Only A Fan Of The Classics Can Get 100% On This Mary Poppins Quiz
- by Rosalie Nardi
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Mary Poppins is one of our favourites of the Disney classics. The actors and actresses do an amazing job of playing the characters and assuming their roles. The story is filled with adventure, life lessons, friendship and kinship. It is a great representation of the people of the time as well as the progression that was being made in relationships at the time, whether it be between children and their father, men and their wives, or workers and their employees. This classic also gave us an unforgettable soundtrack with songs that are perfect for all ages and so many different activities (including tidying up the apartment). Mary Poppins has also been the inspiration of other movies like Nanny McPhee, starring Emma Thompson and it launched Julie Andrews' career, for which we say thank you. A remake of the movie is scheduled for release in December of this year. Now, let's just hope that the new version of the movie will be just as good as the original and won't ruin our great childhood memories of the wonderful, caring, beautiful, fantastical, and let's face it, the sassy nanny that is Mary Poppins.
Who plays the original Mary Poppins?
This actress starred in her feature film debut as Mary Poppins. She was also the winner of an Academy Award for Best Actress for this performance. She is one of our favourite British actresses and has played in another classic musical that we love. This actress-singer-author has won the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award as well as the Disney Legends Award. She has been the recipients of five Golden Globes, three Grammys and two Emmys. Can you name this talented star?
What year was the movie released?
Disney's Mary Poppins starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke is loosely based on a set of books written by P.L. Travers. The movie was met with open arms by the critics and was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, one of which was Best Picture. Of those thirteen nominations, the movie won five awards for its acting, music, editing and visual effects. Having combined live-action and animation, the movie did a good job of combining to two for the times.
Which of these songs is not in the movie?
With seventeen songs in two hours, it can be hard to keep track. The songs are long too. It seems as though these characters never stop singing. One of these songs, however, is from another musical that Julie Andrews stars in. Can you pick out which one it is? Some other songs that can be heard in Mary Poppins include "Feed The Birds", "Jolly Holiday" and "I Love To Laugh". Do you remember all these songs enough to sing along?
What are the names of the children?
These adorable children played by Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber are very sweet and are in need of a Nanny that will play games and sing songs rather than distribute chores and demand discipline. It's not that the children are misbehaved, they just want to have fun. In comes, Mary Poppins and they get exactly what they were hoping for. The children embark on many adventures, meet new people, and learn new games. Along the way, they also have a new-found respect for their father and vice versa.
What is Bert's profession?
Bert, played by Dick Van Dyke, is an old friend of Mary Poppins'. We do get a hint that they might be more than friends when Mary gets jealous at Bert's mention of other women that are all great until he says that there is no one like Mary. We think they make a great couple. He's such a nice guy (not bad to look at either) and is great with the children, but what does he do to earn a living?
Which is the correct spelling of this word?
This is a word you say when you don't know what to say to describe a feeling of happiness. Mary, Bert and some animated characters sing a song about it in the land inside Bert's painting. They tell stories of how they've used the word and how it changed their lives. At 35 letters, this word is the second longest word in the English dictionary after 45-letter word, Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Can you spell this crazy super extravagant monstrosity of a word?
Where is Mary in the opening scene?
Our first introduction to Mary Poppins sets the tone for the whole movie. Right from the start, we are given the idea that this may not be just a regular story about a regular nanny. Instead, we get an air about Mary suggesting that she might be just what the children are looking for. She might not be a fairy godmother, but there are bound to be some fantastical adventures and magical games, and that's all represented right at the start of the movie.
What is this dog's name?
This cute little creature is introduced to us at the beginning of the movie as Miss Lark's dog but is seen in a few scenes throughout the movie without his owner. He is an independent pup and does a pretty good job of staying out of trouble. He is also the source of some comedy when the nanny position has been filled and he, as another candidate, is dismissed. We love this little doggo and we wish he had more scenes. He really is the star of the show.
What is the address of the Banks' residence?
At the beginning of the movie, after Bert's first performance, he seems to be addressing the audience directly by looking straight at the camera and it is being implied that the person he is interacting with is looking for the Banks' residence. He leads us to the house stopping a couple times on the way. He stops at one of the neighbours, Admiral Boom, who warns that there is trouble at the house we are looking for and to tread carefully.
According to Bert, what is Admiral Boom famous for?
Admiral Boom is a neighbour of the Banks' and he's a bit of a peculiar character. As a viewer, we are kind of left wondering what his purpose is and why it was necessary to include him in the storyline. However, whether he has a purpose or not, Admiral Boom provides comedy in a few scenes and a bit of adventure for the characters when he shoots his cannon to mark the hour. He also provides us with weather information, as well as the whereabouts of our characters.
What is Mr. Banks' first name?
Mr Banks, father of Jane and Michael, may seem a little cold-hearted at times. We sometimes feel like he purposely tries to suck the fun out of everything, but as the film progresses, we see that he is just doing his best to provide for his wife and children and give them the best possible life. He isn't as mean as we might think and he just wants what's best for Jane and Michael. In the end, everything works out fine for the family.
What is Mrs Banks advocating for throughout the movie?
While Mrs Banks may seem like just a tame and obedient housewife, she is actually a pretty tough cookie advocating for a great cause. It's sad that he husband doesn't really support the same cause, but that was probably normal for the times. Mrs Banks keeps her home life and her political life pretty separate, but her kind hard and her firm disposition does well for her family despite her husband's disapproval. It's nice to see a woman speak out for herself and others in need of a voice.
What time does Mr. Banks send the children to bed?
When Mr Banks comes home for the first time in the film, he sings the song "The Life I Lead" where he sings about how precise and routine his life is. Every day, he has the exact same schedule and does the exact same thing at the exact same time. Mr Banks sings about sending the children off to bed when he realizes that the children are nowhere to be found, and it is passed their bedtime. Can you remember what time that is?
What is Mrs. Banks' first name?
Mrs Banks, played by Glynis Johns, is first introduced to us at the beginning of the film when she comes home to find her children have run away again, and yet another nanny has decided to leave the position. This woman has just come home from protests and riots where women have been put in jail for advocating for women's right to vote, and now she has to deal with her job of being a mother to children who cannot seem to be disciplined.
What does Michael add as a requirement to the advertisement for a new nanny?
Jane and Michael feel bad about scaring off yet another nanny so they decide to help write an advertisement for a new nanny in the paper. Of course, since this is a musical, the sing the letter they have written to their parents and are as adorable as ever. Mr Banks does not consider their requests. Instead, he rips the letter up and throws it in the fire. Don't worry though, Mary Poppins has a way of knowing exactly what the children are looking for.
What happens to all the nannies waiting outside the Banks' residence?
Following Mr Banks' advertisement in the paper, a long line of nannies looking for work lines up outside the Banks' resident in hopes of landing the job. Mr Banks won't let them in for interviews until precisely 8:00, which is when Mary Poppins appears. She gets interviewed first and is hired on the spot through her wonderful manipulation. Banks then asks the housekeeper to dismiss the rest of the nannies, but they are all gone... but what happened to them?
Which days does Mary require off?
Mary Poppins is very good at getting what she wants. As soon as she meets Mr Banks she sets down all her rules and tells him how everything will work as if she were the one hiring him. Everything happens so quickly that Mr Banks isn't even processing what is happening. He ends up hiring her on the spot kind of unknowingly, but being the man he is, he tries to play it off as though it was entirely his decision
What is the first thing Mary Poppins pulls out of her bag?
Mary Poppins is famous for her magical bag that has no bottom and seems to contain an entire universe within it. The children are amazed by the wonders that can be pulled from that bag. When Mary is shown to her room, she wants to add her own touch and put in some of her belongings to brighten up the place. She takes out quite a few things, but can you remember the very first item she surprisingly pulls from her bag?
Why doesn't the magic work for Michael?
At Mary's first meeting of the children, they are disappointed by the fact that she's trying to get them to clean their room through pretending it's a game. They see right through it and know that it's just a chore. Once Mary starts singing her song and doing her thing, the children quickly realize that it's not just a boring chore and that Mary is actually teaching them how to use magic to clean their room. Jane picks it up right away, but Michael has a little trouble.
According to Bert, how do you do magic?
On the children's first outing with Mary Poppins, they are on their way to the park when they meet Bert as he is putting some finishing touches on his street art. He is drawing pictures of the adventures he's had with Mary Poppins over the years. He tells the children that with a bit of magic, they can enter the world of a painting. Bert, however, doesn't really know how to do magic so an annoyed Mary Poppins must assist.
Who helps Bert sing "Jolly Holiday"?
"Jolly Holiday" is a fun song that Bert sings about Mary Poppins when they are in the world of his artwork. He sings about how wonderful Mary is and how wonderful she makes everything around her (it's really quite romantic). In the artwork we are introduced to a bunch of new characters that are part of the animated world, but can you remember who sings the song with Bert other than Mary Poppins, of course, who reciprocates the sentiment to Bert.
Who waits on Mary and Bert?
In the world of Bert's artwork, Mary and Bert sit down for some tea while the children are off exploring. They are having a romantic little date in their fancy outfits while singing about how fond they are of each other. These clumsy little waiters come out to serve them their afternoon tea and help Bert remember all the other women he's been with who could never fill Mary's shoes. They even dance with Bert, despite their clumsiness. Can you remember who they are?
What causes them to leave the world inside the painting?
As we know from experience and every other movie, the fun can't last forever, it must end at some point. And it does for Mary and children too, with no exception. Even in a magical world, there will always be something that brings us back to reality in the end. Mary, Bert and the children are having so much fun in the painting until they have to leave so abruptly and are forced to go home. What causes such a rushed exit?
What flavour is Michael's medicine?
After being caught in the rain, Mary Poppins and the children must take some medicine so that they don't get sick. Mary, being the wonderful and magical nanny that she is, wouldn't dare give the children the sickening cough syrup as any other nanny would. Instead, she gives them magical cough syrup that tastes like whatever the recipient wants it to taste like. Jane's medicine tastes like lime cordial, while Mary's medicine tastes like rum punch, but what about Michael?
What's a "pie crust promise"?
The children quickly realize that Mary Poppins is the best nanny they could ever have so they start to wonder how long she'll be with them. Michael asks if she'll stay if the children promise to be good, to which she replies, "that's a pie crust promise..." and then proceeds to explain what a pie crust promise is. Mary Poppins is not the first person to use this term, however, with references of the first use dating back to the 1600s.
How long does Mary say she will be with the children?
Mary Poppins can be a little peculiar at times and we see that through everything she does as well as the things that she says. She has a funny way of being vague with her responses, but specific with her requests, which adds a lot of comedy to the film. Just like the children do, we love Mary Poppins and we wish she could stay for ever, but all good things come to an end and so do all good movies.
What did Mary and the children need to get from Mrs Corry's shop?
We are first introduced to Mrs Corry at the beginning of the film in Bert's first performance. Bert is entertaining and getting personal with his audience when he says to the tiny Mrs Corry, "Ahh Mrs Corry, a story for you: your daughters were shorter than you, but they grew." Later on in the film, Mary Poppins and the children are on an outing and Mary says that they need to get something from Mrs Corry's shop. What is it that they need?
What's wrong with uncle Albert?
Mary Poppins and the children are on their way to Mrs Corry's shop when they are interrupted by an unexpected trip to uncle Albert's home. Mary warns the children that his condition is contagious and so it is indeed. They try to help him, but they just end up caught up in the mess. In the end, when everything is taken care of and they leave, Mary asks Bert to keep an eye on old uncle Albert so that he won't get into more trouble.
How much does one bag of crumbs cost?
If you remember the song "Feed the Birds" you'll know the answer to this question. There is a lady that sits on the steps of hte cathedral who sells bags of crumbs to feed the birds. Mr Banks and most of the other men of hte city that pass her on the way to work just walk by not giving her any attention. This poor old woman is just trying to make a bit of money and help out the birds, but no one will give her the time of day.
What is Mary's bag made of?
We've already touched upon the wonders of Mary Poppins' bag. It's like putting your hand into a whole other universe. Having a purse like that, you can never be missing anything when you're away from home. Maybe Mary doesn't have a permanent home and that's why she needs to carry all that stuff around, but isn't it heavy?? Who knows what she'll pull out of there next. Maybe a car, or her own home? It's like a portal to a whole other dimension.
Where does Mr Banks take the children on their outing?
It's Mary's day off so she tricks Mr Banks into agreeing on taking his children on an outing instead of firing Mary Poppins. Mr Banks is unhappy because the household is too happy, bursting into song and dancing randomly. Mr Banks wants to have a word with Mary Poppins with intentions of firing her but just as easily as she gets herself hired, she also gets herself unfired. She manages to convince Mr Banks that by taking the children on this outing he'; be able to show them exactly the life he would like them to have.
What does Mr Banks want Michael to do with his tuppence?
Michael and Geroge Banks have two very different intentions when it comes to spending Michael's tuppence. Mr Banks thinks that Michaels idea is foolish, but he doesn't see the kindness behind the action. All Mr Banks cares about is the money. This disagreement ultimately causes Mr Banks to lose his job. Michael and his father are both so stubborn that the argument causes the chairman of the bank to rethink George's employment. All this happens while Mary relaxes on her day off.
What happens when the chairman won't give Michael his money back?
No one likes to see money taken away from a child. When Michael complains that the chairman won't give him his money back, many people get upset, but what is the thing that happens that ultimately causes Mr Banks to lose his job? Has the chairman finally caused him to snap, or did Jane get a little too overprotective of her brother? How about the other people in the bank? Do they stand up for the little boy? Can you remember what happens in this scene?
Who do the children run into when they are fleeing the bank?
The children are running from the bank because they are afraid that they might be in trouble for acting out and causing the run on the bank, and possibly costing their father his job. They pass an officer on the street who is running towards the bank and this makes them even more scared. Luckily, they run into someone they know who calms them down and takes them home. The children are assured that everything will be okay and that, although it may not always seem so, their father loves them.
What will rub off when you shake hands with a chimney sweep?
The children end up on the rooftop where Bert sings them a song about how great it is being a chimney sweep since that's what his profession is today. He sings about the perceptions that people have of him as a chimney sweep, and the wonderful sights there are to see from London rooftops. Mary Poppins even chimes in to sing about how wonderful it is to spend time with a chimney sweep (but of course she would say that when that chimney sweep is Bert).
Which cathedral does Mr Banks pass on his way to work?
The night before they go to the bank with their father, Mary Poppins tells the children about this cathedral that their father passes. She sings about the bird lady that sits on the steps selling crumbs to feed the birds. This cathedral is an actual establishment that you can go visit when in London. It's located on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London. It was designed and built in 1669 and still stands today for many tourists to visit.
Which song does Bert sing with his chimney sweep pals?
When Bert is on the rooftops with the Jane, Michael and Mary Poppins, his chimney sweep pals come out and they all sing a song. This is more of a dance number than it is a musical number. The song is really just a rhythm for an elaborate dance performed by all the chimney sweeps. The people living in the houses below must be wondering what all that ruckus is on the roof with all the singing, sweeping and dancing, not to mention all the high jumps.
What does Mr Banks say to the men of the bank when he gets fired?
The whole fiasco that happens at the bank with the children and the tuppence causes the chairman of the bank to call in Mr Banks later that evening. Mr Banks is greeted by the chairman, played by Dick Van Dyke, his son, and the other members of the board. He gets fired for his children's behaviour and is left with a broken umbrella, a broken hat, and a pedal-less flower. Poor Mr Banks does not know what to say until he comes up with this:
What is Bert selling at the end of the movie?
At the end of the movie, the wind has changed and it is time for Mary Poppins to leave the Banks'. At this point in time, it is clear that her purpose was not to discipline the children but to discipline their father instead. In the time that Mary spent at the Banks' residence, she did teach the children to love their father, but more importantly, she taught George to love his children and to spend quality time with his family, while also keeping in touch with his inner child.
The movie is set in which year?
In the song "The Life I Lead" sung by Mr Banks, he mentions the year in which he is currently living his life. As this happens at the beginning of the movie, it gives the audience an idea of what type of societal norms the characters are dealing with. He mentions that the current reigning king is King Edward, and though his reign was quite long, can you remember when it was and which year Mary Poppins is set in?