The story of how Disney's Mary Poppins was made is brilliant, writes Christine Powley.
Director: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Annie Rose Buckley, Ruth Wilson, Paul Giamatti, Bradley Whitford, B.J. Novak, Jason Schwartzman, Kathy Baker, Melanie Paxson, Rachel Griffiths, Ronan Vibert
Rating: (PG)
5 stars out of 5
I saw Mary Poppins as a child and it led me to read the Mary Poppins books written by P.L. Travers.
The Mary Poppins in each was a very different character. Saving Mr Banks (Rialto) tells the story of how the starchy know-it-all of the books became the beaming, twinkly Julie Andrews of the movie. In real life, author P.L. Travers was a bitter woman who hated the idea of the Disney corporation turning her creation into a movie and insisted that all her scriptwriting sessions at Disney were recorded. They are not easy listening, but have a macabre humour to them as Travers did everything in her power to stall proceedings. The film has taken this nugget and runs with it.
Emma Thompson works a poodle perm, a pained expression and a fanatical insistence on correct form and still has us seeing her point - Disney did have a nasty habit of wrecking other people's intellectual property.
Tom Hanks, as Walt Disney, is a snake oil salesman who makes you happy to hand over the money. Who in their right mind would say no to a generous sum to have their book turned into a jolly film with sing-along songs, a lovely leading lady and the top male comedian of the time to bring cockney banter alive?
Best thing: There are no small roles, there are only small actors and here some mighty impressive talent proves it to us.
Worst thing: I laughed, I cried, I left humming Chim Chim Cher-ee. How can anyone find fault with that?
See it with: The lyrics to the songs of Mary Poppins committed to memory.
