Review of Mary Poppins (1964) by Cameron J — 29 Apr 2012

This movie is Walt Disney's greatest masterpiece. He combines all the different tricks he's learned into one wonderful film, and we all get to enjoy the results. From superimposing actors in a cartoon, to animatronic birds chirping, we are treated to a feast of special film techniques that were revolutionary at the time. Every movie that he helped create in the lead-up to this one was simply a stepping stone.

Thank goodness Disney took the "risk" on Julie Andrews because she became iconic from this moment on. Of course Dick Van Dyke and the other cast members are also brilliant (with the possible exception of Van Dyke's iffy cockney accent.) The scenery is also a very charming mix of matte paintings and sets. It seems to fit the feel of Travers books quite well.

This film is also the Sherman Brothers' magnum opus. Each song has potential of getting stuck in the viewer's head because they are so easy to sing. The lyrics are playful and fun. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can offer to Mary Poppins is simply the fact that, while you can tell what era the film was made, the content of the film is truly timeless. I could see people 50 years from now still enjoying this film as much as people did 50 years ago.