Classics

I recently had the opportunity to see the film “Saving Mr. Banks” with Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson.  I enjoyed the film and recommend it, but definitely for older children, as it has some themes that children under, say the age of 10 might not understand, and  has a sadness to it.
Which brings me to today’s theme: Classics.  “Saving Mr. Banks” is about the efforts of Walt Disney to bring the book “Mary Poppins” to the screen.  I often tell my daughters that one of the great things about movies made from books or with books inspiring them in some way is that hopefully, it creates a desire in the movie-goer to READ THE BOOK!  And so it is with “Saving Mr. Banks”.

“Why, children,” said Mrs. Banks, noticing them suddenly, “what are you doing there? This is your new nurse, Mary Poppins.  Jane, Michael, say how do you do! and these” – she waved her hand at the babies in their cots- “are the Twins.”

Oh yes, there are FOUR children. Not just Jane and Michael.  And, there is a series of Mary Poppins stories, not just the one book. In the edition of Mary Poppins that I have, interestingly enough, there is a quote from P.L. Travers ( the author) which I think  gives us a little insight into her desire to keep the book separate from the film.  She says “It is interesting to see how books undergo a sea change when transferred to another medium.  What is subtle, unexplained, but still clear to the reader must, for the film-goer, have an external manifestation.  Magic when translated to the screen inevitably becomes trick.  Mr. Disney has deployed all his technical virtuosity in making the film, and I am sure it will give pleasure to a great many people.  And for those who want to know more about the original Mary Poppins and the world she inhabits – there are, of course, the books.”

Other children’s books that have made the leap to film ( and this is a partial list, to be sure!)

Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, My friend Flicka, Harriet the Spy, The Little House series, Treasure Island, The Secret Garden,  A Little Princess, Heidi, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, and for me one very notable little story, “Stuart Little” by E. B. White.  I must say that I thought the film was very sweet.  It starred Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis, and a  computer animated mouse voiced by Michael J. Fox.  I hope that it too, will inspire people to read the original book.

And to close, I want to note something I once read somewhere (of course!) – “A book  is a present you open again and again.”

Happy Reading!

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