Mary Poppins
Screening Dates:
Sun 29 December 2:00pm
Director: Robert Stevenson
Starring: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke
The Banks family are having trouble appointing a Nanny for their two children – the youngsters wish for ‘cheery disposition’, their father has other ideas… Then, across the rooftops dangling from an umbrella, comes Mary Poppins and proceeds to help them all enjoy themselves (with the aid of her rather extraordinary magical powers), in ‘the most delightful way’!
Pioneering for its time, Disney’s ‘animation within a film’ adaptation of the P L Travers’ story is one of the warmest and most endearing films ever made. Julie Andrews is on fine form in the lead role (for which she won a Best Actress Oscar) and is perfectly paired with Dick Van Dyke as loveable chimney sweep Burt. Poppins and her crew take you on a magical ride through chalk pictures and the roof tops of London and treat audiences to song and dance classics such as Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Spoon Full of Sugar and Chim Chim Cher-ee . In total Mary Poppins clocked up five Academy Awards including Best Song and Best Visual Effects and is well established as a family favourite across the world.
Critic:
Date: 2009-04-24
Publication: TIME Magazine
Quote: The sets are luxuriant, the songs lilting, the scenario witty but impeccably sentimental, and the supporting cast only a pinfeather short of perfection.
Critic: Dave Kehr
Date: 2008-03-03
Publication: Chicago Reader
Quote: The grace of the effects makes it some kind of classic.
Critic: Variety Staff
Date: 2008-03-03
Publication: Variety
Quote: Julie Andrews' first appearance on the screen is a signal triumph and she performs as easily as she sings, displaying a fresh type of beauty nicely adaptable to the color cameras.
Critic:
Date: 2006-06-24
Publication: Time Out
Quote: Compared to even 'sophisticated' juvenile fodder, the sheer exuberance of Disney's adaptation of PL Travers' children's classic should tickle the most jaded fancy.
