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The Biggest Secrets From the ‘Mary Poppins’ Set: Inside Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews’ Film

Entertainment

Dec 20, 2023 4:41 pm·

By Samantha Agate

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Mary Poppins filled the world with joy when it was released in 1964, with a cast featuring greats like Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns and more. In the decades since the Disney film’s release, the cast has shared some interesting secrets from the colorful set.

Scroll below to see the biggest secrets from the Mary Poppins set.

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There Were Several Retakes

The cast had such a good time working together behind the scenes that they were forced to do several retakes due to laughing so much.

“My dad was working, so Dick became a father figure to me,” Karen Dotrice, who played Jane Banks, told The Guardian in December 2013. “He was like a big baby — he would muck about on the sidelines and then, as soon as the camera started rolling, put on a straight the camera started rolling, put on a straight face. But I’d be piddling myself laughing and couldn’t get myself together, meaning there were many retakes.”

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Julie Was Going Through a Divorce During the Movie

She ended up winning an Academy Award for the movie, but not everything was a spoonful of sugar for Julie while filming Mary Poppins. The performer was in the process of divorcing her first husband, Tony Walton, while making the classic musical.

“It was an emotional time for Julie Andrews as she was in the middle of a divorce, but she still managed to really send things up with Dick, especially the scenes with the cartoon animals,” Karen shared. “Because the special effects were filled in later, we had these large, sweaty prop guys in braces dancing about with cutout horses and penguins to show us what was going on. They both tried hard not to cuss in front of us children.”

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Julie Andrews in costume as Mary Poppins

Julie Declined Appearing in the Sequel

The story of Mary Poppins continued in the 2018 sequel Mary Poppins Returns, with Emily Blunt portraying the titular character. Director Rob Marshall revealed that Julie was offered a part in the film but ultimately turned it down.

“She immediately said no,” he told Variety in November 2018. “Sh

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Dick Van Dyke on the set of 'Mary Poppins'

Author P.L. Travers Was Not a Fan of the Movie

P.L. Travers wrote the Mary Poppins series of books in which the film was based. According to several of the castmates, Travers had harsh criticism toward the casting of the film and animated elements.

“Mrs. Travers was very, very difficult,” composer Richard Sherman told Variety in November 2013, adding, “She hated everything.”

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