Toon Talk: Mary Poppins DVD
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Andrews, Van Dyke and Richard Sherman return for A Magical Musical Reunion, which focuses on how the brothers’ came up with several of the film’s most memorable songs. Anyone who has listened to their recorded interview on the film’s soundtrack has heard these stories, such as how Andrews’ disapproval of the romantic ballad “Through the Eyes of Love�? led to the creation of “A Spoonful of Sugar�?, and how a simple sketch of a chimney sweep led to the eventual Oscar-winner “Chim Chim Cher-ee�?.

Richard Sherman returns yet again for, naturally, A Musical Journey with Richard Sherman. Here, he delves even further into the musical legacy of Mary Poppins; heavily influenced by English vaudeville and music halls, over thirty songs were written for the film, with fourteen ending up in the final production. Of the ones left on the music room floor, some were resurrected for future productions, including The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Big Red, or re-worked for Poppins itself: for example, songs titled “Mary Poppins’ Melody�? and “Practically Perfect�? evolved into “Stay Awake�? and “Sister Suffragette�?, respectively. Sherman also reveals some tantalizing trivia (such as who provided the robin’s whistle in “Spoonful�? and who voiced Mary Poppins’ parrot-headed umbrella) and offers some previously unheard musical material, including the Deleted Song “Chimpanzoo�?, which was originally written for the Uncle Albert scene. Sung by Sherman and seen here with storyboard and concept art, the song is also available separately from the main menu, which isn’t entirely necessary as it is provided with a proper introduction in this featurette; out of context from the rest of the film’s musical history, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

With a script peppered with such phrases as “way cool�? and “to the max�? and a beat-driven soundtrack, one knows immediately that, with the Movie Magic of ‘Mary Poppins’ featurette, we are in definite Movie Surfers territory. But considering that it (along with the nominal I Love To Laugh set-top game) is the only ‘kid-friendly’ feature included in this set, it can be easily over-looked. And it does provide some interesting facts about such effects used for the film as audio-animatronics and stop motion animation (in the memorable ‘nursery cleaning’ sequence).

A new feature for Disney DVDs, two Deconstruction of a Scenes, are presented, and they are welcome additions, offering extensive ‘making of’ montages of the entire “Jolly Holiday�? sequence (including the penguin dance and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious�?) and “Step In Time�?. Six weeks of rehearsal time were spent on this, the biggest production number in Disney history up to that time (see The Toon Talk Top 10 at the end of this article). The background of this sequence (found elsewhere in the set) includes the revealing fact that Dick Van Dyke had no previous dance training (!) and that this fourteen minute number was almost cut down to a mere two minutes (!!!) until Walt saw the 16 mm rehearsal footage shot by choreographers Breaux and Wood (who were obviously heavily influenced by their mentor, Michael Kidd of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers fame). That footage is seen here, and it must be noted that these rehearsals were done outside during a typically scorching California summer, which explains all the bare-chested male dancers in short-shorts. Also available is brief Make-Up Test footage of Van Dyke as the creaky Mr. Dawes, Senior, a role that he so desperately wanted that he told Walt he would do it at “no charge�?. Walt let him do the part, but it ended up costing Van Dyke money: he had to donate $4,000 to Cal Arts.

Previously only seen in fragments throughout the years, local television and radio coverage of the film’s red carpet Gala World Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater has been reconstructed and is presented here, the first time it has been seen in full since its original broadcast forty years ago. Aside from Walt and Lillian, Dick and what appears to be his entire family, and a very nervous looking Julie, seen amongst the attendees are such Movieland luminaries of the time as Maureen O’Hara, Celeste Holme, Agnes Moorehead, Annette Funicello, Roddy McDowell, Suzanne Pleshette, Buddy Ebsen, Ann Miller, Brian Keith, Vera Miles and the ubiquitous Cesar “Butch�? Romero. It was definitely an ‘Old Hollywood’-style opening, complete with a Pearly Band, a host of rubber-headed Disney characters direct from Disneyland, and even a balloon release. The highlight though is a gag outtake of Dick and Julie goofing during the filming of “Chim Chim Cher-ee�?.

A troupe of soot-covered chimney sweeps and a one-man band also make appearances during The Premiere Party, an event that occurred after the first screening of the film, right there in the parking lot of Grauman’s. Recently discovered 16 mm footage of the festivities can be seen, with a recording of the live radio broadcast from the event in place as the soundtrack.