I think you are way off base about the pace of the film. The early scenes with the Banks family are necessary for the set-up of everything that follows, and kids today are craving for that kind of story-telling, which builds up to Mary Poppins’ arrival. Today, kids’ entertainment is in your face from the first frame. Believe me, I have seen the kids in my family watch MARY POPPINS (with a few breaks) and never complain about any boring parts.
I think you wrote exactly what I did, but from a different perspective. You noted that kids needed breaks to get through the film, which indicates it’s too long or too slow. I didn’t say any of the scenes were unimportant, just take a long time to get where they’re going. You’re right that today’s entertainment is fast-paced from the beginning, often grabbing attention from the very first frame. In comparison, Mary Poppins sometimes seems sluggish when Bert or Mary aren’t on screen.
Fair enough. I am almost 50 and having seen MP in the theatre on re-release as a kid, I never found it long, or tedious. I guess family entertainment has changed because the audience has changed. Certainly the level of literacy and vocabulary was higher back then. I feel today’s children’s and family entertainment has to be fast to keep people’s attention, and the screenplays are written on a 5th grade level. Can you imagine somebody writing a song like FIDELITY FIDUCIARY BANK for a Disney or Pixar movie today?
I’m 65, saw “Mary Poppins” back in ’64 . It was wonderful then and wonderful now, and the fact that today it seems to some viewers overlong and sluggish in parts is not the fault of the film but the vast change in filmmaking (not for the best in many instances) which , while the latest technology is often astounding, the art of cinematic storytelling and screen writing has diminished considerably ; so many films seemed geared to entertaining audiences who require immediate thrills and satisfaction at the expense of a well written , intelligent script and character development. There is nothing wrong with the beginning of the film. The screenplay sets up the plot, introduces us to the Banks family and Bert, which culminates in the arrival of Julie Andrews making her first appearance on the screen leading to the electrifying moment when she introduces the song ” A Spoonful of Sugar” and you know for certain that here is truly a movie star to be reckoned with. “Mary Poppins” is neither too long or too short. It’s perfect.
I must admit, I didn’t fully appreciate this classic until I was a bit older. As a small child I’d be uninterested until the animated sequences. I adore this movie now.
I remember “first” (ie. concsciously) seeing this movie in the 80’s, back when Disney re-released them in theaters every seven years, and audiences came back with either complete amnesia, or -were- seeing them for the first time.
The stuff with Julie Andrews singing about spoonfuls of sugar, we expected. What we DIDN”T expect (along with the identity of the actor playing Mr. Dawes Sr.), was David Tomlinson and Glynis Johns’ perfect spoofs of British keeping-calm-and-carrying-on. (The scene where Mr. Banks is dishonorably de-banked seemed like it could’ve come out of a Python sketch.)
Moral: You never really appreciate this movie until you’re old enough to look at it as closely as it deserves. 🙂
Comments for Review: “Mary Poppins” 50th Anniversary Blu-Ray Presents Classic Disney Film as More Than Memorable, Not Quite Perfect
DMH
I think you are way off base about the pace of the film. The early scenes with the Banks family are necessary for the set-up of everything that follows, and kids today are craving for that kind of story-telling, which builds up to Mary Poppins’ arrival. Today, kids’ entertainment is in your face from the first frame. Believe me, I have seen the kids in my family watch MARY POPPINS (with a few breaks) and never complain about any boring parts.
Ricky Brigante
I think you wrote exactly what I did, but from a different perspective. You noted that kids needed breaks to get through the film, which indicates it’s too long or too slow. I didn’t say any of the scenes were unimportant, just take a long time to get where they’re going. You’re right that today’s entertainment is fast-paced from the beginning, often grabbing attention from the very first frame. In comparison, Mary Poppins sometimes seems sluggish when Bert or Mary aren’t on screen.
DMH
Fair enough. I am almost 50 and having seen MP in the theatre on re-release as a kid, I never found it long, or tedious. I guess family entertainment has changed because the audience has changed. Certainly the level of literacy and vocabulary was higher back then. I feel today’s children’s and family entertainment has to be fast to keep people’s attention, and the screenplays are written on a 5th grade level. Can you imagine somebody writing a song like FIDELITY FIDUCIARY BANK for a Disney or Pixar movie today?
Michael O'Farrell
I’m 65, saw “Mary Poppins” back in ’64 . It was wonderful then and wonderful now, and the fact that today it seems to some viewers overlong and sluggish in parts is not the fault of the film but the vast change in filmmaking (not for the best in many instances) which , while the latest technology is often astounding, the art of cinematic storytelling and screen writing has diminished considerably ; so many films seemed geared to entertaining audiences who require immediate thrills and satisfaction at the expense of a well written , intelligent script and character development. There is nothing wrong with the beginning of the film. The screenplay sets up the plot, introduces us to the Banks family and Bert, which culminates in the arrival of Julie Andrews making her first appearance on the screen leading to the electrifying moment when she introduces the song ” A Spoonful of Sugar” and you know for certain that here is truly a movie star to be reckoned with. “Mary Poppins” is neither too long or too short. It’s perfect.
DMH
Right on Michael!!!!
Jeremy Shields
I must admit, I didn’t fully appreciate this classic until I was a bit older. As a small child I’d be uninterested until the animated sequences. I adore this movie now.
EricJ
I remember “first” (ie. concsciously) seeing this movie in the 80’s, back when Disney re-released them in theaters every seven years, and audiences came back with either complete amnesia, or -were- seeing them for the first time.
The stuff with Julie Andrews singing about spoonfuls of sugar, we expected. What we DIDN”T expect (along with the identity of the actor playing Mr. Dawes Sr.), was David Tomlinson and Glynis Johns’ perfect spoofs of British keeping-calm-and-carrying-on. (The scene where Mr. Banks is dishonorably de-banked seemed like it could’ve come out of a Python sketch.)
Moral: You never really appreciate this movie until you’re old enough to look at it as closely as it deserves. 🙂
Enrique
I love this movie. It will always be a classic. And I can’t wait to see Saving Mr. Banks!
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