No, the title above is not what you think. It's not really about behind-the-scenes of the movie, it's more like a unique, heartwarming story behind the production of Mary Poppins. Saving Mr. Banks is indeed an amazing film,and I highly recommend this film to all Mary Poppins fans, or to those who are hungry for a movie based on a true story to cuddle with a blanket and cry for.
One thing I love about this movie is the flashbacks and flash-forwards we see in P.L.Travers' past and present. The movie begins with a scene when little Helen Goff (P.L.Travers' real name) squats down on a grassy field with her eyes closed, imagining herself being a fantasy character called "Princess Ginty". And then we are brought to the present when mature P.L.Travers sat at her desk with a frowny look on her face. And there's a pattern going on throughout the film, that is a flashback is presented about her past (including the times she has with her father Travers Goff) and then a flash-forward back to the present when she goes on this journey on turning her Mary Poppins book into a film with the whimsical and jovial Walt Disney. At first I thought there are too many flashbacks at the beginning, but then as the flashbacks keep coming in, I realize that the flashbacks are related to P.L.Travers' experiences in being in the Walt Disney studios and the Beverly Hills hotel.
In fact, the flashbacks and flash-forwards reveal symbolism! Take the first sight she has in her hotel room for example. She groans and frowns when she sees a room full of Disney stuffed dolls, balloons, and fruit baskets. She doesn't appreciate the welcoming gifts from Disney (obviously) and so she dump them all away in the hotel room closet. But before this, she snatches the green pears away from a fruit basket and throws them to the pool in the middle of the surrounding hotel buildings. Of course at first I have no clue on why she throws them away. Is it because she hates pears? The answer is then revealed further in the film when we see little Helen Goff drops pears she is holding and rushes to her father who dies in his bed (he is incredibly sick). The pears symbolize her last sight of her father, and with her apology of dropping the pears, she wishes she could hear her father's voice, but there isn't a reply.
Another symbolism is more on P.L.Travers background, that is she belongs to a high class society. She is from London, so we know that she is more into sophisticated parties. When she approaches the elevator doors of the hotel, she sees a bar at a few feet away from her distance and she has this urge to go in there. This shows that she wants to fit in into the well-dressed people and the more mature atmosphere with well-developed conversations and wine-drinking. She ends up going in the bar further in the film and instead of wine, she orders a pot of tea. Well, what can I say? She's an English citizen all right.
And anyone realize how important that Mickey Mouse doll is? When she first saw that giant stuffed mouse sitting on the bed in her hotel room, she didn't squeeze it with the rest of the stuff in the closet. Instead, she just put it at a corner with its head facing the curtains. Then, somewhere in the middle of the film, she has a hard time falling asleep that night. So she gets out of the bed and takes the Mickey Mouse doll from the corner. Like a pillow, Mickey Mouse cushions against P.L.Travers' head that entire night. I am like..awww! She has given everyone's favourite iconic character a chance to cuddle. And then when she quits the film and returns to London because of Walt's adamant decision of using animation without her approval, she brings Mickey the doll with her! At the dining table, Mickey is sitting opposite her with that same wide smile. This time, P.L.Travers sees life in Mickey Mouse the doll, kind of like a real mouse. Mickey Mouse, in fact, represents Walt Disney who has a wild hurricane of imagination comes to life in that 1960 generation. And when she looks at the doll, she sees Disney begging her to sign her agreement papers. And she does!
Speaking of Mary Poppins as a hero, the character of Travers' book is actually inspired by her family and her experiences in the past. The title, Saving Mr. Banks, is based on her father, Travers Goff who is obsessed with his new job at a bank and gives a proud speech about money (in the town fair scene) but then P. L. Travers wants to save her father's health (because of him coughing blood). In a flashback, the little girl finds a bottle of wine which is hidden by her mother and slips it into his father's covers while he is asleep. The father's job as an accountant takes lead to the character Mr. Banks in the Mary Poppins story. Back in the present, we get to see several scenes when Pamela (her full first name) Travers got distracted with the the painful memories she encounters with her father. She explodes when Don, the co-scriptwriter and the Sherman brothers sing the "Fidelity Fiduciary Bank" song because it reminds her of her father who gives the greedy-money speech. Since she uses her father's characteristics to create the character Mr. Banks, she realizes how painful and scary it must have been for her to overcome her feelings towards her father who has became a drunkard and a money addict. Even though her father loves her unconditionally, she couldn't resist on the new habits her father has ever since her family moves away from her home. When they finishes singing, she blames them for making Mr. Banks a "cruel" character. Isn't Mr. Banks supposes to be the antagonist in her story? He is supposed to be cruel right? I guess the song makes Mr. Banks an even worse antagonist than she ever thought.
She also takes a look at the sketches of the characters done by the Disney team and it turns out that Mr. Banks looks like a fusion of her father and Walt Disney's father. Walt Disney explains the reason why he adds a mustache on Mr.Banks face. He reveals his family's background: his father being a newspaper deliverer and he has to help him to do the job, especially in bitter snowy days.
It is his harsh childhood that teaches him to stay strong and have a new beginning, and Mickey Mouse is eventually his first step of becoming enormously famous. P.L.Travers is then encouraged to forgive him for not knowing that her Mary Poppins books are a tribute to her late father Travers Goff. I guess the reason why Walt Disney adds the mustache to Mr. Banks in the film is because he wants the character to be a little tribute to his father too.
And if you guess that our beloved Mary Poppins is inspired by the author's nanny, you are right. In one of her flashbacks, the nanny is like a mirror to the character in the film. The real nanny is more of a mature, strict lady with dark clothing and nearly grey hair. But as I look at her bag, it looks almost like the film version. The objects she pulls out from her bag is just like the film. The umbrella with the parrot head handle is similar to the movie too! I see the resemblance here. =)
Ok, one last thing I want to point out is the author's real name. Helen Goff is her actual name, and she changes into this legal name Pamela L. Travers. Why is that? Well, as the film goes on, mystery begin to spread open its pages as Walt Disney sees her flight itinerary with the name Helen Goff printed on it. He then racks his brain for a bit as he flies all the way to London just to convince Pamela once again! I am like...WOW! He really doesn't give up on her! He is definitely a trustworthy person who never break the promise of his daughters for creating a Mary Poppins movie! Anyway, when he meets Pamela in London, he spills about his realization that her name is adapted from her father Travers Goff. She omits the last name and uses her father's name to replace it. She really loves her father and I think it's a smart way to fool someone with such a whole new legal name.
P.L. Travers never change her habit of stuffing her suitcase into a plane compartment or carrying her luggage with two elderly but strong hands. However, there is a big character development in her. Her perspectives change from being narrow-minded to a little open-minded, especially when it comes to her profound relationship with her limo driver Ralph. I am stunned at the way they converse and their comfort in sharing their personal lives. And the part when she becomes a kid again by plucking out leaves from the pasture and making a "sculpture" of a mini garden? That's priceless! One of the most interesting scenes I've ever seen! She even pours her cup of tea into a long scarred hole to create a river! She also transforms from a frowny person to a little cheerful one. Proof? The fact that she dances with Don when they sing "Let's Go Fly A Kite"! It takes time for her to take her into the power of a musical, or at least happy, silly music. And slowly, she builds trust in the Disney crew and Walt himself. We get to see a soft spot in Pamela L. Travers (at last) when she cries during the near end of the premiere in that famous Chinese theater in Hollywood. She has one final flashback of her father and it reminds her that she is not alone and her father will be always be by her side.
So what do you think of the movie? And what do you think of my review? I hope you'll be swept off into a world of sweet nostalgia of the Mary Poppins movie like I do. Remember, SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS! Leave them in the comments below! ;) Thanks and see you in the next post!
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