Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins was Julie Andrew’s first film hit. The next year she was nominated for a Best Actress award for her role as a governess in The Sound of Music. She has recently starred as the Queen of Genovia who transforms her gangly granddaughter into royalty in The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Another unusual caregiver proves to be just the right medicine for an ailing family in Nanny McPhee.

DVD Notes: Mary Poppins: 40^th Anniversary Edition

Release Date: 14 December 2004

Remastered and remixed for it’s 40^th Anniversary Edition, the 2-disc DVD offers an all-new animated short hosted by Julie Andrews. The bonus film entitled The Cat That Looked at a King is based on a story from the original Mary Poppins series written by P.L. Traver and features the voices of Sarah Ferguson, Tracy Ullman and David Ogden Stiers.

Additionally, the disc set goes behind the scenes in Mary Poppins and reunites the talents of Andrews, Van Dyck and musical score writer Richard Sherman for a reminiscent look at the production of the film. A sing along section, a trivia game and a featurette focusing on the film’s special effect techniques are also some of the extras included in the release.

Home Video Notes: Mary Poppins: 45^th Anniversary Edition

Release Date: 27 January 2009

Mary Poppins returns to DVD, this time in a 45^th Anniversary Edition. And she has even more goodies packed in her magic carpetbag! These include an audio commentary by Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Dotrice and Richard Sherman, a making-of featurette, Pop-Up Fun Facts, a look at the film’s special effects, footage from Mary Poppins’ Gala Premiere, Dick Van Dyke’s make-up test and the original theatrical trailers. You can also gain a greater appreciation of the movie from Bob Crowley, its scenic and costume designer, as well as watch Chimpanzoo (a deleted song) and The Cat that Looked at a King (a story from P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins Opens A Door). Musically minded families are sure to enjoy the pop-up lyrics that will allow them to sing-along with the movies’ musical numbers and bonus materials provide a look at the score with comments from Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Richard Sherman.

Backstage Disney offers a look at the adaptation of the movie into a Broadway Musical (Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage), a peek at the Broadway cast performing a song and dance routine (Step In Time) and a MP3 version of Step In Time (featuring Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, stars of the Broadway production).

Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (English, French and Spanish), with subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.