Sneak Prevue Mailbag: ‘Mary Poppins’ is practically perfect

By TERRY R. CASSREINO

Good, live-action family films that appeal to children and adults are few and far between.

So, it should be no surprise that my pick for the best family film ever made is a movie the legendary Walt Disney produced in 1964. “Mary Poppins” is a classic, original screen musical.

In this week’s edition of the Sneak Prevue Mailbag, I answer questions about family films, movie lengths and other topics related to motion pictures. Every Friday I dig deep into the Sneak Prevue Mailbag to answer reader questions. If you have a burning question you need answered, write me at editor@sneakprevue.info.

Mr. Cassreino: What is the best family film ever made? – Ralph in Colorado Springs

MARY POPPINS (1964)

Dear Ralph: My choice is Walt Disney’s masterpiece “Mary Poppins,” a brilliant, original, screen musical based on the P.L. Travers’ books about a magical children’s nanny in London of the early 1900s.

Featuring catchy songs by brothers Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman, Disney studios crafted an enjoyable, innocent, family film highlighted by terrific performances from Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as Bert.

Andrews, as a matter of fact, won the Oscar for best actress. As her character says in the film, she was “practically perfect in every way.” Despite a horrendous fake accent, Van Dyke is just a good in a key role as Mary’s good friend.

The film featured for its time a ground-breaking, seamless blend of live action and animation. And in one especially wonderful sequence, Andrews and Van Dyke join a host of animated characters for the infectious song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”

Another memorable production number takes place at night on the roofs of old London when Van Dyke sings the Oscar-winning tune “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” This is great family entertainment and one of the best films ever produced by Disney.

Mr. Cassreino: Do you eat popcorn when you go to the movies? – Jessica in Charleston

Dear Jessica: Sometimes. But I try not to buy any concessions at the theater because the prices they charge are incredibly over-inflated. It’s bad enough you have to pay $15 a ticket to see a first-run movie. I don’t like paying another $10 for stale popcorn and drink.

GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

Mr. Cassreino: What is the longest film you ever saw? – James in New York


Dear James: Director Sergio Leone’s uncut version of “Once Upon a Time in America” runs 229 minutes, slightly longer than “Gone With the Wind” at 224 minutes. To be fair, though, I saw “Once Upon a Time in America” at home on DVD and caught “Gone With the Wind” at the theater as a child. I still distinctly remember watching “Gone With the Wind” on the big screen in 1969 at the Kenilworth Cinema, not too far from my house.

Mr. Cassreino: What is the most violent film you have ever seen? – James in New York

Dear James: Wow. Two questions from the same person. The most violent film? That’s easy: Director John Woo’s ultra-violent “Hard-Boiled” features scenes of intense, non-stop, expertly choreographed violence. This classic Hong Kong cop thriller is also one of the best police thrillers you will ever see. It helps that Woo films much of the over-the-top violence in his distinct, highly-stylized way. Call it a Hong Kong version of Dirty Harry.

Mr. Cassreino: Do you watch movies on HBO or similar channels? – Jones in Sarasota, Fla.


Dear Jones: I used to subscribe to Home Box Office until the price reached $15 a month. Despite offering great entertainment, like the side-splitting comedy of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and other regular series, I can’t justify spending that much money a month when I can watch unlimited classic and foreign films for half the price by streaming Netflix to my television through my Roku Internet TV box. Roku is a great contraption; the company just released a new version called, unsurprisingly, Roku 2. Go to www.roku.com.

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