Saving Mr. Banks

About Saving Mr. Banks

Saving Mr. Banks is a 2013 period drama directed by John Lee Hancock. The film features the story of how Walt Disney Pictures produced the classic film Mary Poppins. It especially focuses on the challenging relationship between Walt Disney and the author of the book series, P.L. Travers. Travers’ reluctance to let Disney adapt her work into a film forms the crux of the story. The character dynamics, elements from Travers' past and how it influenced her creation are detailed in the plot.

Making / Production

The film is a production of Walt Disney Pictures, directed by John Lee Hancock. It was produced by Alison Owen, Iain Canning, and Philip Steuer. The screenplay was written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith.

Actors

• Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, showcased sterling performance balancing emotional heaviness and humor with poise.
• Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, perfectly portrayed the charisma and determination of the Disney mogul.
• Paul Giamatti as Ralph, delivered a warm performance as Travers’ chauffeur.
• Colin Farrell as Travers Goff, Travers' father, performed the character flashbacks with depth and sensitivity.
• Ruth Wilson as Margaret Goff, Travers’ mother, played an important role in depicting Travers' childhood memories.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is mostly based on true events, and uses flashbacks of Travers' life in Australia, depicting her difficult childhood.
• Despite its dramatic nature, the film includes some lighter elements, such as a scene where the Sherman Brothers perform "Let's Go Fly a Kite".
• While the movie portrays Disney as convincing Travers in a two-week period, the rights negotiations actually went on for nearly two decades.

Awards

Saving Mr. Banks was nominated for multiple awards including a Best Original Score nomination at the 86th Academy Awards and a Best Actress nomination for Emma Thompson at the 71st Golden Globe Awards.

Quotes

• "Mary Poppins is not for sale. I won't have her turned into one of your silly cartoons." - P.L. Travers
• "You think Mary Poppins is supposed to come and save the children. Oh no, dear. She comes to save Mr. Banks." - P.L. Travers

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's music was composed by Thomas Newman who received an Oscar nomination for his work.
• "Saving Mr. Banks (End Title)" is a notable track, capturing the emotional journey of the film.
• The soundtrack also includes the heartwarming song "Let's Go Fly a Kite," performed by the Sherman Brothers in the film.