All Jane (Karen Dotrice) and Michael (Matthew Garber) Banks want to do is have fun, but they can't because they have a strict nanny and a strict father, George Banks (David Tomlinson), who runs his life by the clock.
"A British Bank, is run with prescision," he sings, "A Birtish home, requires nothing less!"
However, one day Jane and Michael run away from their nanny for the fourth time that week. So infuriated with the children, the nanny quits. Mr. Banks takes it upon himself to hire a new nanny as he feels that his wife, Winifred (Glynis Johns) picked the wrong one.
"She seem so solemn and Cross," Mrs. Banks states. "Never confuse efficiency with a liver complaint," Mr. Banks replies.
After placing an advertisment in the London Times, many nannies show up to be interviwed, but they are all blown away - literally. Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) comes floating down from the heavens, and is immediatly hired.(Although, Mr. banks doesn't realize he has hired her!)
Right off the bat Mary Poppins seems magical: she slides up the bannister, brings out three foot long objects from a one foot carpet bag, and then helps the children clean the nursery by snapping their fingers.
Soon, Mary takes the children on outings with a lovable jack-of-all-trades named Bert (Dick Van Dyke), such as going into a chalk painting, to a tea party on the ceiling, and wandering across rooftops.
But Mr. Banks, however, doesn't like all of this childish nonsense going through the children's heads, and is intent on putting an end to all of this tomfoolary.
David Tomlinson is wonderfully funny; he makes the picture ten times better all by himself. He deserved an Oscar Nomiation in his own right. Dick Van Dyke (who also played an old man (very very convincingly)), was just as good, if not better, and deserved an Oscar nod himself.
Michael and Jane Banks are played by two great young actors, Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber. They even look like Mr. and Mrs. Banks. It is sad to note that Matthew Garber wouldn't have a great acting career as he passed on little more than a decade latter of a mysterious virus which many speculate was drug or alcohol related.
It's a shame that My Fair Lady won Best Picture because Mary Poppins infanitly greater film. (I can't begin to count the ways...)
Plot: 
Based on an amalgamation of the P.L. Travers books, Walt Disney did an outstanding job with the film, finding just the right actors to fill the parts.
Visual Effects:
State-of-the-art for its day, the visual effects look convincingly real. Mary Poppins showcases the wonderful imagination that was Walt Disney.
Sound:
The songs make the film what it is, including the Oscar winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and a personal favourite, Mr. Banks' song, "The Life I Lead."
Character Development:
Atmosphere:
The first scene in the film is of lovable Bert, singing and dancing for a crowd. He then proceeds to take us to the Banks' home and deliver us right into their world.
Realism:
The movie was filmed on a soundstage, so most outdoor scenes feel closed in. However, this is made up by the fact that it is a plain old fun movie; realism notwithstanding.
Warren’s Rating:
Movies it was nominated with for Best Picture:
Alexis Zorbas, (1964); Becket, (1964); *My Fair Lady, (1964); Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, (1964)
9.42/10 Is the movie worth your time to watch?
07-06-04
Age at win: 29
Nominated for: Best Actrees in a Leading Role, Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins
Nomination: 3/3 (acting), 3/3 (total); Win: Only
Julie Andrews lights up the silver screen as Mary Poppins. In every scene she is in, you can see the positive effect that she has on not only herself, but her castmates and the crew as well.
Julie has good chemistry with David Tomlinson, but even better chemistry with Dick Van Dyke. Each actor feeds off the other's performance to enhance their own performance, creating a wonderful acting duo along the lines of Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers. The Jolly Holiday sequence in the animated world is the best example of this.
Julie Andrews originated the role of Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady on Broadway, but was deemed too unknown for the role in Hollywood. To counter this, the Academy voted her the Oscar, and not even a nomination for Audrey Hepburn.
07-06-04
