It has been 60 years since Mary Poppins hit theaters and screens in the ‘60s, but it remains one of America’s foremost classics starring Julie Andrews. For her film debut, the then 28-year-old gave a sterling performance that shot her to fame and earned her an Oscar for Best Actress.
If fans are feeling a bit nostalgic this holiday, they can stream the 20/20 special edition, The Untold Story of Mary Poppins, which aired on ABC days ago, on Disney+ and Hulu. Dick Van Dyke, who co-starred with Julie Andrews as he always knew Mary Poppins would be a good movie.
A look back as ‘Mary Poppins’ turns 60
The making of Mary Poppins was met with initial resistance from the book’s author P.L Travers, whose daughters Diane and Sharon piqued Walt Disney’s interest. The girls were obsessed with the story, but the studio’s attempt to make a movie out of it was cut short by Travers. She also thought the animations were unserious and should be left out.
Interestingly, the back and forth with Travers birthed her character in Saving Mr. Banks, where she was portrayed as a dragon. Aside from her fiery side, Travers came about these stories while trying to console her sisters when they nearly lost their mother. She used to tell them stories about a magic horse, and a certain Aunt Ellie, similar to Mary Poppins, helped.
‘Mary Poppins’ eventually received approval
As Mary Poppins turns 60, it is worth noting that the creators did not give up on making it happen, as they had inquired about the rights for decades. They agreed to pay Travers $750,000 plus a percentage of the film’s potential profits.
While seeking someone to play the title character Mary Poppins, Disney noticed Julie Andrews during a Broadway presentation of Camelot and offered her the role. She was even pregnant at the time, but Disney worked around her schedule instead to make sure she was comfortable.