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Nearly 50 years ago, Disney released the ground-breaking musical classic, Mary Poppins—a film that’s delighted audiences of all ages ever since. But making the film was no small feat for Disney. And the film’s remarkable story is explored in John Lee Hancock’s captivating drama, Saving Mr. Banks.
Saving Mr. Banks tells the true story of the grueling process of bringing Disney’s magical nanny to the big screen. In 1961, after 20 years of negotiations, Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) is finally able to convince author P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson) to spend two weeks with his creative team, in hopes that she’ll finally sign over the rights to her beloved novel. Walt pulls out all the stops, but the aloof author is still reluctant to let go of her beloved characters—and she makes unreasonable (and sometimes just plain ridiculous) demands to make things as difficult as possible. But it soon becomes clear that Mary Poppins and the Banks family are more than just products of the author’s imagination.
Part biography, part making-of feature, Saving Mr. Banks is a fascinating film for both Disney fans and movie buffs alike. Not only does it offer a brief glimpse of the energy and passion of the man who created Mickey Mouse and The Happiest Place on Earth, but it also tells the story of a beloved film that almost didn’t make it to theaters. As the film jumps back and forth between the nightmarish weeks of meetings at Disney’s studios to the author’s memories of her challenging childhood in Australia, fans of Mary Poppins are treated to some subtle (and some not-so-subtle) parallels between the two films—along with some insights into the real-life inspiration behind the characters and their story.
Beyond the making-of-style story, though, Saving Mr. Banks also benefits from a cast full of charming characters. Mrs. Travers may be prim and proper and as prickly as they come, but Thompson plays the author in a way that makes her entertaining—and sometimes even sympathetic. Of course, it also helps that she’s surrounded by a lovable supporting cast. Everyone at Disney’s studios is so eager, so earnest—just as you’d expect Disney employees to be—but there’s often more to them than initially meets the eye. And all of these character seem to revolve around the magical, mysterious Walt. Disney’s head honcho may not make as many appearances in the film as you might expect, but Hanks captures the man’s energy so well that he’ll bring a smile to your face whenever he turns up.
Be warned, though, that if you’re expecting a fun-filled family drama, you’ll be in for a big surprise. There are no dancing penguins in the author’s past. Instead, the story behind Mary Poppins is a harsh, heartbreaking one—complete with a troubled father and a dejected mother. So while the film may make you laugh and sing along with the unforgettable songs of Mary Poppins, it’s just as likely to bring a few tears to your eyes.
One thing is certain, though: you’ve never seen a making-of feature quite like this. It offers both the behind-the-scenes morsels of an in-depth documentary and the comedy and drama of a well-crafted biopic. When you see it, be sure to set aside an entire day—because, after it’s over, you’ll want to follow it up with another viewing of Mary Poppins.
Blu-ray Review:
If you’re interested in Disney history, you won’t want to miss Saving Mr. Banks. And, after you finish watching this captivating bio, you can find even more insights by browsing through the Blu-ray release’s special features.
For a film so grounded in Disney’s rich movie-making history, it’s rather surprising that the special features menu offers just three options—but all three are worth a look. The three deleted scenes may not add a lot to the story (which, of course, is why they were deleted in the first place), but they do show off more of the cast members’ brilliant performances. And “Nanny Song”—in which the Sherman Brothers attempt to win Mrs. Travers over with another one of their songs—is wonderfully entertaining.
Another short feature, Let’s Go Fly a Kite, is a brief tribute to Richard Sherman, with Saving Mr. Banks cast and crew members singing the classic Mary Poppins tune, accompanied by Sherman on piano.
The key feature, however, is The Walt Disney Studios: From Poppins to the Present, which follows Saving Mr. Banks director John Lee Hancock on a tour of the studios. The feature also includes archive footage and first-hand accounts to illustrate the Disney Studios atmosphere of the early ‘60s—and to offer some insight into the culture, the innovations, and Walt Disney himself.
Though I would have loved to see a few more extras included on the Saving Mr. Banks Blu-ray release, the film’s special features are great companion pieces to the film. If you’re looking for even more Disney history, though, be sure to check out the features on the 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of Mary Poppins.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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