of Sugar, Feed the Birds, Chim Chim Cheree, etc.
This is one to own and watch over and over with kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, neighbor kids. Pass out the cookies and milk and sing along.