Mary Poppins (franchise)

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Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins Logo.jpg
Official logo of the 1964 film
Created by P. L. Travers
Original work Mary Poppins (1934)
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Print publications
Book(s) List of books (1934-1988)
Novel(s) Mary Poppins Opens the Door (1943)
Films and television
Film(s)
Television series
Theatrical presentations
Musical(s) Mary Poppins (2004)
Audio
Radio program(s) "Mary Poppins" (The Saturday Play) (2010)
Soundtrack(s)
Original music Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins (1965)

Mary Poppins is a fantasy media franchise created by P. L. Travers, originating with the Mary Poppins series of children's books, featuring the character of the same name.

Contents

Books

Films

FilmU.S. release dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Story by
Mary
Poppins
August 27,
1964
Robert
Stevenson
Bill
Walsh

and
Don
DaGradi
P. L.
Travers
Mary
Poppins
Returns
December 19,
2018
Rob
Marshall
David
Magee

Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins was made into a film based on the first four books in the series by Walt Disney Productions in 1964. According to the 40th anniversary DVD release of the film in 2004, Walt Disney first attempted to purchase the film rights to Mary Poppins from P. L. Travers as early as 1938, but was rebuffed because Travers did not believe a film version of her books would do justice to her creation and did not want an animated cartoon based on it. The books had been a favourite of Disney's daughters when they were children, and he finally succeeded in purchasing the rights in 1961, although Travers demanded and got script approval rights.

The relationship between Travers and Disney is detailed in Mary Poppins She Wrote, a biography of Travers, by Valerie Lawson, published by Aurum Press in the United Kingdom. The relationship is also the subject of the 2013 Disney film Saving Mr. Banks , starring Emma Thompson as Travers and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney.

The process of planning the film and composing the songs took about two years. Songs in the film are by the Sherman Brothers. Mary Poppins is played by British actress Julie Andrews. Disney cast Dick Van Dyke in the key supporting role of Bert, while Banks children were played by Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber. George and Winifred Banks were played by David Tomlinson and Glynis Johns. The film features a mix of adventures and episodes taken from each of the existing novels, and new events created for it. In notable differences from the original novels, the film does not include the characters John, Barbara, or Annabel Banks, and has Mary Poppins herself characterised as noticeably kinder. [1]

The film received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture with Julie Andrews winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Mary Poppins. The film won an additional four Oscars for Best Original Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee"), Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score. The movie takes place in the year 1910.

Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Saving Mr. Banks is a biographical drama film about the making of the 1964 Disney film.

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

On 14 September 2015, Disney announced a new Mary Poppins film was to be made, with a new plot and new songs, although in P. L. Travers' final will, another movie version was not to be made according to her wishes. The film is directed by Rob Marshall and written by David Magee. Songs are composed by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who both received support from Richard Sherman, who, along with his late brother-collaborator Robert Sherman, wrote the iconic song score of the original Mary Poppins film. The film is not a reboot or remake of the original 1964 film; in this film Mary Poppins revisits the now-adult Banks children from the first film and takes charge of the three children of Michael Banks. It is loosely based on the other seven Mary Poppins books by Travers and expands beyond them. Emily Blunt stars as Mary Poppins, [2] alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda in the role of Jack, [3] a similar character to Dick Van Dyke's "Bert" from the first film. [4] It was announced on 31 May 2016 that the film would be titled Mary Poppins Returns and would take place in Great Depression-era London, 25 years after the events of the original film. [5] Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw play grown-up Jane and Michael Banks. [6] The release date was December 19, 2018 in the US and the UK. [7]

Television

Mary Poppins, Goodbye (1983)

In 1983, the story was adapted by the Soviet Union's Mosfilm studios into the Russian-language TV musical film Mary Poppins, Goodbye, starring Natalya Andreychenko (acting) and Tatyana Voronina (singing) as Mary Poppins, Albert Filozov as George Banks, and Oleg Tabakov as Miss Andrew.

Cast members

Character Mary Poppins Mary Poppins, Goodbye Mary Poppins Mary Poppins Mary Poppins Mary Poppins Returns
19641983200420062018
Mary Poppins Julie Andrews Natalya Andrejchenko Juliet Stevenson Laura Michelle Kelly Ashley Brown Emily Blunt
Bert Dick Van Dyke Gavin Lee
Jane Banks Karen Dotrice Anna Plisetskaya Sophie Stuckey Nicola Bowman
Carrie Fletcher
Poppy Lee Friar
Charlotte Spencer
Faye Spittlehouse
Katherine Doherty
Delaney Moro
Kathryn Faughnan
Emily Mortimer
Michael Banks Matthew Garber Filipp RukavishnikovJonathan BeeJake Catterall
Perry Millward
Jack Montgomery
Harry Stott
Ben Watton
Matthew Gumley
Henry Hodges
Alexander Scheitinger
Ben Whishaw
George Banks David Tomlinson Albert Filozov David Timson David Haig Daniel H. Jenkins
Winifred Banks Glynis Johns Larisa Udovichenko Deborah Berlin Linzi Hateley Rebecca Luker
Admiral Boom Reginald Owen Zinovi Gerdt Ian Burford Michael McCarty David Warner
Miss Lark Marjorie Bennett Irina Skobtseva Claire Machin Ann ArviaSudha Bhuchar
Mrs. Brill Reta Shaw Jenny Galloway Jane Carr
Ellen Hermione Baddeley Julie Walters
Robertson Ay Lembit Ulfsak Gerard CareyMark Price
Bird Woman Jane Darwell Julia Sutton Cass Morgan
Mrs. CorryAlma LawtonMarina Nudga Phyllida Law Melanie La BarrieJanelle Anne Robinson
Bank chairmanDick Van Dyke
(Dawes Sr.)
Ian Murford Michael McCarty Colin Firth
(William Weatherall Wilkins)
Dawes Jr Arthur Malet Dick Van Dyke
Miss Andrew Oleg Tabakov Rosemary Ashe Ruth Gottschall
Park Keeper Igor Yasulovich Kevin WilliamsNick Corley
Uncle Albert Wigg Ed Wynn
Katie Nana Elsa Lanchester Phyllida Law Louisa ShawMegan Osterhaus
Mr. Binnacle Don Barclay Jim Norton
NeleusViktor KārkliņšStuart NealBrian Letendre
Constable Arthur Treacher Eduard LevinTim MorganJames Hindman
Jack Lin-Manuel Miranda
Balloon WomanCameo Angela Lansbury
Topsy Phyllida Law Meryl Streep
Arthur Turvy Andrew Sachs

Musicals

Mary Poppins (2004)

Author P. L. Travers resisted selling the stage rights to the Mary Poppins stories for many years, as a result of her dislike of the 1964 film version, and her perception of being treated discourteously by Walt Disney at the film's premiere. [8]

After the 1980 Picketwire stage production in La Junta, Colorado, Travers eventually sold the stage rights to London theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh. She acquiesced on the condition (expressed in her will) that only English-born writers  and no Americans, particularly anyone involved with the film production   were to be directly involved in the creative process of the stage musical. [9] Despite her deep seated antipathy for the film, Travers eventually acquiesced to Mackintosh's insistence that the stage production be allowed to utilize the iconic Sherman Brothers' songs from the 1964 film. [10]

The world premiere of the stage adaptation of Mary Poppins took place at the Bristol Hippodrome in the United Kingdom in September 2004. The production then moved to the Prince Edward Theatre in London's West End on 15 December 2004, where it ran for three years before closing in January 2008. The show transferred to a UK national tour, and a number of international versions were staged, including a long Broadway run in New York City.

Radio

The Saturday Play

On 31 May 2010 BBC Radio 7 broadcast a one-hour dramatisation combining several of the adventures into one drama, starring Juliet Stevenson as Mary Poppins. [11] This production has been rebroadcast several times on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Soundtracks

TitleU.S. release dateLengthComposer(s)Label
Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack 1964TBA Irwin Kostal Buena Vista
Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins 1965TBA Duke Ellington Reprise
Saving Mr. Banks: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack December 10, 2013TBA Thomas Newman Walt Disney
Mary Poppins Returns: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack December 7, 2018TBA Marc Shaiman

Anniversary celebrations

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of P. L. Travers living in Bowral, an attempt was made to break the world record for the world's largest umbrella mosaic on Bradman Oval, Bowral, at 2:06 pm on 7 May 2011. The event was organised by the Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council. [12] The record was achieved, with 2115 people. [13] An aerial photograph was taken by helicopter. [14]

2012 Olympics celebration of British children's literature

Mary Poppins featured in a celebration of British children's literature during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. [15] In a sequence called "Second to the right and straight on till morning", over thirty Mary Poppins descended with umbrellas to fight and defeat the villains Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook, Cruella de Vil, and Lord Voldemort, who were haunting children's dreams. [16]

Use During the World Tribology Congress 2017

The silhouette of Mary Poppins with an umbrella was used on the cover of the special issue of the journal Friction, dedicated to the 6th World Tribology Congress in Beijing. It shows the process of detachment of an adhesive contact made in the form of a flat punch in the character's shape. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Mary Poppins</i> (film) 1964 film by Robert Stevenson

Mary Poppins is a 1964 American musical fantasy comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney, with songs written and composed by the Sherman Brothers. The screenplay is by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, based on P. L. Travers's book series Mary Poppins. The film, which combines live-action and animation, stars Julie Andrews in her feature film debut as Mary Poppins, who visits a dysfunctional family in London and employs her unique brand of lifestyle to improve the family's dynamic. Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, and Glynis Johns are featured in supporting roles. The film was shot entirely at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, using painted London background scenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. L. Travers</span> Australian-British novelist, actress and journalist (1899–1996)

Pamela Lyndon Travers was an Australian-born British writer who spent most of her career in England. She is best known for the Mary Poppins series of books, which feature the eponymous magical nanny.

<i>Bedknobs and Broomsticks</i> 1971 film by Robert Stevenson

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a 1971 American musical fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson and songs written by the Sherman Brothers. It was produced by Bill Walsh for Walt Disney Productions. It is based upon the books The Magic Bedknob (1943) and Bonfires and Broomsticks (1947) by English children's author Mary Norton. It combines live action and animation, and stars Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Ian Weighill, Cindy O'Callaghan, and Roy Snart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherman Brothers</span> American songwriting duo

The Sherman Brothers were an American songwriting duo that specialized in musical films, made up of brothers Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. Together they received various accolades including two Academy Awards and three Grammy Awards. They received nominations for a Laurence Olivier Award, a BAFTA Award, and five Golden Globe Awards. In 1976, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the National Medal of the Arts in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard M. Sherman</span> American songwriter (1928–2024)

Richard Morton Sherman was an American songwriter who specialized in musical films with his brother Robert B. Sherman. According to the official Walt Disney Company website and independent fact checkers, "The Sherman Brothers were responsible for more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert B. Sherman</span> American songwriter (1925–2012)

Robert Bernard Sherman was an American songwriter, best known for his work in musical films with his brother, Richard M. Sherman. The Sherman brothers produced more motion picture song scores than any other songwriting team in film history. Some of their songs were incorporated into live action and animation musical films including Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Slipper and the Rose, and Charlotte's Web. Their best-known work is "It's a Small World " possibly the most-performed song in history.

"Sister Suffragette" is a pro-suffrage protest song pastiche written and composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. It was sung by actress Glynis Johns in the role of Mrs. Winifred Banks in the 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins. The song's melody was originally from a scrapped piece called "Practically Perfect", also written and composed by the Sherman Brothers.

<i>Mary Poppins</i> (book series) Series of childrens books by P. L. Travers

Mary Poppins is a series of eight children's books written by Australian-British writer P. L. Travers and published over the period 1934 to 1988. Mary Shepard was the illustrator throughout the series.

<i>Mary Poppins</i> (musical) 2004 stage musical

Mary Poppins is a musical with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and a book by Julian Fellowes. The musical is based on the similarly titled Mary Poppins children's books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film, and is a fusion of various elements from the two, including songs from the film.

"Feed the Birds" is a song written by the Sherman Brothers and featured in the 1964 motion picture Mary Poppins. The song speaks of an old beggar woman who sits on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral, selling bags of breadcrumbs to passers-by for two pence a bag so that they can feed the many pigeons which surround her. The scene is reminiscent of the real-life seed vendors of Trafalgar Square who began selling birdseed to passers-by shortly after its public opening in 1844.

"Fidelity Fiduciary Bank" is a song from Walt Disney's 1964 film Mary Poppins, and it is composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.

"The Life I Lead" is a song from the 1964 Walt Disney film Mary Poppins, composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Music arranger Irwin Kostal used the theme from this song as the leitmotif of George Banks, as it most expresses the way he "marches" through life.

"Let's Go Fly a Kite" is a song from Walt Disney's 1964 film Mary Poppins, composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. This song is performed at the end of the film when George Banks, realizes that his family is much more important than his job. He mends his son's kite and takes his family on a kite-flying outing. The song is sung by Tomlinson, Dick Van Dyke and eventually the entire chorus.

"Step in Time" is a song and dance number from Walt Disney's 1964 film Mary Poppins which was composed by the Sherman Brothers. The choreography for this song was provided by Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood. It is sung by Bert, the chimney sweep and the other chimney sweeps on the rooftops of London. It is similar to the old British music hall song "Knees Up Mother Brown".

"I Love to Laugh", also called "We Love to Laugh", is a song from Walt Disney's 1964 film Mary Poppins which was composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The song is sung in the film by "Uncle Albert", and "Bert" as they levitate uncontrollably toward the ceiling, eventually joined by Mary Poppins herself. The premise of the scene, that laughter and happiness cause Uncle Albert to float into the air, can be seen as a metaphor for the way laughter can "lighten" a mood. Conversely, thinking of something sad literally brings Albert and his visitors "down to earth" again. The song states a case strongly in favor of laughter, even if Mary Poppins appears to disapprove of Uncle Albert's behavior, especially since it not only complicates the task of getting Albert down, but the infectious mood sends Bert and the Banks children into the air as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Dotrice</span> English actress (born 1955)

Karen Dotrice is a British actress. She is known primarily for her role as Jane Banks in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins, the feature film adaptation of the Mary Poppins book series. Dotrice was born in Guernsey in the Channel Islands to two stage actors. Her career began on stage, and expanded into film and television, including starring roles as a young girl whose beloved cat magically reappears in Disney's The Three Lives of Thomasina and with Thomasina co-star Matthew Garber as one of two children pining for their parents' attentions in Poppins. She appeared in five television programmes between 1972 and 1978, when she made her only feature film as an adult. Her life as an actress concluded with a short run as Desdemona in the 1981 pre-Broadway production of Othello.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Poppins (character)</span> Protagonist of the Mary Poppins book series

Mary Poppins is a recurring character and the eponymous protagonist of P. L. Travers' books of the same name along with all of their adaptations. A magical English nanny, she blows in on the east wind and arrives at the Banks home at Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane, London, where she is given charge of the Banks children and teaches them valuable lessons with a magical touch. Travers gives Poppins the accent and vocabulary of a real London nanny: cockney base notes overlaid with a strangled gentility.

<i>Saving Mr. Banks</i> 2013 film by John Lee Hancock

Saving Mr. Banks is a 2013 biographical drama film directed by John Lee Hancock and written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith. Centered on the development of the 1964 film Mary Poppins, the film stars Emma Thompson as author P. L. Travers and Tom Hanks as film producer Walt Disney, with supporting performances by Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Bradley Whitford, Colin Farrell, Ruth Wilson, and B. J. Novak. Deriving its title from the father in Travers's story, Saving Mr. Banks depicts the author's tragic childhood in rural Queensland in 1906 and the two weeks of meetings during 1961 in Los Angeles, during which Disney attempts to obtain the film rights to her novels.

<i>Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack</i> 1964 soundtrack album by Irwin Kostal

Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack is the soundtrack album of the 1964 film Mary Poppins, with music and lyrics written by songwriters Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, and adapted and conducted by Irwin Kostal.

<i>Mary Poppins Returns</i> 2018 musical film

Mary Poppins Returns is a 2018 American musical fantasy comedy film directed by Rob Marshall, with a screenplay written by David Magee and a story by Magee, Marshall, and John DeLuca. Loosely based on the book series Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers, the film is a sequel to the 1964 film Mary Poppins, and stars Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins, with supporting roles from Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep, and David Warner in his final film appearance. Set in London during the Great Depression, the film sees Mary Poppins, the former nanny of Jane and Michael Banks, return to them in the wake of the death of Michael's wife.

References

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