You probably think you know the story of Mary Poppins. The umbrella, the chimney sweeps, the "spoonful of sugar"—it's all part of the collective childhood DNA. But for decades, there was this massive misconception that the 1964 movie was just a happy collaboration between a visionary animator and a sweet children's author.
Honestly? It was a total nightmare.
When people search for Tom Hanks movies Mary Poppins, they aren't usually looking for a musical where Tom breaks into song. They're looking for Saving Mr. Banks. This 2013 film is the only time these two worlds officially collided, with Hanks stepping into the iconic shoes of Walt Disney himself. It's a movie about the making of a movie, and it reveals a side of Disney history that the studio kept under wraps for nearly half a century.
The 20-Year War for a Nanny
Walt Disney didn't just wake up one day and decide to make Mary Poppins. He spent twenty years—two whole decades—chasing the film rights. He had made a promise to his daughters that he would bring their favorite book to life, but he hit a brick wall named P.L. Travers.
Travers, played with a brilliant, prickly edge by Emma Thompson in the film, didn't trust Hollywood. She especially didn't trust Walt Disney. To her, Disney was a "monger" of sentimentality who would turn her dark, complex nanny into a sparkly cartoon.
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In Saving Mr. Banks, we see the 1961 standoff in Burbank, California. Travers was broke. Her royalties had dried up, and she was at risk of losing her house in London. That's the only reason she finally got on that plane. But she didn't go quietly. She insisted on having script approval, a move Disney almost never granted. She even insisted that their meetings be tape-recorded. Those tapes actually exist, and they are legendary among Disney nerds for how incredibly difficult she was to work with.
How Tom Hanks Humanized a Mogul
Playing Walt Disney is a trap. You either lean too hard into the "Uncle Walt" persona and look like a corporate mascot, or you go too dark and lose the magic. Hanks found a middle ground that felt real. He didn't shy away from Walt's relentless, almost steamrolling optimism, but he also showed the cough.
Walt Disney was a heavy smoker—three packs a day of unfiltered Luckies. While the movie doesn't show him lighting up (Disney has a strict no-smoking policy for its "hero" characters), Hanks purposefully included a persistent, hacky cough. It was a subtle nod to the man's mortality and his real-life habits.
The heart of the Tom Hanks movies Mary Poppins connection is a scene near the end where Walt flies to London to confront Travers. He realizes that the "Mr. Banks" in her book isn't just a character; he’s a reflection of her own father. Hanks delivers a monologue about his own rough childhood in Missouri, delivering a "truth" that supposedly cracked Travers' icy exterior.
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What the Movie Gets Wrong (And Right)
While Saving Mr. Banks is a fantastic piece of cinema, it's still a Disney-produced version of history. It paints a picture of reconciliation that didn't quite happen in the real world.
- The Tears at the Premiere: In the film, Travers cries during the premiere because she’s moved by the story. In reality, she was reportedly crying because she hated the movie so much. She was devastated by the animated penguins and the "sugary" tone.
- The "Happy" Ending: Travers never truly forgave Walt. She blocked Disney from ever adapting her other books for the rest of her life.
- The Relationship: They weren't exactly buddies. It was a cold, professional transaction fueled by her need for cash and his need to fulfill a promise.
Despite these creative liberties, the film captures the feeling of the creative process. It shows the Sherman Brothers (the guys who wrote the music) struggling to please a woman who hated the word "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." It shows how art is often born from trauma—Travers' father was a charismatic alcoholic, and Mary Poppins was, in her mind, the woman who came to save the father, not the children.
Why This Connection Matters in 2026
Looking back at the Tom Hanks movies Mary Poppins legacy, it’s clear why Saving Mr. Banks remains a staple for film buffs. It’s one of the few times we see the "curtain pulled back" on the Disney machine. It humanizes the struggle of authorship versus adaptation.
If you're diving into this specific corner of film history, you've gotta look at the supporting cast too. Paul Giamatti as the chauffeur Ralph is basically the audience surrogate—the only person who treats Travers like a human being rather than a problem to be solved. His scenes provide a necessary warmth that balances out the corporate tug-of-war happening back at the studio.
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Actionable Steps for Film History Fans
If you want to go deeper than just watching the movie, here is how you can actually verify the "real" story:
- Listen to the "Travers Tapes": Snippets of the actual recordings are played during the end credits of Saving Mr. Banks. You can find longer versions online. They are awkward, tense, and fascinating.
- Read "Mary Poppins She Wrote": This biography of P.L. Travers by Valerie Lawson is the definitive source for the author's real life. It covers the parts of her biography—like her adopted son—that the movie completely ignored.
- Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum: Located in San Francisco, this is where Tom Hanks spent time researching the role. It offers a much more nuanced look at Walt's life than the theme parks do.
- Rewatch the 1964 Original: Now that you know the backstory, watch Mary Poppins again. Specifically, look at the character of George Banks. Knowing he represents Travers’ real father makes his "redemption" at the end of the film feel much more heavy and significant.
The clash between these two titans of 20th-century culture proves that sometimes the story behind the magic is just as compelling as the magic itself. Tom Hanks didn't just play a role; he preserved a very specific, very difficult moment in Hollywood history.
Next Steps: You can find Saving Mr. Banks on most major streaming platforms, often bundled with the original Mary Poppins. Comparing them back-to-back is the best way to see the "sugar-coating" process in real-time.