MOST OF the films being mentioned as we go into awards season are pretty bleak, but there’s one film that’s just the sweetest thing.
Directed by John Lee Hancock, Saving Mr Banks is the back story to one of Disney Studio’s most popular films, Mary Poppins.
Set in 1961, this is not a behind-the- scenes glimpse at making Mary Poppins, but a look at how Disney persuaded author PL Travers to let him make the film, and more specifically it gives us the origins story from Travers’ own Australian childhood.
Mary Poppins embodies not only how Disney the man thought of himself as a storyteller, but also how the studio worked back in the day.
Not only does it have a strong storyline, but the motif of how the nanny turns a group of people into a family is a strong Disney theme. The scale of the film was also huge, not only on the tech-nical side but also how it cleaned up at the box office and has remained a favourite ever since. So, total Disney magic – love, laughter, friends and family – before we even thought of it as a byword for a specific way of making a film.
Plus, it won five Oscars and has remained up to now the only live action Disney film to be nominated for Best Picture by the Academy.
For this origins story, throw in the director of Blindside plus actors Emma Thompson (who plays PL Travers), Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti, Jason Schwartzman, Colin Farrell, Rachel Griffiths and Kathy Baker and no wonder the award nods have started rolling. Saving Mr Banks opens on February 21.
Win! Win! Win!
What better way to spread the festive cheer than by Sharing in the Magic with Disney? Tonight has teamed up with Disney to bring you their latest and greatest titles.
In today’s Share in the Magic with Disney competition you stand the chance to win a a Fantasia blu-ray plus a Mary Poppins 50th anniversary blu-ray, for a friend.
Simply answer this: who plays PL Travers in Saving Mr Banks?
Send your friend’s name plus answer to [email protected].
Nominate a friend, colleague or relative who you’d like to see win the prize, together with a reason why they deserve a bit of magic.
Remember to put the words “Disney Share in the Magic 2” in the subject line. Include your name, surname and the city in which you live, as well as a telephone number where we can call you during the day.
The competition is open until 5pm on Thursday and only winners will be contacted.
If chosen, your nominee will win the prize for the day. DVDs, Blu-Rays, toys and more will be available.
But that’s not all: because you have chosen to share the Disney magic, your name will be entered into the grand prize draw in which one winner will be chosen to receive all of the items featured in the Tonight Share in the Magic with Disney competition.