Retrospective Film Review

Mary Poppins (1964) • 60 Years Later — Disney’s finest musical is utterly magical

In Edwardian London, a magical nanny employs music and adventure to help two neglected children become closer to their father.

Magic is unmistakably in the air. Leaves scatter through this London street, and cherry blossoms hover in the afternoon breeze. The winds are changing; something wonderful is about to happen. Floating in a cloud, fixing her make-up, an angel in nanny’s clothing is descending into our mortal realm.

Jane (Karen Dotrice) and Michael Banks (Matthew Garber) are two adorably mischievous young children, neither of whom can keep a nanny due to their unruly behaviour. Dissatisfied with their comportment, their authoritarian father Mr Banks (David Tomlinson) seeks a nanny who will discipline his children so that they may grow up to be respectable citizens in Edwardian England. But when he hires Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), he has no idea what will happen next…