Saving Mr. Banks
Describe it in 25 words or less.
Pete: The true story of Helen Goff (AKA P.L. Travers) and her dealings with Walt Disney in adapting Mary Poppins from book to film.
Brigette: A dramatization of the making of the Disney film Mary Poppins.
Morgan: The story behind the Disney film adaptation of “Mary Poppins”.
Gable: The history of Mary Poppins, the author’s refusal and all the trouble Walt Disney went through to make it work.
Genre:
Pete: Biography
Brigette: Drama/Biopic
Morgan: Drama/Family/Comedy
What did you think of the poster and/or credit art?
Pete: I love the poster with the morphed shadows.
Brigette: The end credits were very well done.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Pete: Ralph because of his charm.
Brigette: Aunt Ellie because she always knew what to do.
Morgan: Walt Disney because he always looked on the bright side and was simply awesome.
Gable: Walt Disney because he was positive, witty, and wise. Who doesn’t love Walt Disney?
Who was your least favorite character and why?
Pete: In the end I failed to find one.
Brigette: P.L. Travers because she allowed her past to turn her into a person so unhappy that she made everyone around her unhappy as well.
Morgan: Mrs. Travers because she was so disagreeable and stubborn.
Gable: P. L. Travers because, even though she had good sides, she was a bit too stubborn for my liking.
How was the casting?
Pete: Brilliant, I especially loved Paul Giamatti’s role.
Did it grab you immediately or did it take a while?
Pete: It did grab me immediately and the cinematography and storyline sequencing kept it very interesting throughout.
Brigette: I was intrigued even before seeing it and it did not disappoint.
Morgan: The fact that it said “Australia” on the opening scene caught my attention right away!
Gable: It was somewhat interesting at the beginning but it turned out to have so much more feeling and humor than I expected it to have.
Favorite quote:
Pete: “You can stay there until you learn the art of subtly.” – Pamela Travers
Brigette: “Young man, if it is your ambition to handle ladies garments, may I suggest you take employment at a launderette?” – Mrs. P.L. Travers
Morgan: “Stop saying money! It’s a filthy, disgusting word.” – Mrs. Travers
Gable: “You think the female of the species has some sort of psychic insight when it comes to others of her kind? We don’t.” – Tommie
How was the soundtrack?
Pete: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Brigette: Thomas Newman does an excellent job and delivers all of the Mary Poppins favorites. Listen to it on YouTube here.
How was the ending?
Pete: Cathartic and I’ll admit that I cried.
Brigette: Incredibly sad.
Morgan: It got me a bit choked up.
Gable: It was a sweet and touching ending and it took all my might not to cry.
What was the moral of the story?
Pete: Tell your story and let it go.
Brigette: If you can’t heal the past, you need to re-imagine it in order to move on.
Morgan: Get over the problems in your past to enjoy the present.
Gable: Just doing one thing and getting it over and done with is sometimes not enough to get it all out. Sometimes you need to make a big deal out of it and then let it go.
Did you learn anything?
Pete: A lot about P.L. Travers and a little about Walt Disney.
Gable: A few tidbits about Walt Disney, P.L. Travers, and the making of Mary Poppins and what it all really meant to the author.
Who would you recommend it to?
Pete: Anyone who has ever seen Mary Poppins or read any of P.L. Travers’ books.
Brigette: People who think their past traumas don’t affect them.
Morgan: Those who need a good cry, those interested in the making of “Mary Poppins” or those who have problems from their childhood that are yet to be overcome.
Gable: People who love Mary Poppins and Disneyland.
Won’t Eat Their Cereal Opportunity: Emma Thompson Won’t Eat Her Cereal
Recipe: Learn how to make the perfect cup of tea.
Beer pairing: (Pete’s specialty) Any of the beers from Banks’s Brewing.
Artwork:
Color Palette: (Morgan’s specialty)
Favorite Architectural Detail: (Pete’s other specialty)
The first Goff family home in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
How much do you want to know about the personal life of your favorite author?
Chapters & Scenes 