Mr. Banks' Story: The Making Of Mary Poppins

Saving Mr. Banks is a 2013 biographical drama film directed by John Lee Hancock. The film stars Emma Thompson as P. L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins books, and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, who is keen to adapt her books for the cinema. The film depicts the author's tragic childhood in rural Queensland in 1906 and the two weeks of meetings during 1961 in Los Angeles, during which Disney attempts to obtain the film rights to her novels. The film's title refers to the character Mr. Banks in the Mary Poppins story, who was based on Travers' own father, and the film explores how the character's redemption in the film mirrors Travers' own yearning for her father's redemption.

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The film's portrayal of P.L. Travers' tragic childhood

The film "Saving Mr. Banks" portrays the life of P.L. Travers, the author of the beloved children's book, "Mary Poppins." The movie specifically focuses on the negotiations between Travers and Walt Disney, who sought to obtain the film rights to her book. However, a significant portion of the film is dedicated to exploring Travers' traumatic and tragic childhood, which had a profound impact on her life and her writing.

Travers had a difficult relationship with her father, Travers Robert Goff, portrayed in the film as a loving but troubled man. In the movie, we see a young Travers adoring her father, who calls her "his little star." However, he struggles with alcoholism and financial instability, leading to a downward spiral that affects the entire family. One of the most tragic moments in the film is when a drunk Goff attempts to leave their home to get more alcohol, and the young Travers tries to stop him, only to be pushed away. This scene highlights the powerlessness and emotional turmoil Travers felt as a child.

Another pivotal aspect of her childhood portrayed in the film is her father's illness and eventual death. In the movie, Goff develops tuberculosis, a devastating diagnosis at the time. Travers, as a young girl, is shown to be deeply affected by her father's illness, often spending time with him in the garden, where he rests to recover. Despite her mother's practical nature and insistence that Goff will recover, Travers senses the gravity of the situation and feels a profound sense of impending loss.

The film also depicts Travers' close relationship with her aunt, Aunt Sass, who serves as a maternal figure and a source of stability in her life. When Travers' father passes away, it is Aunt Sass who provides comfort and support to the grieving family. The young Travers finds solace in her aunt's presence, and this relationship becomes a pivotal influence on her life and her writing. The audience sees how Aunt Sass inspires the character of Mary Poppins, as she embodies a similar no-nonsense yet magical persona.

Furthermore, the movie explores how Travers' childhood experiences shaped her writing and her protective nature over her work. As an adult, Travers is reluctant to hand over the rights to "Mary Poppins" to Walt Disney, fearing that her beloved character and the important themes within the story will be misrepresented. The film suggests that her resistance stems from the trauma of her childhood, as she wants to maintain control over a creation that holds so much personal significance.

Overall, the portrayal of P.L. Travers' tragic childhood in "Saving Mr. Banks" offers a nuanced and emotional insight into the author's life. By delving into her past, the film highlights how Travers' relationships, particularly with her father and aunt, influenced her creative process and her unwavering protectiveness over her literary creation, Mary Poppins.

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Walt Disney's pursuit of the Mary Poppins film rights

The 2013 biographical drama film Saving Mr. Banks centres on the development of the 1964 film Mary Poppins and depicts Walt Disney's pursuit of the film rights to P. L. Travers' Mary Poppins novels.

In the early 1940s, Walt Disney promised his daughter Diane that he would adapt her favourite 1934 children's book, Mary Poppins, into a film. However, the author, P. L. Travers, was staunchly against selling the screen rights, especially to a studio that she feared would overly sentimentalise her work. For the next two decades, Disney made personal appeals to Travers, but she repeatedly rejected his pleas.

In 1959, Walt Disney travelled to London to meet Travers face-to-face and finally secured the rights to adapt Mary Poppins for the screen. However, the rights were subject to Travers' approval of the script. In 1961, Travers travelled to Los Angeles to meet with Disney and his creative team, including screenwriter Don DaGradi and songwriter brothers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Travers had a difficult working relationship with the team due to their presumptions and casual manners, which she found improper. She also disagreed with their depiction of George Banks, who was based on her alcoholic father, and their vision of making Mary Poppins into a musical.

Despite their differences, Disney and Travers eventually reached an understanding, and the film Mary Poppins was released in 1964. While the film was a critical and commercial success, winning five Academy Awards, Travers was not a fan. She had final script approval but no film editing rights, and she was unhappy with the final product. She vowed never to work with Disney again.

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The author's troubled relationship with her parents

The 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks tells the story of the making of the classic 1964 film Mary Poppins, specifically focusing on the tense collaboration between Walt Disney and Australian author P.L. Travers, who wrote the beloved children's book on which the film is based. The movie also explores Travers' difficult childhood in Australia, which not only inspired the creation of Mary Poppins but also complicated the process of bringing her story to the screen.

Pamela Lyndon Travers, born Helen Goff, had a challenging and complex relationship with her parents, which deeply influenced her life and work. Her father, Travers Robert Goff, was a bank manager and a dreamer with a drinking problem. He was loving and affectionate towards his family, but his alcoholism led to financial troubles and job losses, causing the family to relocate frequently. Goff's drinking also resulted in bouts of depression and illness, which put a strain on the family. Despite his flaws, Goff shared a close bond with his daughter, encouraging her creativity and imagination. He often told her fantastical stories and even supported her early interest in writing. Goff's untimely death when Pamela was only seven years old had a profound impact on her.

Her mother, Margaret Goff, was a pragmatic and strict woman who struggled to raise three children in difficult circumstances. After her husband's death, she worked as a newspaper proofreader to support the family. While she loved her children, her relationship with Pamela was often tense and conflicted. Margaret was a no-nonsense woman who had to make tough choices to keep her family afloat, which sometimes resulted in a harsh and unyielding demeanor. She disapproved of Pamela's imaginative tendencies, which she saw as a distraction from the harsh realities of their lives. This often led to clashes between mother and daughter, with Pamela craving the freedom to explore her creativity.

The character of Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins is believed to be inspired by Travers' father. The author's attachment to her father and the traumatic experience of his early death shaped her views on parenting and influenced her writing. Mr. Banks, like Travers' father, is a loving but flawed father figure who struggles with his responsibilities. In the film, Travers is adamant that Mr. Banks' character must be saved, reflecting her own desire to save her father from his demons. This insistence causes friction with Walt Disney and his creative team, who are more focused on creating a lighthearted family film.

The complex dynamics of Travers' relationship with her parents are reflected in her conflicting emotions towards her own creation. On the one hand, she is protective of her work and resistant to any changes that might dilute its integrity. On the other hand, she is hesitant to let go of her beloved Mary Poppins, fearing that the film adaptation might distort the very heart of her story. Ultimately, the process of making the film forces Travers to confront her painful past and find a sense of peace and closure.

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The creative differences between Travers and Disney

Saving Mr. Banks is a biographical drama film that centres on the development of the 1964 film Mary Poppins. It stars Emma Thompson as P. L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins books, and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, the film producer. The film depicts the creative differences between Travers and Disney, as well as the personal struggles that influenced their work.

One of the main creative differences between Travers and Disney was their conflicting views on the nature of the Mary Poppins story. Travers saw Mary Poppins as a serious character who was the "enemy of sentiment and whimsy", while Disney and his associates were puzzled by her disdain for fantasy, given the fantastical elements in the story. Travers was particularly troubled by the team's depiction of George Banks, a character who was based on her own father, and she described their characterisation as "completely off-base".

Another point of contention was the format of the film. Travers did not want the Mary Poppins movie to be a musical, and she was irked by the involvement of songwriter brothers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. She also wanted the film to be non-animated, and she was initially unenthusiastic about the animated penguins in the final film.

Disney and Travers also had different working styles and approaches to collaboration. Travers found the casual manners of Disney and his team highly improper, and she insisted on a more formal mode of address. Disney, on the other hand, was known for his casualness in dealing with people on a first-name basis.

The negotiations over the film rights and creative control were challenging, with Disney seeing many of Travers' demands as unreasonable. However, Disney eventually recognised the personal significance of the Mary Poppins story to Travers and worked to address her concerns. He softened the character of George Banks and revised the ending of the movie to portray him in a more positive light, which helped to secure Travers' approval.

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The film's exploration of legacy and redemption

Saving Mr. Banks is a biographical drama film that explores the development of the 1964 film Mary Poppins. The film centres on the author of the Mary Poppins books, P.L. Travers, and her difficult relationship with the film producer, Walt Disney.

As the film unfolds, it becomes clear that Travers' resistance to selling the movie rights to her beloved books stems from her desire to protect the integrity of her work and her deep personal connection to the characters, especially Mr. Banks. She views Walt Disney, portrayed by Tom Hanks, and his team of filmmakers as casual and improper, clashing with her formal and uncompromising demeanour. However, as Disney persists in his pursuit of the rights, he begins to understand the depth of Travers' pain and the significance of her father's redemption.

In a pivotal scene, Disney reassures Travers that through the redemption of George Banks on screen, her father's legacy will be honoured and redeemed in the eyes and hearts of audiences for generations to come. This moment of emotional breakthrough highlights the film's theme of redemption and the power of storytelling to restore order and instill hope.

The exploration of legacy and redemption in Saving Mr. Banks extends beyond the personal story of P.L. Travers. It also reflects a broader narrative of Disney's own legacy and his impact on popular culture. The film portrays Disney's determination to bring Mary Poppins to life, despite the challenges and creative differences he encounters. In doing so, it offers a glimpse into the Disney entertainment machine and the man behind it, presenting a complex character who is driven by his own past traumas and a desire to create magical experiences for children.

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