Mary Poppins - the power struggle

Saving Mr Banks (PG)
Running time 125 minutes
Rating:****
Anyone who can make creepy old Walt Disney look and sound good fully deserves an actor of the year award – and Tom Hanks pulls off the impossible in Saving Mr Banks, the heart-warming story of how the old schemer managed to persuade the prickly author of Mary Poppins to let him make the smash-hit film.
It’s 1961 and Walt has been trying for 20 years to get author Pamela Travers (Emma Thompson) to sign over the film rights, but she is having none of it, telling the film mogul exactly what she thinks of his twinkly, trashy cartoons.
Walt – as portrayed by class-act Hanks – comes over as friendly, honest and easy-going, a real family man with goodness oozing out of him – which is not surprising as Disney Studios made the film, carefully edging around the less attractive parts of the man.
Travers – as portrayed by Thompson – is rude, snobby, and fiercely protective of her creation, which means more to her than Walt can ever imagine.
But the book royalty money was running out and Travers was forced out of necessity to go to Hollywood (which she said smelt of sweat) for two weeks to talk to Disney about what kind of film could be made from the book.
Ol’ Walt tried everything – charm, heavy pressure, throwing money at her, even rides at Disneyworld – but nothing worked because he didn’t know her background.
The film switches between the Hollywood visit in 1961 and Travers’ childhood in 1907 Australia, where her charming but feckless father (Colin Farrell) was dying of tuberculosis and a surfeit of drink and her Aunt Ellie (Rachel Griffiths) came to rescue the family in its grief and distress.
Ellie – with funny umbrella, hat and shoes – was Mary Poppins and the charming children’s story came from that tragic and heart-rending backdrop. As soon as Walt knew this, he was on a winner and his charm melts the crusty old maid enough to get a signature on the contract.
Hanks is superb as Disney, while Thompson plays up to the author’s role and Farrell is the whimsical but doomed father with typical aplomb. There are some great supporting roles as well, best of which is Paul Giamatti as Ralph, Travers’ amiable Hollywood driver.
It’s a sentimental, but deeply affecting film, typically Disney, but at the same time honest and true enough to bring a tear to the eye. Adult memories of childhood and what could have been will do it for an audience every time.
While it probably won’t win any awards, this is a family film to be recommended and worthy of a book that holds a special place in most adults’ childhood memories.