Mary Poppins Differences

Compared to the Mary Poppins in the Disney film ‘Mary Poppins’ the original Mary Poppins is less than perfect. P.L. Travers published the first book in the Mary Poppins series in 1934 and it became popular in its own right, known and loved by children all over the world. After twenty years of negotiations between the Disney brothers and Mrs.Travers released the film rights to her books to the Disney corporation. That film, released in 1964, became an instant classic.

Julie Andrews as Mary was an immensely charming character, she sang, she danced, she warmed the hearts of many with her wit and half smiles. That Mary is, however, not the same one conceived by Travers in her eight books. Some of the differences are subtle, some stark, but all

Travers so many years ago, but she also differs from her in many ways. The two women are more sisters than twins. Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, the authors of the screenplay, had a much softer vision of Mary Poppins. The Mary that is introduced in the film fits the children’s advertisement to a T. She is beautiful, witty and kind hearted. However; she also remains firm on rules and enforces order even in ridiculous situations. The tea party with ‘Uncle Albert’ ( a story which does occur in the books) although fantastic, is still decent and polite. Mary Poppins is every inch a lady of propriety but she does not look down on those who are not of a high stature, all she expects is good manners from all. Any coarse words spoken by her are spoken with wit and good grace. “Close your mouth Michael we are not codfish” is one of the sharpest comments from her in the whole film and yet it contains a humor underneath that keeps it from being truly mean. Mary is full of witticisms like “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down” and “once begun is half done” that make the orders she gives pleasant. The film Mary still has an element of vanity, she still dresses very well but outside of the one moment with the mirror during the song ‘A Spoonful Of Sugar’ there is no other time that she fixes or adjusts her clothing. Disney’s Mary Poppins is more prideful of her skills as a nanny, her magic and her being ‘practically