Mary Poppins (DVD, 2004, 2-Disc Set)

Mary Poppins is perhaps one of the greatest children's films I've ever seen. Mary Poppins (soprano Julie Andrews) is a perfect nanny with special powers. The show includes a near flawless mix of live action & animation. The film's musical score is superb, as well. The script, based on P.L. Travers book, is meticulous.

Beginning with a British mother & father (Johns & Tomlinson), who decide to palace an ad for another nanny for their 2 precocious children, Jane and Michael Banks (Dotrice and Garber, the children write their own ad, which their father tears up & burns in their fireplace. The pieces mysteriously go up the flue and into the hands of Mary Poppins. The next day, she glides down from the sky by way of her magic umbrella and answers the children's ad.

Poppins (Andrews) is not a typical nanny. The children can't outdo her as they have every other nanny, for one thing. To captivate their wild imaginations, Poppins takes them on magical adventures even as she teaches the Banks children British etiquette. Bert (Van Dyke) the chimney sweep accompanies Poppins and the children on a holiday to a an animated world with penguins, who serve tea on a carousel, with live horses. They meet Uncle Albert (Wynn), whose laughter causes everyone to levitate. Jane Darwell plays her final role as the Bird Lady.

The 1964 film won Academy Awards for Best Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Song, and Best Special Visual Effects. Producer Walt Disney considered Mary Poppins his highest achievement throughout a career that earned him more Oscars than anyone else. The musical score by Disney's composers Richard & Robert Sherman include:
"A Spoonful of Sugar," "Chim Chim Cheree," "Feed the Birds,"
"Let's Go Fly a Kite," & "Supercalifragilisticexpi​alidocious."

There is only one word that comes close to accurately describing the enchanting Mary Poppins, and that term was coined by the movie itself: supercalifragilisticexpialidoc​ious! Even at 2 hours and 20 minutes, Disney's pioneering mixture of live action and animation (based on the books by P.L. Travers) still holds kids spellbound. Julie Andrews won an Oscar as the world's most magically idealized nanny ("practically perfect in every way," and complete with lighter-than-air umbrella), and Dick Van Dyke is her clownishly charming beau, Bert the chimney sweep. The songs are also terrific, ranging from bright and cheery ("A Spoonful of Sugar") to dark and cheery (the Oscar-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee") to touchingly melancholy ("Feed the Birds"). Many consider Mary Poppins to be the crowning achievement of Walt Disney's career--and it was the only one of his features to be nominated for a best picture Academy Award until Beauty and the Beast in 1991.

with so many extra features that they had to include a second disc, this version of "mary poppins" is *well* worth the money!

the interviews with julie andrews and dick van dyke; their reunion with co-songwriter richard sherman; the red carpet, world premiere; the *new* bonus short, featuring julie andrews: all these facets of the special features give wonderful insights to the movie, the stars, and the general warm-all-over feeling that "mary poppins" has given audiences for over four decades.

remember that patience is a virtue: don't pay more than $10 for it, including shipping and handling. i didn't... TWICE! ;) [one for my collection, and one as a gift to friends.]

happy hunting,

r j

Mary Poppins is a classic award-winning film that will live forever. This item is atleast the third iteration of this magnificent film for children of all ages.

The music is very special, indeed. Julie Andrews (Mary) was at her very best - as was Dick Van Dyke (Bert). In this 40th Anniversary Edition, the stars talk about the music, the story, the animation mixed with actors, the selection of them as the actors, etc, etc. It should not be missed.

This movie should be in every DVD library.

This film is a fantastic musical for everyone, filled with songs that are catchy and interesting even for the youngest children. Mary Poppins is a magical nanny who takes her latest wards on wonderful adventures while healing their family life. The special effects are charming, and it is fun to see several well-known actors in comical and younger roles.

It's well worth watching!