The Next Reel Film Podcast

Would Julie Andrews have been better in My Fair Lady? How bad is Dick Van Dyke’s cockney? Was casting the Bride of Frankenstein as an angry nanny an in-joke? And just how do those actors dance with animated characters? Tune in to this week’s show to find out!

Show Notes

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"I feel what’s to happen all happened before."

Anyone who watched 2013’s Saving Mr. Banks knows what a difficult time Walt Disney had getting the rights to P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins” novels so he could make the cinematic adaptation. It’s quite a story, but what you don’t get from watching that film is the incredible experience of watching Mary Poppins itself. Sure, at a cursory glance, it’s a very episodic film with seemingly disconnected sequences of the titular character as she nannies the Banks children, Jane and Michael. But digging deeper, there’s quite a bit more there. What it seemed ol’ Uncle Walt did was make a film that had something to say to just about everybody. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our Musicals From the 60s series with Robert Stevenson’s 1964 hit Mary Poppins.

We talk about the magic of this film and how our interpretations have evolved as we’ve grown up with it. We look at the casting which is practically perfect in every way, starting right at the top with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and going all the way down to Elsa Lanchester as Katie Nana (and beyond). We touch on the fabulous effects scattered all through the film, how Disney was always pushing the envelope with cinematic tricks and how his goal was to fool people constantly where just when they think they figure out how they did it, he does something else to mislead. We chat about the many incredible songs and why they work so well, as well as touching on some of our favorites. Specifically, we look at “Supercalifragilisticexpialodocious” in our Deep Scene Dive and why this silly song about a nonsense word has lasting impact through to the climax. And we ponder the possibilities of an Aliens/_Mary Poppins_ mashup as we struggle to add the movie to our Flickchart.

We have an absolutely delightful time with this film. It’s one for all ages (except for some grumpy Amazon reviewers). Definitely check it out, then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

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Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.