What are the odds that just after finishing the section talking about Julie Andrews being tapped for the role in Sound of Music after doing Mary Poppins that I'd encounter a grocery worker stocking shelves merrily whistling an Andrews tune? True story. Made me smile. This book also brought me some smiles. It was interesting to learn not only about the Sherman Brothers' work on Poppins but get to know their back story, such as Bob being in the first wave of army troops to hit Omaha Beach during WWII, and why it helped prepare them for the task. Walt Disney's courtesy toward their family was nice to hear about, too.
In other words, while the focus is on the drive to produce the music for Disney's Mary Poppins, we learn not only quite a bit about Disney and the Sherman's as humans, but also many of the various others who contributed. Knowing that, say, Dick Van Dyke is approaching 100 years old as I type, it was fascinating to be reminded that despite his successful television series, this was his first truly important movie role as Bert the chimney sweep. While Andrews was fresh off the disappointment of not being given the chance to take a successful Broadway role to the big screen, she was also pregnant when she signed to do the picture. You'll also meet the other main cast members, including the Bird Lady, and get a feel for their backgrounds and why Disney selected them. Heck, for all this talent, Van Dyke wasn't a dancer, so you know there was more to that story.
Bottom line, while I was expecting to read a bit more detail of how certain scenes were accomplished, many were explained, including the fear of heights one of the child actors had. The standard answer to those on set asking how something would be done was "Disney magic" which, given our knowledge nowadays of the output from the studio, made all the sense in the world. You'll even learn where the Sherman's life long love of word play lead to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" as a song. The author of the Poppins book, btw, PL Travers, gets some time and explanation, too, which was interesting having seen Disney's "Saving Mr. Banks" movie dealing with those tricky negotiations. In other words, lots of behind the scenes info shared including Walt's (he disliked being called Mr. Disney) concept of connecting with all ages, not just the children the picture may seemed aimed at. It worked and, yes, still works today. There's also an extensive list of resources used at the end. Thanks #WWNorton&Company for this early peek into the making of a movie so many of us have loved. It brought smiles and warm memories of it, not to mention the Sherman's role in the "It's a Small World" theme song at that Disney experience.
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