Soundtrack Saturday: Mary Poppins (1964)

Image: sun.co.uk

With yesterday's release of Saving Mr. Banks, I thought it would be appropriate to listen back to the wonderful Mary Poppins soundtrack.

If you do not know the story, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? Go watch it now! 

But if you are otherwise engaged, Mary Poppins is about the magical nanny who ends up working for the Banks family, looking after the children Jane and Michael. Combining live action and animation, Mary (Julie Andrews) opens the eyes of the Banks family and brings them closer together. Chimney sweep, Bert (Dick Van Dyke), adds plenty of comedy, least because of Van Dyke's infamous 'cockney' accent but we will ignore this! 

How can you not love these songs? Listening to the orchestral overture immediately captures the charm and magic of the film. If you grew up watching Mary Poppins, a grand wave of nostalgia comes with listening to this soundtrack. 

Remember these tunes?

A Spoonful of Sugar

Jolly Holiday

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

And what about these musical gems?

Stay Awake

Chim Chim Cher-Ee

Let's Go Fly a Kite

There are so many highlights, nearly every song is a treat. The Step In Time sequence has been featured several times on Ticket Stub - for the dance sequence and for the fireworks effects. However, my personal favourite song has to be Feed the Birds:

The Sherman Brothers certainly created one of the best loved motion picture soundtracks. I urge you to listen again to truly appreciate their genius. 

It is practically perfect in every way! 

Best Track? How could I possibly pick? Let's go for the Overture - it captures every favourite tune.

 (See below)

Available on Spotify? Yes

What's your Soundtrack Saturday? 

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Top Ten Firework Scenes

Remember, remember the 5th of November...but what movie scenes can you remember with fireworks? 

I've picked my Top Ten but I'm sure there are plenty I've missed. 

Feel free to tell Ticket Stub your favourites by tweeting @TicketStubBlog and you could be featured in the next post!

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Merry and Pippin are the two cheeky chappies in this first film of the epic trilogy. They attempt to steal one of Gandalf's magical fireworks, however, the two hobbits get into a little spot of bother...

2. Toy Story (1995)

Buzz is strapped to a rocket and it's about to blow up in the sky. How will Woody and Buzz escape?

Woody: "Hey, Buzz you're flying!" 

Buzz: "This isn't flying. This is falling, with style!"

3. Manhattan (1979)

Woody Allen's black and white classic is one of the best ever film openings. Along with Allen and his character Isaac, we as the audience begin to romanticise New York "all out of proportion". With George Gershwin's masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue and the fireworks exploding over the Manhattan skyline, how could you not fall in love with this city?

4. Mary Poppins (1964)

The fireworks during Step In Time cause all the chimney sweeps to rush down Mr Banks' chimney and take over proceedings in his town house. The effects are rather impressive for the time too.

5. Mulan (1998)

Fighting Shan Yu on the rooftops of China's Imperial City, Mulan is running out of ideas...cue the little dragon, Mushu, who fires a huge firework rocket on Mulan's command which instantly kills the villain, but also sets off a great display!

6. Brokeback Mountain (2005)

There is no video available on YouTube, but I have inserted a picture here. This scene shows Ennis (Heath Ledger) beating up two guys who insult him with homophobic remarks during the July 4th celebrations. 

Image: theatlantic.com

7. The Little Mermaid (1989)

This is where Ariel first sees Prince Eric. His world is made even more mesmerizing by the fireworks display from the ship. Ariel just has to see more, much to the dismay of Sebastian. 

"Jumping jellyfish!"

8. To Catch a Thief (1955)

Fireworks and sparks fly between Grace Kelly and Cary Grant as they look across at the display on the French Riviera. And we all know what those flashes of fireworks symbolise, Mr Hitchcock...

9. Titanic (1997)

(Again, there is no video on YouTube - I will get the actual screen-grab soon.) For me, this has always been a memorable scene. All alone out in the cold Atlantic, it is the extreme over-head wide shot of the ship releasing the firework that shows how fatally doomed the Titanic and its passengers truly are. 

Image: thetruthaboutguns.com

10. A Bug's Life (1998)

You can always count on Pixar to be clever - here the "harvester salute" sees the harvested plants collide together in the air to create the insects' very own fireworks display as the 'warrior' bugs return to their home.

I hope you all have a wonderful Bonfire Night! Wrap up warm, enjoy the fireworks - and if you can't go to a display, be sure to take a look at these movies instead!

Top Ten Dance Sequences in a Film

From top left: Pulp Fiction (1994), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), The Artist (2011) and below (500) Days of Summer (2009)

As Strictly Come Dancing waltzes back onto our TV screens, I have been inspired to pick my top ten favourite dance sequences in a film and ask what your favourites are too...

1. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

I wish I could pick every dance sequence in this film. I was seriously struggling to choose between the crazy tap dancing Moses Supposes and the unbelievable spectacle of Broadway Melody but it has to go the most iconic scene not only of the film but in Hollywood's cinematic history. 

The title song Singin' in the Rain performed by Gene Kelly. It immediately makes me want the heavens to open so I can splash in puddles, twirl my umbrella and have not a care in the world...except the strange looks from passers by...

2. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

The climactic ballroom sequence with Pat (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) is one of the big highlights in the film. The couple need to just get an average score of 5/10 so his father can win a parlay against his gambling friend. According to choreographer, Mandy Moore, Cooper had "some real natural dancing ability" whereas Lawrence described herself as "a dad at prom". The Oscar winner certainly does not look like that here in one of the most charmingly quirky dance sequences.

3. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

I love this dance sequence because it is completely unexpected. The scene takes on a whole new genre suddenly as we see Tom's character on top of the world the morning after he finally has sex with Summer. The blue bird is genius and the music by Hall & Oates fits perfectly. Plus, it has Joseph Gordon-Levitt dancing...what's not to love?

4. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

In an attempt to save Pedro's campaign for class president, Napoleon dances to Jamiroquai's Canned Heat. Clearly, those lanky Michael Jackson-esque moves work. The entire hall gives Napoleon a standing ovation and Pedro becomes president. Could this campaigning technique be used in real politics? I definitely think we should see this in the next presidential election. No? Maybe not then...

5. Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins is the first Disney classic out of two on this list. Leaping between the rooftops of Edwardian London before descending on Mr Bank's town house, the energy of Bert and all the chimney sweeps is infectious. Also, Julie Andrew's head spins at a hypnotizing speed...

6. Pulp Fiction (1994)

It's become one of the top dance scenes: John Travolta and Uma Thurman doing the twist. Simple. Tarantino tells a very interesting story on The Graham Norton Show on how their twists came about.

7. The Artist (2011)

Harking back to the old silent cinema days, The Artist tells the story of George Valentin, a silent cinema star who's career is soon to be shattered by the 'talkies' and the rising star Peppy Miller. This dance sequence is at the very end of the movie. Sound reappears for the tap dancing number which has echoes of the great Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. In fact, the two lead actors Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo rehearsed for five months in the same studio as Kelly and Reynold's did for Singin' in the Rain. 

8. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

The best dance sequence in this childhood classic has to be Me Ol' Bamboo. Dick Van Dyke's character is running away from a very unhappy customer left with the most ridiculous haircut after his hair-cutting contraption fails at the fair. Attempting to find an escape, he manages to pass as one of the performers in a sing and dance show, trying to keep up with their intense routine. Van Dyke has said that this was the most difficult dance he ever did on screen and you can see why. Hats off to him!

9. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

From the energetic number in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, to the sedate and elegant dance found in Joe Wright's Pride & Prejudice. Lizzie Bennett and Mr Darcy's dance at the Netherfield ball is full of heat and tension despite the calm slowness of dance itself. 

10. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

The final pick and the second Disney classic. Beauty and the Beast's ballroom dance is the perfect romantic  moment, with the swooping shot from the golden chandelier to the couple below. All accompanied by the legendary Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts singing the title song. Beautiful.

I want to know what your favourite dance sequences are! 

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog and you could be featured in my next post.

Trailer Tuesday: Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

Image: businessdirect.com

I have wonderful memories from watching Mary Poppins when I was growing up. Especially with the opening overture up in the clouds as the credits begin and the unforgettable chimney sweep scene on the rooftops of London. (We’ll ignore Dick Van Dyke’s infamous “cockney” accent though). So why is this relevant to Trailer Tuesday? Is there going to be a sequel to this classic?

Thank God, no there isn’t a sequel. Saving Mr. Banks stars Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers (the author of the magical nanny) and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. The film is the back story to how Mary Poppins was made or how it nearly wasn’t, since Travers objected to nearly everything that Disney suggested as he tried desperately to get the rights. But there is a reason why Travers is so protective over her character and Walt has to seek out what it is to understand her story and make one of the most treasured films in history.  

This trailer is charming and hearing the songs on the piano instantly makes me want to reach for the DVD and watch Mary Poppins all over again. Tom Hanks is a genius piece of casting and I am a massive fan of Emma Thompson’s work. I expect it will be rather cheesy – hey, that’s Disney – but if the film is as delightful as the trailer then I’m sure it will be thoroughly enjoyable.

There’s certainly a positive buzz and the word ‘Oscar’ has been associated with this movie – I suspect for Tom Hank’s performance. Saving Mr. Banks will be closing the London Film Festival in October but won’t be released in the UK until 17^th January 2014.

Seen any exciting trailers that you think I should check out? 

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