Mary Poppins: 5 Things That Didn’t Age Well (& 5 That Are Timeless)

What further praise for Mary Poppins can possibly be said that hasn’t been common knowledge for decades? It’s often regarded as Walt Disney’s magnum opus, and has been a favorite of fans both young and old around the world since it premiered in 1964. But upon further viewing, is the film practically perfect in every way?

The modern viewer has changed a great deal since the ’60s, and certain elements, creative choices, and techniques of the film do have the tendency to leave it stuck in the era. That all being said, how much of everyone’s favorite nanny truly stands the test of time?

10 Dated: Dick Van Dyke’s Accent

If there’s one thing everyone and their mother will call out on this film, it’s Dick Van Dyke’s horrific attempt at a cockney accent.

The guy is still an incredible talent and reportedly was a joy to have during the production, but sometimes an unmistakably American actor doing a British accent comes off as forced and untrained. However, since Bert is more of a comical character, it’s a rather forgivable sin.

9 Timeless: Bert and the Chimney Sweeps

On the subject of Bert, it can’t be denied that he and his chimney sweep friends are one of the highlights of the movie. His accent might be bad, but his persona is so warm, charming, and inviting that the audience can’t help but be sucked in by his positive energy.

Bert alone is one thing, but team him up with his legion of chimney sweeps on the rooftops of London, and it becomes one of Disney’s biggest party scenes that will have everyone on their feet.

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8 Dated: (Some) Special Effects

To be fair, many of the special effects in this film were revolutionary for the time, thanks to Walt Disney and his team of Imagineers. The floating effects, shifting furniture, dancing toys all look pretty decent by today’s standards, but some have lost their novelty.

The singing robin, the staircase illusion, and the letter in the fireplace, however, are all obvious mechanics, illusions, or camera tricks. It’s not incredibly noticeable, but noticeable nonetheless.

7 Timeless: The Music

Mary Poppins has won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but one of its crowning achievements is the one won for its music. “Chim-Chim-Cher-Ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” are just a few of the classic tunes peppered in through this musical movie.

There’s not a Disney fan out there who doesn’t know at least one song from the film. The Sherman Brothers truly outdid themselves on this one, resulting in a soundtrack that’s absolutely supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

6 Dated: Jane and Michael’s Performances

Child actors have a sort of stigma about them and, unfortunately, Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber who played Jane and Michale were no exception.

It’s not that their acting was bad by any means, but at times their performances were a little bland for characters in a Walt Disney production. But since Mary Poppins and Bert are more of the focus than they are, their flaws are easily dismissed.

5 Timeless: The Animated Characters

Disney is responsible for creating some of the most beloved animated characters in the history of the medium, and they did not skip on the cartoon antics for Mary Poppins in any way.

The penguin waiters, in particular, are some of the most memorable characters pulled from the inkwell, and even the band at the horserace celebration is familiar to the average Disney buff. It’s a simple case of Disney doing what they do best.

4 Dated: Animated Interactions

With the previous statement in mind, some of the animated interactions fall a little (and literally) flat when compared to today’s updated animation techniques.

For example, the bit where Bert dances with the penguins is adorable and hysterical, but when standing next to him, the penguins still look like two-dimensional characters. It was impressive for the time, but it’s not Roger Rabbit. Kudos to the sequel for improving the technique.

3 Timeless: Mary Poppins Herself

Mary Poppins is one of the most magically charming personae to ever step foot in a Disney film, and even today she’s regarded as “practically perfect in every way.” She’s sweet but occasionally sarcastic, she’s kind but firm, she’s cheery and yet knows when she holds the cards.

There is a laundry list of reasons why she makes for an enjoyable and entertaining character, but both Disney and actress Julie Andrews share responsibility on this one.

2 Dated: The Forced Platonic Relationship

Anyone who knows anything about the development of this film knows that the author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, had a lot of stipulations regarding the film adaptation of her book, including there being no hint of romance between Mary Poppins and Bert.

That being said, Disney did as instructed but the chemistry between Mary Poppins and Bert is incredibly endearing and the platonic nature of their friendship feels incredibly forced. Just listen to her verse of “Jolly Holiday” for further evidence.

1 Timeless: The Message

The message and overarching themes of Mary Poppins is one that plays on the audience’s emotional vulnerability like no other. Childhood and family aren’t elements that should be regulated and scheduled, there is always time to be kind, and there is such a thing as being too invested in your work.

These are just some of the lessons/morals present in the film, but they are timeless messages that shouldn’t be forgotten, regardless of the film’s flaws.

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