“Saving Mr. Banks”

I’m a great fan of Mary Poppins. Ever since my Mom read a Mary Poppins Golden book to me,  I’ve been hooked. This is the book she gave to me in 1956 when I was 3.

Then in 1964, I remember my Mom and my Grandma dropping me off at the movie theater to watch the film version of P.L. Travers books. I was enthralled. I loved the movie and as I left the theater, I looked longingly at the Mary Poppins’ dolls they had for sale. I didn’t get a doll, but later I did get an album of all the songs from the movie. – and I memorized ALL of them!

 When my oldest 3 grands were all younger, we would have Mary Poppins sleep overs at my house. We would have good snacks and an evening of sleeping bags on the floor in the living room watching the video of “Mary Poppins.”

Then February of 2011, my oldest daughter took me to the Broadway Across America performance of “Mary Poppins.” This was a wonderful evening.

 I, again, looked at the dolls. For some reason they seemed “cheaper” than the ones I saw in 1964! Maybe it was looking at them through the eyes of an adult instead of a child. I did buy a book and a bracelet.

I wrote about this evening at the theater  H.E.R.E

So, imagine my excitement when I heard about “Saving Mr. Banks.”  I immediately made plans to see it over the holidays while the oldest grand girl was here.

The boys chose “a Madea Christmas” 

Getting ready to see “Saving Mr. Banks” 

We were not disappointed. The Husband liked it. The grand liked it and I loved it!  I cried through much of it so did the grand. Not sure if The Husband did. 

After watching the movie, and reading more back ground on P.L. Travers, I realized she was a stinker to work with!! BUT if I felt about my creation as she did, I might be a stinker, too.

It’s kind of like raising children. We do have to let them go – that is after all why we raise them, to become independent adults. P.L. Travers just had a hard time turning loose of her “children” especially to Walt Disney!

She was a women with many memories. Some were true, some imagined and over the years, it was hard to tell which was which.

 I’m always amazed when people make something wonderful out of the “bad” that they have experienced. Because of P.L. Travers (Helen Goff)  past she was able to create a world that so many of us have loved and dreamed of.

So, I highly recommend this movie – especially if you are a Poppins fan.