Mary Poppins (1964)
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100% of critics liked it
(39 reviews) -
79% of users liked it
(613,188 ratings)
Long resistant to film adaptations of her Mary Poppins books, P.L. Travers finally succumbed to the entreaties of Walt Disney, and the result is often considered the finest of Disney's personally supervised films. The Travers stories are bundled together to tell the story of the Edwardian-era… More Long resistant to film adaptations of her Mary Poppins books, P.L. Travers finally succumbed to the entreaties of Walt Disney, and the result is often considered the finest of Disney's personally supervised films. The Travers stories are bundled together to tell the story of the Edwardian-era British Banks family: the banker father (David Tomlinson), suffragette mother (Glynis Johns), and the two "impossible" children (Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber). The kids get the attention of their all-business father by bedevilling every new nanny in the Banks household. Whem Mr. Banks advertises conventionally for another nanny, the kids compose their own ad, asking for someone with a little kindness and imagination. Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews in her screen debut) answers the children's ad by arriving at the Banks home from the skies, parachuting downward with her umbrella. She immediately endears herself to the children. The next day they meet Mary's old chum Bert (Dick Van Dyke), currently employed as a sidewalk artist. Mary, Bert, and the children hop into one of Bert's chalk drawings and learn the nonsense song "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" in a cartoon countryside. Later, they pay a visit to Bert's Uncle Albert (Ed Wynn), who laughs so hard that he floats to the ceiling. Mr. Banks is pleased that his children are behaving better, but he's not happy with their fantastic stories. To show the children what the real world is like, he takes them to his bank. A series of disasters follow which result in his being fired from his job. Mary Poppins' role in all this leads to some moments when it is possible to fear that all her good work will be undone, but like the magical being she is, all her "mistakes" lead to a happy result by the end of the film. In 2001, Mary Poppins was rereleased in a special "sing-along" edition with subtitles added to the musical numbers so audiences could join in with the onscreen vocalists. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Stevenson
- Written By
- Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi
- Genres
- Kids & Family, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Aug 26, 1964 Wide
- Studio
- Walt Disney Productions
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
The sets are luxuriant, the songs lilting, the scenario witty but impeccably sentimental, and the supporting cast only a pinfeather short of perfection.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The grace of the effects makes it some kind of classic.
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Variety Staff, Variety
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.
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, Time Out
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.
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Common Sense Media Editors, Common Sense Media
World's coolest nanny celebrates family and fun.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Julie Andrews
as Mary Poppins
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Dick Van Dyke
as Bert/Mr. Dawes Sr.
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David Tomlinson
as Mr. Banks
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Glynis Johns
as Mrs. Banks
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Hermione Baddeley
as Ellen
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Ed Wynn
as Uncle Albert
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Karen Dotrice
as Jane Banks
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Matthew Garber
as Michael Banks
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Elsa Lanchester
as Katie Nanna
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Arthur Treacher
as Constable Jones
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Reginald Owen
as Admiral Boom
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Reta Shaw
as Mrs. Brill
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Jane Darwell
as Bird Woman
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Cyril Delevanti
as Mr. Grubbs
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Lester Matthews
as Mr. Tomes
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Clive L. Halliday
as Mr. Mousely
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Marjorie Bennett
as Miss Lark
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Alma Lawton
as Mrs. Corry
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Marjorie Eaton
as Miss Persimmon
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Don Barclay
as Mr. Binnacle
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Sam Harris
as Citizen
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Doris Lloyd
as Depositor
- James Logan
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Arthur Malet
as Mr. Dawes Jr.
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Dal McKennon
as Fox
- J. Pat O'Malley


