Director: Robert Stevenson
Starring: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson
Running Time: 139 minutes
Synopsis: In London of 1910, practically perfect nanny Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) descends from the sky and takes the job of caring for difficult children Jane and Michael Banks. Their father George (David Tomlinson) is a pompous banker, and their mother Winfred (Glynis Johns) is pre-occupied by the suffrage movement. Mary is stern but loving, and teams up with chimney sweep Bert (Dick Van Dyke) to show the kids a magical good time and teach them about kindness.
What Works Well: This inventive musical celebrates a make-believe fantasy world by innovatively mixing animation with live action, delighting child audiences by redefining the art of the possible in special effects. The legendary musical numbers are full of whimsical energy and creative visuals, including A Spoonful Of Sugar; Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious; Chim Chim Cher-ee, Feed The Birds, and Let's Go Fly A Kite. Despite her character requiring only a limited range, Julie Andrews is a magnetic presence, oozing confidence behind sparkling eyes and unleashing a quite magical voice.
What Does Not Work As Well: Almost every scene and all the song-and-dance sequences are longer than needed, and some distractions (including the cannon-happy Admiral Boom and laugh-addict Uncle Albert) occupy too much space. The upper crust of prim and proper Edwardian England is the target of some good-natured ribbing, but otherwise this is plot-free entertainment, and even the low bar of George learning to appreciate family is ultimately undermined.
Key Quote:
Mary Poppins: Close your mouth, please, Michael. We are not a codfish.
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