Ep. 6 - Mary Poppins, the Disruptor

Jan 11

Julie Andrews in *Mary Poppins* (1964). Photo credit: Disney

In this episode we talk about our new-found appreciation for Disney’s 1964 adaptation of P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins.” Mary Poppins, who flew from the London skies into the lives of the Banks family, was the kind of disruption this family needed. Our conversation with coach and speaker Pete Cohen explores how disruptors like Mary Poppins can be motivational and help us grow.

Listen - Episode 6

Pete Cohen is a coach, speaker, and best-selling author of over 19 books. Pete is the host of the Mi365 (My-3-6-5) podcast where he inspires others to live life by design. As a motivational speaker and business coach who specializes in human behavior, Pete has worked with over 200 of the largest companies in the world, and coached and worked with world class athletes and teams to become peak performers. Pete is based in the UK but can be reached virtually from anywhere on the globe.

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Mary Poppins

The 1964 adaptation is set in 1910. The original story is set in 1934 (scroll down for more background information). Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) flies out of the windy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children. With the help of a carefree chimney sweep named Bert (Dick Van Dyke), the spirited nanny turns every chore into a game and every day into a “Jolly Holiday.” Directed by Robert Stevenson. Written by Bill Walsh, Don DaGradi, P.L. Travers. Music and lyrics Richard M. Sherman and his brother Robert B. Sherman.

Film Website

Background on the era of Mary Poppins

Australian-British writer Pamela Lyndon Travers, aka P.L. Travers, was born Helen Lyndon Goff. P.L. Travers’ original “Mary Poppins” book is set in 1934, the same year it was published. The story of the making of Mary Poppins including the conflict between a determined Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) and uncompromising P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) is depicted in the film Saving Mr. Banks (2013).

The 1964 Disney movie is set in 1910 — perhaps what the Walt Disney filmmakers interpreted as a happier time in the UK. There were a few major real-life events in 1910 that provided a backdrop for Mary Poppins and the future sequel Mary Poppins Returns (2018).

The 1964 Walt Disney film transforms Mrs. Banks wife and mother (as seen in the book) to wife, mother and suffragette wearing the green, white and violet sash. That makes Mrs. Banks part of a powerful movement to get women the vote in the UK. In November 1910 three hundred women held a peaceful demonstration and attempted to enter Parliament to argue for their rights. It was not a peaceful outcome, and that day became known as “Black Friday.” There was also the militant side of the suffragette movement led by the Pankhurst women (Christabel and Emmeline) and their allies. We recommend the 2015 film Suffragette to learn more about the Pankhurst women and the fight for women’s suffrage in the UK.
In 1910 England was mourning the death of King Edward VII after 9 years on the throne. His son George V (Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather) became the King of England.
There was labor unrest among dock workers leading to future strikes. Makes you wonder what the chimney sweeps were really thinking.
In Disney’s 2018 sequel, Mary Poppins Returns, directed by Rob Marshall, Emily Blunt is Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays Mary’s sidekick Jack (who mentions he was mentored by Bert).
The story in Mary Poppins Returns is set in the original time of Travers’ book —1934 — during the Great Depression or “Great Slump” as it says on screen. You see bread lines.
It’s 24 years after Mary Poppins made her first appearance to the Banks children, Jane and Michael, who are now 24 years older. Jane is a labor organizer — echoing the labor unrest and strikes from 1910 on.
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