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11-24-2004, 05:51 PM
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#1 of 89 
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Member
Location: Melbourne Australia
Join Date: May 2001
Local Time: 09:41 PM
Local Date: 10-12-2008
Posts: 685
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The new 2 disc MARY POPPINS' 40th Anniversary Edition has just been released here in Australia.
I picked up a copy from my local Target store yesterday.
Until we get a full HTF review of the region 1 edition, I thought that I might pass on some comments to those that are sweating on this release.
This is my 5th version of Mary Poppins on Video, having previously owned 2 Laserdiscs and 2 earlier exsisting DVDs.(one non Anamorphic NTSC and one Pal Anamorphic)
I am very pleased to announce that this new edition is by far the best it has ever looked and sounded.
The sharpness of this new 16:9 transfer is quite noticable starting with the opening credits.
You can literally count all of the freckles on Glenis John's face.
I'm also very pleased to say that the skin tones, especially early in the movie, look much closer to the original Technicolor tints than on previous releases ( bar the original pan and scan laserdisc which had the best colors up until now)
There is a downside though, because the skin tones in some scenes later in the movie seem to revert back to the murkiness displayed on earlier releases.
I realise that there is always going to be a problem during the Live Action/Animation sequences, but this does not excuse some of the later live action sequences looking a little bit dowdy colorwise.
The Blacks are solid, if at times a little heavy for my personal likings, but overall the greyscale looks fine.
I didn't notice any edge enhancement, but those viewing it on larger screens might see something that I didn't.
The animation sequences are ablaze with Color and look Fabulous.
Overall, the picture quality of this DVD is mostly excellent with impressive sharpness, due somewhat to the new clean 16:9 Anamorphic transfer and a greatly improved color palette. It is certain to impress.
The Sound is sure to raise some interesting debates.
There are 2 completly different sounding 5.0 Dolby Digital tracks.
One is probably mixed close to the original Theatrical multi track Roadshow release and while very wide and high in spread and sound fidelity, it is lacking a little in the bass department.
Also the vocals on this mix are almost drowned at times by the volume of the orchestra.
It is still clearly the best quality of the two.
The other track is called a new Disney 5.0 Dolby Digital Home Theatre mix.
There is bass galore on this track and the vocals are more prominent and not overpowered by the orchestra.
This track however does not have the same fidelity as the first one.
In the end it will be up to the individual over which track they prefer, as both have their own highs and lows.
One of the Documentaries on disc 2 shows an original intermission card, but there is no Overture, Intermission or Exit music on this disc.
There is a most enjoyable Commentary track featuring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Karen Doltrice ( who sounds very much like Julie Andrews, making it difficult at times to know just who is talking) and composer Richard Sherman.
The second disc contains the supplementary features and is 4:3 with the exception of a new, very forgettable, live action/animation short that features Julie Andrews.
The short in 16:9 looks and sounds great, but the art and storyline is below the usually high Disney standard.
The rest of disc two contains a wealth of material, including a highly informative and enjoyable making of Documentary, color footage with interviews of many Hollywood celebrities at the original premiere and party afterwards.
There is also a marvelous around the piano discussion about the songs and memories of the production from Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Richard Sherman.
This new edition is sure to please everybody, as "MARY POPPINS" now looks and sounds better than ever.
It will make a perfect Christmas present.
It should be noted that my comments are based on the PAL region 4 edition, but other than the usual PAL Vs NTSC issues, there should be little or no difference between the two.
I look forward to the official region 1 HTF review.
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11-24-2004, 06:01 PM
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#2 of 89
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Member
Location: Waterloo, ON
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Local Date: 10-12-2008
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Quote:
| One of the Documentaries on disc 2 shows an original intermission card, but there is no Overture, Intermission or Exit music on this disc. |
This is too bad, as I was looking forward to seeing the overture, intermission, and exit music re-instated back into the film, or at least as bonus material. Either way, I have not purchase this film yet on DVD, so this is a no brainer for me. I actually was quite impressed by the 'sneak peek' I saw of it on the Golden Girls: Season One.
Can't wait, and thanks for the review, Doug!
Andy
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11-24-2004, 06:16 PM
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#3 of 89
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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Believe it or not, this is the very first time that I had ever heard of Mary Poppins having overture, intermission, or exit music -- I was unaware that there even was an intermission. Where was it located? After "Feed the Birds"?
By the way, I saw Mary Poppins at the El Capitan in Hollywood back in 1999 as part of a celebration of Disney live-action classics. Also included during the month were 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Swiss Family Robinson, and Tron. I saw every one of these, and the IP used for Poppins did not include overture, intermission, or exit music. I've seen many versions of Poppins going all the way back to the 70's as a child, I've owned myriad versions of the soundtrack -- I've never heard of an intermission cue, or an exit cue, or an overture.
Anyone with more detailed information -- please share.
And thank you Doug for the early word. You just made my night.
EDIT
And by the way, when I frist saw the restored My Fair Lady, I remember thinking "God, I wish Robert Harris could be allowed to restore Mary Poppins". At that time, all I had was a VHS release which looked like the IP had been stomped on with golf shoes. I've owned TWO versions of this title on DVD, and they've always underwhelmed, particularly the opening credits, full of noise, dirt, artifacts, and excessive grain. I take heart that - while Mr. Harris was not involved - the restoration of this title might meet my wishes.
I'm looking forward to Mr. Harris' opinion on this release.
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11-24-2004, 06:39 PM
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#4 of 89
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Doug, thanks for the review, I will have to pick this one up.
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11-24-2004, 06:40 PM
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#5 of 89
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I think there's another thread which hashes this out, but for the record:
The intermission appeared after "Stay Awake" and before the street scene going into "I Love To Laugh."
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11-24-2004, 08:04 PM
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#6 of 89
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Member
Location: Rensselaer, NY
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Thanks, Doug! 
This is a much anticipated title. Here's hoping for a restoration soon of The Sound of Music!
There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!
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11-24-2004, 08:30 PM
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#7 of 89
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Join Date: Dec 2000
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Doug, does the new dvd have the original Buena Vista logo that opened the film ( with appropraite music) or is the new logo inserted without the original music?
Anyway, the prints of Poppins that had Overture and INtermission Music were few and limited to special early runs (it was NTO standard as in the case of sound of Music, etc).
INtermission came at the end of the song Stay Awake.
There was an Overture but NOT exit music ( I saw prints that had these at the original showing at Radio City music Hall and at another theater in Syracuse New York.
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11-24-2004, 09:56 PM
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#8 of 89
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Member
Location: Melbourne Australia
Join Date: May 2001
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Posts: 685
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Sorry Joe, but there is only the now normal blue Walt Disney Pictures card , which features the music of When You Wish upon a Star, followed by the feature fade in to Walt Disney presents, which is superimposed, as is the rest of the titles over the London painted backdrop. The Music fades into Feed the Birds which is followed by Spoonful of Sugar.
Any other opening logo or music is not there.
The Documentary that shows the Intermission card says that this was only used in some London screenings.
This is obviously incorrect.
I didn't mention it in the earlier summary, but there are some great live action takes, with and without animation for the sidewalk/ fantasy sequence.
There are heaps of live takes (some goofs) that I'm sure were not on any previous edition.
It's interesting to note that the floor(simulated ground) during these live action sequences was painted to look like grass,flowers, etc, obviosly to match up with the animation.
The actors were on wires through most of this sequence.
The extras menu is not the greatest to navigate, but so far I have not come across any trailers, which, if missing, is a bit of a let down.
I have just had a brief look at some of it again and I am now concerned that there is some edge enhancement.
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11-24-2004, 10:33 PM
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#9 of 89
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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"The Documentary that shows the Intermission card says that this was only used in some London screenings.
This is obviously incorrect."
That crack Disney history squad strikes again.
How can they make a DVD so amazing as Walt Disney Treasures: Disney on the Front Lines, and then goof up so blatantly in liner notes in Fantasia (Road Show Version DVD), press releases for Sleeping Beauty, and intros to Fantasia/2000 -- intros with Roy Disney, no less -- stating that the Great Mouse Detective was the first Disney film to feature CGI effects.
Must be some underpaid interns writing a lot of copy for the Mouse House these days....
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