Comment

Feb 14, 2018ba_library rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I did not know what this film was about, only that it had something to do with Mary Poppins. The story is about the author P.L. Travers and Walt Disney’s 20 year effort to get the story made into a film. Mrs. Travers (played by Emma Thompson) comes across as a grouchy, mean, grumpy old English lady who is not enchanted by Walt Disney (played by Tom Hanks) and his money-making Disneyland. She flies to Los Angeles in 1961 to discuss the film rights of her book. Of course, underneath the children’s story are some personal anxiety issues of her own childhood. Her family moved to Australia, her father worked at a bank, he was an alcoholic, he becomes very ill and an Aunt comes to live with the family who is the basis of the Mary Poppins character. I was initially a bit confused since the story switches between Los Angeles and Australia, in different time eras but it does all come together in the end. Not a real upbeat, joyful story. Not recommended for young kids, but as an adult who loved the film as a child, I enjoyed the back story and, of course, was singing along with the songs. I have never read the book, but will read it now and will probably need to watch the original film again.