Mary Poppins 1964,
Disney
Directed by: Robert Stevenson (I)
Writing credits: P.L. Travers (books), Bill Walsh
Starring:
Julie Andrews .... Mary Poppins
Dick Van Dyke .... Bert/Mr. Dawes Sr., Chairman of Bank
David Tomlinson .... Governor George W. Banks
Glynis Johns .... Mrs. Winifred Banks
Karen Dotrice .... Jane Banks
Matthew Garber .... Michael Banks
Arthur Treacher .... Constable Jones
Reginald Owen .... Admiral Boom
Ed Wynn .... Uncle Albert, the laughing man
Jane Darwell .... Bird Woman
Best Actress: Julie Andrews
Best Score
Best Song: "Chim Chim Cher-ee"
Songs:
Sister Suffragette
The Life I Lead
The Perfect Nanny
A Spoonful Of Sugar
Pavement Artist (Chim Chim Cher-ee)
Jolly Holiday
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Stay Awake
I Love To Laugh
A British Bank (The Life I Lead)
Feed The Birds (Tupperence A Bag)
Fidelity Fiduciary Bank
Chim Chim Cher-ee
Step In Time
A Man Has Dreams (The Life I Lead) (A Spoonful Of Sugar)
Let's Go Fly A Kite
Ah yes. Quite possibly the film I have seen the most times, though MPATHG comes close. As we know, it is London in 1910, and the Banks children are a menace to nannys everywhere, much to their parents' distress. So along comes Mary Poppins, "practically perfect in every way," to save the day. The children jump through paintings, dance on ceilings, and have the run of London, while Poppins drives Mr. Banks crazy with her progressive ways.
I find it to have been an interesting year for movies: My Fair Lady won best picture, which is still the cause of some debate, as Julie Andrews originated the part and was supposed to be in the film; however, the studios wanted Audrey Hepburn, who couldn't sing--her parts are dubbed. Meanwhile, also up for best picture were Beckett, a medieval drama staring Peter O'Tool, and Doctor Strangelove, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, and fighting for best screenplay (though in a different category) was A Hard Day's Night. What amazes me is that The Beatles didn't get Best Song or Best Score; but maybe I'm not that amazed, given that it was only 1964. Other movies were Goldfinger, The Pink Panther (out in 1963, but up for Best Score), and The Seven Faces of Doctor Lao, which I always liked.