Mary Poppins

I remember taking our children--11, 8, 5, and 4--to see Mary Poppins when it was first released. My, how time flies!
The music is still just a delightful as it was in 1964--not what adult tastes might call a great musical, but certainly an entertaining musical that plays not only to children's ears. At the age of 75, I still find this a happy listen.

From the internet enclycopedia Wikipedia:

"Several film scholars have written interpretations of the film, including several attempts by structuralist semiologists suggesting that the film has a subliminal and symbolic subtext, intended to prepare America's youth for the political radicalism of the 1960s. Such analysis generally points to politically progressive or radical themes touched on in the film, including women's suffrage, the plight of the homeless, and animal rights, as well its mockery of British Naval militarism, and the anti-Capitalist implications of the Banks' children fomenting a panic at their father's bank. The scholars' analyses also suggest that the children's list of requirements for a new nanny can be viewed as a sort of seminal political document (similar to the Magna Carta or Declaration of Independence) and Mary Poppins "pops in" as a sort of anarchist mentor, who consorts with chimney sweep Bert and his friends, iconoclastic representatives of a blighted urban proletariat, in an Edwardian London fattened by imperialism in its final days before World War I."

Do we need further reason to love and adore the seemingly oh-so-sugary innocent supernanny? The musical and it's soundtrack is highly recommended for all children, and for adults who refuse to "grow up" too! It's preferable to the watered down stage version, which seems to avoid and/or ignore social politics alltogether.

Just a word to everyone out there. I saw "Mary Poppins" in 1964, and bought its Original Soundtrack Album on Vista Records (a subsidiary of Disney). That album's score was not taken directly from the movie soundtrack (as this "restored" CD release is). Instead, bits of music and dialogue were included in the LP to make for better segues; the "Overture" ends in an entirely different fashion; the biggest damage was done to "Supercali..." where the musical intro has been omitted as well as the comical dialogue in the middle of the song. The sound engineers have stripped out all the charm and warmth of the original Soundtrack version, and yet they call it a "Restored" or "Remastered" version. This is why I continue to play the vinyl version (transferred to CD). And frankly, there is no reason to include all 8 minutes of "Step In Time." If you want all 8 minutes, just watch the DVD -- like every other song, that's where they lifted the music for this CD.

I love this CD! It is a collection of master pieces by the Sherman brothers. The music is fun to dance to and is a great way to brighten up your day. I love turning on my CD player and listening to Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke sing thier hearts out. This is my favorite album in my collection. It is fun for the whole family wheather you are a baby or a teen or an adult or a senior. I am a teen and I LOVE it.

This is such a great CD. It has all my absolute favorite songs on it. I think I've watched and listened to the movie and the soundtrack so much now thatI think I know Mary Poppins all by heart! The sound on this CD is just(how else can I express it?)"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!!"Julie Andrews's(Mary Poppins) voice is wonderful,and Dick Van Dyke(Bert)makes you remember "Chim-Chim-Cheree".I even use "Stay Awake" and the beautiful lullaby "Feed the Birds" sometimes when I can't get to sleep.This CD is absolutely a must have for Julie Andrews fans, Disney fans,or just anyone who needs a lift.Cheerio!