5 Issues That Did not Age Effectively (& 5 That Are Timeless)
What other praise can possibly be said for Mary Poppins that has not been widely known for decades? Often viewed as Walt Disney’s magnum opus, it has been a favorite of fans young and old around the world since it premiered in 1964. But on closer inspection, is the film practically perfect in every way?
The modern viewer has changed a lot since the 1960s, and certain elements, creative choices, and techniques of film have a tendency to leave them hanging in the era. Besides that, how much of everyone’s favorite nanny has really stood the test of time?
10 Dated: Dick Van Dyke’s accent
If there’s one thing everyone and their mom are going to mention in this movie, it’s Dick Van Dyke’s terrible attempt at a Cockney accent.
The guy is still an incredible talent and was reportedly a delight during production, but at times a distinctively American actor with a British accent comes across as forced and untrained. However, since Bert is more of a weird character, it’s a more forgivable sin.
9 Timeless: Bert and the chimney sweep
As for Bert, it cannot be denied that he and his chimney sweep friends are one of the highlights of the movie. His accent may be bad, but his person is so warm, charming, and welcoming that audiences can’t help but be drawn to his positive energy.
Bert alone is one thing, but team him up with his legion of chimney sweeps on the rooftops of London and it becomes one of Disney’s biggest party scenes that will keep everyone busy.
8th Dated: (some) special effects
To be fair, a lot of the special effects in this film were revolutionary for the time thanks to Walt Disney and his team at Imagineers. The floating effects, moving furniture, and dancing toys look pretty decent by today’s standards, but some have lost their novelty.
However, the robin, the stair illusion, and the letter in the fireplace are all obvious mechanics, illusions, or camera tricks. It’s not incredibly noticeable, but it is noticeable nonetheless.
7th Timeless: the music
Mary Poppins has won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but one of his crowning achievements is that she won for her music. “Chim-Chim-Cher-Ee”, “A spoonful of sugar” and “Let’s fly a kite” are just some of the classics featured in this music film.
There isn’t a Disney fan out there who doesn’t know at least one song from the movie. The Sherman Brothers really outdid themselves on this one, resulting in a soundtrack that is absolutely supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
6th Dated: Jane and Michaels Performances
Child actors have some sort of stigma, and unfortunately, Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber, who played Jane and Michale, were no exception.
It’s not that her acting was bad in any way, but at times her appearances for characters in a Walt Disney production were a little dull. But since Mary Poppins and Bert are more in focus than they are, their shortcomings are easily dismissed.
5 Timeless: the animated characters
Disney is responsible for creating some of the most popular cartoon characters in the history of the medium, and they in no way skipped the comic book antics for Mary Poppins.
The penguin waiters in particular are some of the most memorable characters to pull out of the inkwell, and even the band at the horse racing celebration is familiar to the average Disney fanatic. It’s a simple case of Disney doing what they do best.
4th Dated: Animated interactions
Given the previous statement, some of the animated interactions are a little (and literally) flat compared to the animation techniques that are updated today.
For example, the piece in which Bert dances with the penguins is adorable and hysterical, but when they stand next to him the penguins still look like two-dimensional characters. It was impressive for the time, but it’s not Roger Rabbit. Kudos to the continuation to improve the technology.
3rd Timeless: Mary Poppins herself
Mary Poppins is one of the most magically charming people to ever find their feet in a Disney movie, and to this day she is considered “practically perfect in every way”. She’s cute but occasionally sarcastic, she’s nice but firm, she’s happy and yet knows when to hold the cards.
There is a laundry list of reasons why she makes for a fun and entertaining character, but both Disney and actress Julie Andrews share responsibility for this.
2 Dated: The Forced Platonic Relationship
Anyone who knows anything about the development of this film knows that Mary Poppins’ writer, PL Travers, had many provisions regarding the filming of her book, including the fact that there is no hint of romance between Mary Poppins and Bert.
That being said, Disney followed the directions, but the chemistry between Mary Poppins and Bert is incredibly adorable, and the platonic nature of their friendship feels incredibly forced. Just listen to her verse “Jolly Holiday” for more evidence.
1 Timeless: the message
Mary Poppins’ message and overarching themes play like no other with the emotional vulnerability of the audience. Childhood and family are not items that should be regulated and planned, there is always time to be kind, and there is such a thing as too much investment in your work.
These are just some of the movie’s tenets / morals, but they are timeless messages that shouldn’t be forgotten regardless of the movie’s flaws.
