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Mary Poppins Practically Perfect in Every Way: The Magic Behind the Masterpiece (1997)
At last! Questions answered!
I have waited almost my entire lifetime for answers to questions I have had about my favorite movie of all time. At last they are here! With a movie which had such extraordinary chemistry between all of its actors and actresses, which showcased the Disney technicians in their fields of costume, art direction, and special effects, at the very top of their game, Disney studios had to be a fun and happy environment to work in. This documentary catches all of that, along with a few surprises. Who could have guessed that the story of the movie was not conceived by a Hollywood scriptwriter, but by a couple of tune smiths in the early stages of their career? But they had the trust of a visionary, Walt Disney, who understood talent when he saw it, and, as a result, the movie which has been called his masterpiece was created. The only question I am left with, one which I doubt Walt himself had any real answer for, is how on earth were they going to shoot the dropped scene containing the song "The Chimpanzoo"? Oh well . . .
Dick Deadeye, or Duty Done (1975)
A book exists.
For those who are interested, there exists an illustrated book of the movie. It was published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. It is probably now out of print, but might be found in some library collections. It incorporated original designs by Ronald Searle on the inside covers, and character drawings by Bill Melendez Productions. Gilbert and Sullivan lovers will find all the words to many of their favorite songs which were used in the movie, with additional lyrics by Robin Miller. Text was by Jeremy Hornsby, while the original story (of the movie) was by Leo Rost. Interestingly the copyright is by Ronald Searle, dated 1975.