Top 10 Best Mary Poppins Moments
#10: A Comical Poem
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Let’s start at the very beginning of the movie. Before we meet Mary herself, we’re introduced to Bert, who is entertaining a crowd of his admirers as a one man band, making up little personalized poems on the spot for them. During this scene he expresses that he feels a change in the wind, letting the audience know that something exciting is about to happen.This also acts as a preview for some of the great music that is to come, teasing one song in particular . . .
#9: Jane & Michael Present Their Nanny Ad
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The action of the film kicks off when Mr. and Mrs. Banks realize they need to hire a new nanny because their unruly children have scared the last one away. Mr. Banks wants to choose someone stern who will reign in his misbehaving kids, but Michael and Jane themselves have an entirely different idea as to the type of nanny they’d like. In this adorable poem, they list all the qualities they’re looking for, most of which don’t exactly line up with what their father had in mind. The way Michael chimes in to point out his contributions is particularly funny.
#8: Chim Chim Cher-ee!
If you first watched “Mary Poppins” as a kid, you likely remember being terrified during the part where Jane and Michael are lost in London’s East End and run into a grubby man in a dark alleyway- only to realize that it’s actually Bert! It’s an initially scary moment, but what comes after is one of the most delightful songs in the film: “Chim Chim Cher-ee”. Though there are tons of great musical numbers in this movie, this is the one that won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be!
#7: Flying a Kite
Before Mary arrives on the scene, the Banks children ask their father for help building an improved kite, but he dismisses them, deeming their desires to be trivial. Things come full circle in this scene near the end of the film, though, when Mr. Banks finally undergoes the character evolution we’ve been waiting for. He fixes the kite for them and the family of four dances off to give it a try all together. It’s a wonderful and heartwarming happy ending for the Banks family, but also marks the bittersweet moment that Mary Poppins takes her leave with the changing wind, her job complete.
#6: Mary Flies In
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Despite the fact that Mr. Banks tears up the children’s advertisement for their perfect nanny and throws it into the fireplace, it somehow makes its way to Mary Poppins. A bunch of dour-looking nanny candidates have shown up at the Banks residence to interview for the job, as advertised by Mr. Banks. Things look grim for Jane and Michael until all the candidates are magically blown away by a strong gust of wind and Mary floats serenely onto the scene. She then introduces herself to Mr. Banks, leaving him gobsmacked that she somehow got access to the letter. Her quirky personality is on display from this very first scene, and we’re immediately enchanted.
#5: Magic Bag
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Though we had gotten some touches of magic before this point in the movie, seeing Mary Poppins begin to decorate her room using household items that she pulls from her carpet bag really produces a sense of awe, in viewers of all ages. Her bag magically contains a lamp, an ornate mirror, a houseplant and seemingly impossibly depth. This is also the scene where Mary measures the children using her special tape measure, which deems her to be “practically perfect in every way”. After watching this scene, we’re left with no choice but to agree with that assessment.
#4: Tuppence
While many of the musical numbers in “Mary Poppins” are upbeat and cheery, there is one song that stands out for how melancholy it is. “Feed the Birds” brings with it notes of sadness each time it pops up throughout the movie; the most poignant instance is when Mary shows the children a snow globe and sings to them of the woman who sells breadcrumbs for “twopence a bag” on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. Of all the songs that were written for Disney films though, it has been said that this one was one of Walt Disney’s favorites.
#3: Stepping Lively
Kick your knees up! Link your elbows! There may be more memorable songs in the movie than this one, but in terms of production values, this particular number is tough to beat! “Step In Time” is the sort of musical number that you just don’t see anymore in modern musicals. It’s a long sequence that lasts nearly ten minutes, with Bert leading the rest of the chimney sweeps in a rousing rendition of this repetitive but infectiously catchy tune. The scene begins on the rooftops of London, but eventually the whole ensemble makes its way into the Banks family home for a hilarious and riotous conclusion.
#2: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
One of the most memorable and enduring things from “Mary Poppins” is this mouthful of a word and its accompanying song. As a kid, was there anything more fun than trying to get it right? This scene not only features a fantastically fun musical number, but also shows off the mixture of live action performance and animation which came to be emblematic of the movie. From the penguin dance and the group jumping into chalk drawings, it’s a musical spectacular packed with memorable visuals. We bet you’ve mastered the art of saying this word… but can you say it backwards? Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Tuppence, Invested Loving to Laugh Suffragette
#1: Spoonful of Sugar
It’s tough to pick a number a favorite moment for this list, considering there are so many catchy tunes and charming scenes to choose from. But since we have to, we’ve got no choice but to declare “A Spoonful of Sugar” as the most memorable moment in all of “Mary Poppins”. The message behind the song is one that everyone would do well to remember: an unpleasant task is only as bad as you make it. The song itself gives Julie Andrews a chance to truly shine, hitting the high notes in a way that is both comical and impressive.
