Saving Mr. Banks from Walt Disney Pictures is the story of how Australian born author Pamela Lyndon "P. L." Travers (Emma Thompson) reluctantly agreed to allow Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) turn her best selling stories into a Hollywood movie. We are all familiar with the popular Disney movie entitled Mary Poppins released in 1964, but the film was based on a series of books written by Travers in the 1930's in London. Despite her less than modest upbringings, Travers found quite a bit of success from her books. This film takes place at an important crossroads: Walt Disney has expressed interest in turning her books into a full length feature film right at the same time her funds from the book sales (which isn't selling any more) are completely gone. Travers is in danger of losing her house and has no money left which is the only reason she agrees to even consider allowing her stories to be made into a movie.
Saving Mr. Banks is also about two personal journeys. Disney is riding high on the success of his movies and recent opening of his crowning achievement, Disneyland. Though his intentions are good, he is surprised that Travers doesn't enthusiastically leap at the opportunity to grant him the authority to transform her children's stories into another Disney blockbuster movie. Travers has grown rigid and closed-off over the years and it frustrates her and terrifies her to admit to herself or to anyone else that she needs anyone else's help with anything. Both egos are put to the test as they slowly break down barriers to reach an agreement on what quickly becomes obviously more than just a series of fantastical tales for kids.
Travers grew up in Australia with her father (an unsuccessful bank manager who falls deep into alcoholism to cope with his failures), her mother, and her sister. Though they fell on hard times, her father encouraged them always to dream big and tried to make the best of their situations for his family. Travers began making her own success in her teens as a published poet and budding actress. She moved to England in the 1920's and began writing her Mary Poppins books in 1933. Travers was always inspired and even somewhat emulated the writing of author J.M. Barrie who penned the Peter Pan story. On the surface, Mary Poppins appears to be the story of a magical nanny sent to save the children in the story. At least, that's what Walt assumed. Travers further put up her guard against the whole idea of the movie responding, "You think Mary Poppins is saving the children?" It is clear that Travers was against the notion from the beginning and only entertained the idea out of sheer desperation for money. She fights Walt every step of the way, but eventually the two manage to reach each other, to understand each other, and to touch each other's lives.
Interestingly, this Disney movie about how Disney got the rights to make Disney's Mary Poppins is rated PG-13. That should tell you already this movie is going to be deeper than dancing animated penguins singing alongside slapstick actor Dick Van Dyke (who also Travers protested vehemently). The rating stems from some mild language, but mostly from the scenes that will take us to the darker world of her father's increased alcoholism and the effects it had on him and his family. Saving Mr. Banks looks like it will be filled with laughs and tears and Oscar-worthy performances by Hanks and Thompson. I'm predicting 4.5 stars, a movie I'd say was well worth the money to watch in theatres, one I'd probably pay to see again, and has a great likelihood of making it to my home collection. Am I right? We shall see.
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