Celebrate Thanksgiving with the 60th Anniversary of ‘Mary Poppins’

While many have been disappointed with the more recent Disney offerings, ABC is taking the time to celebrate one of Walt Disney’s masterpieces with a two-night event. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Mary Poppins which premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on August 27, 1964. On November 27, ABC News Studios will present a two-hour documentary about the making the movie and on the next night, The Wonderful World of Disney will air the famous film.

The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20 is said to be chockfull of rarely seen footage, photos and stories from the film’s living legends. It’s a diamond anniversary presentation that will please just about every Poppins fan. “It promises to be a sweet remembrance of the enduring, first-of-its-kind movie magic, the irresistible songs, and the iconic character who touched the world,” says ABC.

Mary Poppins is based on short stories written by P. L. Travers about a “practically perfect” nanny who mysteriously shows up at the doorstep of the Banks’s family who are a mess. The children are unruly and the parents are too busy with their work and extracurricular activities to pay any attention to them. With the help of a local chimney sweep (a Jack of all trades really) Mary teaches in an unconventional manner. When you’re with Mary, every chore can become a game and a little sugar can sweeten tasteless medicine.

Getting the Movie Made was a Struggle

Walt Disney first learned of Mary Poppins from his daughters who loved Travers’ book. He began the process of trying to purchase the film rights to Travers’ book as early as 1938, but she refused. Travers didn’t think that a movie could do her books justice. He persisted the venture for 20 years. She finally agreed to the proposition in 1961, but she demanded script approval. (However, Walt had final cut privilege.)

Coming up with a script that would please Travers was not an easy task as she was not a fan of Disney’s vision for the film. His version of Mary didn’t feature some of the nanny’s harsher aspects to the character featured in her stories. To make matters worse, she wasn’t moved by the Sherman Brother’s music, and she hated animation. Their relationship was the main subject of the 2013 movie, Saving Mr. Banks.

Julie Andrews was Not Walt’s First Choice

Although Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke got the starring roles, Julie Harris, Angela Lansbury and even Bette Davis (shudder!) were considered for the flying nanny. Walt really wanted Cary Grant to be his chimney sweep, but Laurence Harvey and Anthony Newley were also considered. Disney thought that Van Dyke was too young for the role. As for Travers, she didn’t like either of them!

Spoiler alert (oh, come on…it’s been 60 years) Dick Van Dyke actually played two roles in the movie. He not only played Bert but also played the Mr. Dawes Sr. at the bank. He is completely unrecognizable as the old man. (He later played another Dawes relative in Mary Poppins Returns, but he didn’t have to wear as much makeup for that one).

The rest of the cast included David Tomlinson (Mr. Banks), Glynis Johns (Mrs. Banks), Karen Dotrice (Jane Banks), Matthew Garber (Michael Banks) and Ed Wynn (Uncle Albert).

Other Surprises

Believe it or not Elsa Lanchester, who once played the bride of Frankenstein, was in this movie too, but only for a little bit. She played Katie Nanna, Jane and Michael’s first nanny who quits at the beginning of the movie. She’s not the only surprise though. A number of other celebrities learnt their voices for the animated sequences:

Julie Andrews also voiced the robin that she sings a duet with during the song “A Spoonful of Sugar” and one of the singers during “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”.
David Thomlinson not only played Mr. Banks but he also voiced Admiral Boom’s first mate, a penguin waiter, a jockey, a few race track stewards and even Mary Poppins’ talking parrot umbrella.
Paul Frees, known as Disney’s Haunted Mansion’s “Ghost Host”, voiced a horse.
Daws Butler, known as the voice of Huckleberry Hound voiced a penguin and a couple of turtles.
Jimmy MacDonald, who voiced Mickey Mouse after Walt, voiced a variety of animals.
Alan Napier, who played Alfred the butler on 1966’s Batman TV show, voiced a huntsman, a reporter and a bloodhound.
Thurl Ravenscroft, known for playing Tony the Tiger, voiced a hog.
Marc Breaux, one of the film’s choreographers voiced a cow.
Ginny Tyler, who was known for voicing the old Gumby shorts, voiced the lambs.
Marni Nixon voiced the three geese.
Richard M. Sherman voiced a penguin waiter and a band player. (He also voiced the bird lady since the actress’ voice was too soft and couldn’t be heard in the soundtrack.)
Robert B. Sherman voiced a banjo player.
Martha Wentworth, who voiced Madam Mim in The Sword in the Stone, voiced a cow. Her last role.

Other Facts

The technology and special effects that went into the making of Mary Poppins was ahead of its time. Many people think that at least part of the finished movie was filmed in London, but the truth is, the entire movie was filmed indoors at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.

Travers was not actually invited to attend the movie’s premier screening but she somehow managed to get one from a Disney executive. She told Walt that the animated sequence had to go. He responded with, “Pamela, the ship has sailed.”

Mary Poppins was made with a budget somewhere between $4-6 million but ended up earning $44 million worldwide. Not only was the movie a hit with families, but the film was also nominated for 13 Academy Awards (including Best Director (Robert Stevenson) and Best Picture. It won five Oscars for Best Actress (Andrews), Film Editing, Music Score, Best Song (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”) and Special Visual Effects. Disney re-released the movie into theaters in 1973 and again in 1980.

The Untold Story of Mary Poppins airs on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at 9 p.m. and Mary Poppins airs on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28 at 8 p.m.

Main Image: Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins (Walt Disney Pictures)