Mary Poppins Memory

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 6:41pm

Mary Poppins is one of my favorite movies. I used to watch that a lot as a kid. Since it is being made into a movie, I would love to hear people's favorite memories about it. Here's mine -

I remember being touched by the "Feed the Birds" song at a young age. I guess it struck a chord with me and I just started bawling one time while watching the movie in my bedroom.

I just love it and look forward to the stage musical.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 7:07pm

Being made into a movie? There's going to be another re-make??

[MusicMan]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 7:15pm

Of course, you bawled. It's a lesson in compassion, beautifully presented.
Mary Poppins was one of the seminal events of my childhood. The coming attractions and trailers on TV positively set my brain afire and I was obsessed with it. Finally, after months, my mother finally relented and took me to see it so I "could finally get it out of my system." Thanks, Mom.
The sequence of the nannies blowing away, Poppins' arrival, the painting episode,the St. Paul's episode (your fave), etc. were simply amazing, with some of the most amazing sfx for the time. I remember being totally confused about the whole "fiduciary" thing (I was only eight).
Sidenote: I think it was Rice Krispies or some other breakfast cereal that contained a free toy tie-in with the movie---it was a small red or blue plastic chimney with either a Mary Poppins or Bert figure. You'd place the figure on a small lever inside the chimney, snap it, and---whoosh! they'd shoot into the air a la Step in Time. I must have had a good handful of them. I would take the Poppins figure, tie a string to it, suspend it from the second floor window of our house, and tell my 4 year old sister to look out the window from the first floor because " Mary Poppins was coming," and, of course, there she was, hanging by a thread outside the window. I think my sister believed me.
Yessir, I was obsessed with Mary Poppins. Which is why I will more than likely NEVER see the stage show.

Updated On: 4/2/04 at 07:15 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 7:53pm

The funny thing is that the author of the book, PL Travers, didn't like the movie.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 7:57pm

Mary Poppins scared me. For some reason, all British movies scared me...

[WestEndBird]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 7:59pm

I remember sitting on my mom's lap and laughing at the penguins dancing and saying...mom can I be in a picture too?? I wanted to win that horse race sooo bad!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 9:11pm

Let's see, my most memorable moments from watching that movie as a child:
Thinking that Mrs. Banks was fabulous. She was such a crusader for Women's rights, yet respected her Husband's opinions to a degree...and she was just so sweet, calm, and collected. lol I remember I wanted her to be my Mom.

For the longest time after first seeing the movie, I attempted to clean my room by snapping my fingers. I was so upset when it didn't work.

And my favorite part...when Mr. Banks learns what is important in life; and he mended his children's kite, and he, his wife, and their children go out together, and their skipping along singing, "Let's Go fly a kite..." It's kind of sad that they don't need Mary Poppins anymore; but it always made me feel so happy to see the family happy and spending time together. :)

Updated On: 4/2/04 at 09:11 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/2/04 at 9:12pm

I remember wishing that I could be one of those kids. I wanted Mary Poppins to be *my* nanny... she was the best! I wanted to ride in the horse race SO badly. I always wished that actual carousels would do that. But hey, I was like 6 when I first saw that movie. I still love it though... and yay for Julie Andrews!

I'm really excited that it's going to be put on stage.

Updated On: 4/2/04 at 09:12 PM

[Bret]

Posted: 4/3/04 at 11:32am

This was my favorite movie as a kid! I even tried jumping off a picnic table with an umbrella, thinking I would fly!(Give me a break! I was 5!). I do, however, remember thining that Mary Poppins was a mean lady when she left the family.

Posted: 4/3/04 at 3:00pm

i'm really excited for the 2 disc special edition DVD release!!!!

[kec]

Posted: 4/3/04 at 3:47pm

Mary Poppins was the very first movie I ever saw, and I believe it's the main reason why I love musicals so much. I loved every single song in that film, but a couple of stand outs are Chim Chim Cheree, Supercalifragilisticexpaladocious, and Feed the Birds. One of my favorite scenes is when they're on the rooftops doing "Step in Time." Another favorite scene -- tea with Uncle Albert -- up by the ceiling!

Interesting bit of trivia... on a visit to London in the last year or so I did one of the London Walks (very highly recommended!) around Hampstead. One of our stops was in front of an old house with a large deck on the roof. We were told that the place had been owned by a former military person, who had a habit of firing his cannon off to mark the time. Sound vaguely familar? PL Travers lived in the Hampstead area and apparently this neighbor of hers was the inspiration for Admiral Boom.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 4/3/04 at 3:59pm

You know you can say it backwards which is dociousaliexpyisitcfragicalirupus, but that's going a bit too far...don't you think? lol

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 4/3/04 at 4:30pm

my mom used to sing "stay awake" to me, and it worked like a charm (i fell right to sleep).

i also love "feed the birds"

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 4/3/04 at 6:17pm

I love to laugh!

[beacon1]

Posted: 4/3/04 at 10:47pm

Mary Poppins was the first movie at which I cried. I was little and when Mary had to leave I started crying. My mother tried explaining to me that it was a good thing because the family had learned how to be happy together. I didn't care. I wanted Mary to stay!

I loved the note that Jane and Michael compose describing the type of Nanny they want ("no warts!" and "doesn't smell of funny water.")

[lensman55]

Posted: 4/4/04 at 2:21pm

"Feed the Birds" made me cry when I was a kid... these days, it's the father's walk through a deserted, nighttime London, knowing his going to his dismissal that makes me blubber!

[racerchiquita76m]

Posted: 4/4/04 at 2:47pm

I loved every part of that movie, although I do remember being scared by the bankers when the children went to visit. And, at the end, my mother reminds me of how I would start crying, saying "please don't leave, Mary Poppins, you're my best friend." What can I say, I got really attached?

[kec]

Posted: 4/4/04 at 4:33pm

How's this for proof that this movie stays with you --

a couple of years ago I was on a long drive. I had a Disney collection tape in the player, and songs from Mary Poppins came on. Now, it's been years and years prior to this time that I had heard any of the songs, or watched the movie. When Spoonful of Sugar came on, I started to sing along -- and I REMEMBERED all THREE verses!!!!!

[lvpblues]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 4:20am

"Mary Poppins" as a film will always hold a special place in my heart. When I was 3 or 4 my mother taped the film off of the television. Not only is it one of my earliest movie memories, it is also my first musical memory. From this came a profound love of film and stage musicals. I can tell you I was thoroughly charmed by everything about the movie - I wanted to be there with them in the chalk paintings and walking through the London skies. And it made me quite the fan of penguins. But above all, it made me want to sing. Any time I needed some cheering up, I would pop in that video to the point that I wore it out completely with innumerable viewings. When my father introduced me to "The Sound of Music" on TV, I was quite jarred. (It would go on to be a favorite film - I insisted we visit the film locations when I was 12 in Salzburg). However at four, I didn't like seeing Mary Poppins with a tomboyish blonde cut. I never saw the complete SOM until I was in 5th grade because my parents always sent me to bed after "The Lonely Goatherd" (what can I say? it was always on a school night!) So Julie as Mary was it for me... and I gotta say that it is still my favorite of all her work.

For a long time I didn't see the film till I caught the tail end of movie on the Disney channel about 4 years ago. My interest in the film (which had not disappeared, but went ignored) was reignited. And being older, I didn't realize how witty the entire film is. I proceeded to go out and purchase the DVD. Even now I can probably sing you the entire score in one sitting - I am now twenty and in college and sing "Spoonful of Sugar" with a good friend whenever we're drunk...lol. It's now something of an event. (We improvise choreography too - the number it entirely different everytime) And when we get to the mirror scene, I take the top line and obbligato. I'm nuts, what can I say?

I wish the upcoming stage production a lot of success though I somehow doubt it will come anywhere near the magic that the film created.

Now off to listen to the soundtrack....

~Kevin

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 9:17am

I remember the nannies blowing away - what an awesome visual! Dick Van Dyke always has struck me as the wrong person for that role (same with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) he just cannot do a convincing British Accent (or cockney)...but otherwise I really liked the film.
on a side note - the first film I believe I ever saw in the theatre was Sound of Music and its the reason I am a musical theatre performer - Julie Andrews always made me sit up and take notice - no matter what she did. I think she's one of my greatest performing role models.

[kec]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 10:35am

Interesting... besides myself there are at least two people who credit this movie or The Sound of Music for the love of musicals we hold today.

Last year I had the privilege of talking briefly with Mr. Robert Sherman, the co-author of the musical score for Mary Poppins and CHitty Chitty Bang Bang (it was at the stage door at Chitty in London where I saw him). I told him then how much I loved their music and how it had been such a big part of my life. I realize now I should have also told him how influential Mary Poppins was to my enthusiasm for musicals... ah well -- maybe I'll get the chance to tell him if/when I see the new stage production of MP.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 4/5/04 at 11:23pm

Well let's see...I was born in 1982, started watching (or at least remember waching) movie musicals starting at around 4 years old. The most memorable:

Mary Poppins
The Sound of Music
My Fair Lady
Annie
Hello, Dolly! (well, bits and pieces from it. This one was always too long for me as a child...lol now I can watch the entire thing over and over again).

I think "My Fair Lady" was/is probably my favorite. lol I didn't know it wasn't really Audrey Hepburn singing until I was older. I don't really care either...I still love it.