In the summer of 1964, Walt Disney released his latest live-action film. Although his studio began by focusing on animated movies, Disney had been producing several live-action classics starting in 1950 with Treasure Island which he followed up with films like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Old Yeller. But this picture, a musical starring a young, lesser-known stage actress as the title character, would become Disney’s crown jewel. It was a film with all the right ingredients: music, magic, family, and a spoonful of sugar.
Mary Poppins became an instant classic the moment it premiered sixty years ago. Based on the books by Pamela Lyndon Travers, it was a film over twenty years in the making. Yet, it took the world by surprise. Not only was it filled with memorable songs and unforgettable performances, it also blew audiences away with its incredible visual effects. But even deeper than that, this film was riddled with deeply personal touches by Walt Disney himself, and the story touched the hearts of moviegoers everywhere. While most adults may have expected a film made for and about children, they soon found that the movie’s greatest lesson wasn’t for children at all.
So, hold on tight to your umbrellas, Cassettes; the winds of change are headed this way! Come with us on an adventure into the history of Mary Poppins.