Origin: This movie was released in 1964 by Walt Disney, and directed by Robert Stevenson. Julie Andrews plays Marry Poppins. It tells about a nanny who is hired to work for some impossible children in an upper class home. Magic is what sets her apart, along with her creativity and imagination. At this point in film making, sounds and color have been established strongly. A new technique used here is the cross between real action with real actors and cartoon in the same frame
Purpose: Mary Poppins is based on the series by P.L. Travers. However, like most Disney movies, it is watered down to make it somewhat less morbid. It was meant to be an adaptation of the books, but at the same time give insight to life in the time period.
Value: This film is a gold mine of social and historical issues from the 60's! First, social class is an overarching theme in the film, According to Nina Ponier, comparing the rich Banks family to other less wealthy characters in the film to show division of class during the time period. Also, the film touches on family affairs, as at the beginning, Mr. Banks (the children's father) has a bad relationship with his family and wife. Mary Poppins points it out and seeks to mend it. Gender roles are also prevalent in the movie, with the father working and the son managing the money and the daughter in pink, which gives insight to the gender roles that were still very strict in the 60's (references to the feminist movement are made).
Limitations: The movie fails to tell us about more political problems that occurred during this time period, like the ongoing cold war. It also doesn't talk about the rise of feminism and other movements. It also doesn't talk about the changing of family structure that psychologist Molly Castelloe says started in the 60's and continues today.
Fun fact: Some speculate that this entire movie is about the rise of the popularity of drugs, with the songs "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" and "Let's go fly a kite" being about drug usage. This could be part of the values section, but Disney, whi made films for kids had no intention of drug refernce. That's why it's just speculation!
Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058331/
http://www.fandango.com/marypoppins_21569/plotsummary
http://angam.ang.univie.ac.at/class/ko/mary%20poppins-class/class_in_mary_poppins.htm
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-me-in-we/201104/changes-in-the-american-family
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