For two decades, Travers resisted Disney's offer to purchase the rights to Mary Poppins but eventually gave in as the royalties from her book series were drying up. So in 1961 she begrudgingly agrees to travel to L.A. to initiate collaborative discussions. This was no easy feat. Travers is, for lack of a better word, a pill. She is not a fan of Disney cartoons, she is distrustful of Disney's creative team and their ability to produce a quality film. Adding insult to injury, she refuses to sign over the rights until the film is completed to her satisfaction and holds that over Walt's head. She also insisted upon having every conversation recorded as her books were adapted into a screenplay. Archived recordings of these sessions were researched and captured for inclusion of Emma Thompson's portrayal of Mrs. Travers, as she insisted of being called. P. L. Travers herself was a difficult and complex woman who made no secret of her utter distain towards the idea of turning her characters into a Disney film. For Travers, her characters were representations of her family members and was very sensitive of having them reduced into saccharine, jovial Disney characters. Travers was vehemently opposed to the film being a musical with animation and was strangely averse towards the use of the color red anywhere in the film. Travers was steadfast in her creative rights and threatened to pull out of the movie deal several times.
As the storyboards unfold, childhood scenes were recalled introducing the audience to Travers' internal vulnerability evoking empathy towards her. Her childhood becomes central to this movie and demonstrates the origin of her beloved Mary Poppins characters. We learn her real name is Helen Goff and her father was Travers Goff who worked as a bank manager. Her relationship with her father is explored and we learn she was a daddy's girl who adored her father in spite of his heavy drinking. Her father was a loving man and a dreamer who often shared stories and dreams with her even at the expense of his relationship with his wife. We see that her mother harbored resentment towards this relationship and even attempted suicide. As her father's health began to fail rendering him unable to work, Travers' home life spins into turmoil. Her aunt arrives to take charge and restore order to this fractured family outfitted with her carpet bag and umbrella with a parrot-headed handle. Her aunt succeeds in this endeavor, but is unable to save her father.
The loss of her father weighs heavily for Travers which soon becomes clear this is the central theme of Mary Poppins and her reluctance to sign over the rights to Disney. There is a poignant moment shared between Disney and Travers after she left L.A. returning to her London home. Disney unexpectedly arrives at her doorstep and engages in an heartfelt conversation about his own childhood and relationship with his father. There is a connection established between Disney and Travers who vows to preserve the integrity of Mary Poppins characters, particularly Mr. Banks. Disney shares his own personal story of "the Mouse" and understands Mrs. Travers' reluctance to hand over her story.
Two time Oscar winner Emma Thompson was superb in portraying the prickly P. L. Travers, creator and author of Mary Poppins. Two time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is excellent and believable in his portrayal of Walter Disney. Mary Poppins highlights the importance of fathers, their role and influence in their children. She addresses issue of fathers working long, hard hours often missing life's most precious moments. Although these fathers may love their families dearly and have their best interests at the forefront, their absence has a significant impact on families -- particularly the children who not only need their mothers, but their fathers as well. The role of the father is a significant one, often overshadowed by the role of the mother. This film will warm your heart and connect you with your inner child. You will leave the theater humming bars of "Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" as images of animated penguins and chimney sweeps dance in your head. A definite must see.
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