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Community Corner

First Friday Films: Saving Mr Banks (2013)

When P.L. Travers travels from London to Hollywood in 1961 to discuss Walt Disney's desire to bring her beloved book Mary Poppins to the motion picture screen (a quest he began 20 years earlier as a promise he made to his two daughters), Disney meets a prim uncompromising woman who is not only suspect of the impresario's concept for the film, but who is struggling with her own past. During her stay in California, Travers reflects on her difficult childhood in 1906 Australia. This is something she and Disney had in common; his childhood was equally difficult. His father was a 'spare the rod and spoil the child' proponent who reportedly beat his sons regularly. 

Tom Hanks does an admirable job as Disney and Emma Thompson is splendid as his adversary cum collaborator who spits rapier-like one-liners in an effort to retain control. The supporting cast is equally excellent and includes Paul Giametti, Colin Farrell and Ruth Wilson. Director John Lee Hancock (The Rookie) illuminates the creative process of two strong, imaginative storytellers who each vie for their particular version of Mary Poppins on the screen.

How close is the story to real events? Does this matter or not? P.L. Travers was born Helen Lyndon Goff in Queensland, Australia in 1899. Her father was a banker like Mr. Banks in her Mary Poppins books. It is believed that the character Mary Poppins was inspired by Travers' Great Aunt Ellie, who brought order and discipline to her childhood after her father died and her mother had difficulty coping.

In 1924 Travers came to London as an actress, then became an established poet, journalist and art critic. Her first Mary Poppins novel was published in 1934 and soon became a children's classic. When she accepted Disney's $100,000 advance and five percent of the worldwide profits, she became an overnight millionaire. At the age of 96 she passed away in London in 1996.

The film has received over 50 awards including a 2013 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score by Thomas Newman and Spirituality & Practice's award for One of the Ten Most Spiritually Literate Films of 2013. Run time 125 minutes; rated PG 13.

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