# Saving Mr. Banks

> 2013 film directed by John Lee Hancock

**Wikidata**: [Q3474574](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3474574)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Mr._Banks)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saving-mr-banks

## Summary
Saving Mr. Banks is a 2013 biographical drama film directed by John Lee Hancock, depicting the contentious creative collaboration between author P.L. Travers and Walt Disney during the development of the film *Mary Poppins*. The film stars Emma Thompson as Travers and explores the personal and professional challenges in adapting her beloved novel into a Disney musical.

## Key Facts
- **Director**: John Lee Hancock  
- **Release Dates**: December 13, 2013 (USA); March 6, 2014 (UK); January 30, 2014 (Australia); March 14, 2014 (other markets)  
- **Running Time**: 125 minutes  
- **Budget**: $35,000,000  
- **Box Office**: $117,867,984  
- **Genres**: Biographical film, drama film  
- **Production Companies**: BBC Film, Walt Disney Pictures, Essential Media and Entertainment, Hopscotch Features, Reliance Entertainment  
- **Countries of Origin**: United Kingdom, Australia, United States  
- **IMDb ID**: tt2140373  
- **Rotten Tomatoes**: 79% approval rating  
- **Metacritic**: 65/100 score  
- **Awards**: National Board of Review: Top Ten Films (2013)  
- **Screenwriter**: Emma Thompson (Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay)  
- **Cast**: Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers; Tom Hanks as Walt Disney  
- **Official Website**: http://movies.disney.com/saving-mr-banks  

## FAQs
**What is the film *Saving Mr. Banks* about?**  
It dramatizes the real-life conflict between author P.L. Travers and Walt Disney during the 1960s creative process of adapting *Mary Poppins* into a feature film, highlighting Travers' resistance to Disney's musical vision.  

**Who directed *Saving Mr. Banks*?**  
The film was directed by John Lee Hancock, known for works like *The Blind Side* and *The Alamo*.  

**What awards did *Saving Mr. Banks* receive?**  
It was named among the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of 2013 and earned Emma Thompson an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.  

**Which production companies were involved?**  
Key producers included BBC Film, Walt Disney Pictures, Essential Media and Entertainment, Hopscotch Features, and Reliance Entertainment.  

**Where was the film released?**  
Premiered in the US (December 2013), followed by the UK (March 2014), Australia (January 2014), and other international markets.  

**How did critics receive the film?**  
It holds a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 65/100 score on Metacritic, with praise for Thompson's performance.  

## Why It Matters
*Saving Mr. Banks* matters for its nuanced exploration of creative ownership and cultural adaptation, revealing the tensions between artistic integrity and commercialization. It humanizes P.L. Travers' resistance to Disney's vision, challenging the myth of uncomplicated creative triumphs. The film also serves as a critical artifact of Disney's legacy, exposing the studio's controversial methods in adapting literary works. Its commercial success ($117M box office) and awards recognition underscore its cultural impact, while Emma Thompson's screenplay nomination highlights its narrative craftsmanship.  

## Notable For  
- **Biographical Accuracy**: Based on real events surrounding the *Mary Poppins* adaptation, though dramatized for narrative effect.  
- **Emma Thompson's Dual Role**: She starred as P.L. Travers and wrote the screenplay, earning dual Oscar nominations (acting and writing).  
- **Disney's Perspective**: Rarely portrays Disney (Tom Hanks) as a complex figure, acknowledging his manipulative tactics to secure rights.  
- **Travers' Backstory**: Explores Travers' traumatic childhood in Australia, framing her resistance as psychological defense.  
- **Cultural Commentary**: Critiques the commercialization of literature and the erasure of authorial intent in adaptations.  
- **Production Scale**: Budgeted at $35M, reflecting Disney's investment in prestige historical dramas.  
- **International Release**: Premiered in three countries (US, UK, Australia) within four months, indicating global market strategy.  

## Body  
### Production and Development  
*Saving Mr. Banks* was produced through a collaboration of British, Australian, and American studios. BBC Film and Essential Media and Entertainment handled UK and Australian production, while Walt Disney Pictures oversaw distribution and marketing. The film's $35 million budget aligned with Disney's strategy for prestige biopics, contrasting with its animated projects. Development began in 2008, with Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith initially drafting the screenplay before Emma Thompson's rewrite.  

### Creative Team  
John Lee Hancock directed the film, emphasizing period authenticity in 1960s Los Angeles. Emma Thompson's screenplay drew from Travers' memoirs and Disney archives, though she fictionalized dialogue for dramatic effect. Tom Hanks portrayed Walt Disney, while Emma Thompson embodied P.L. Travers, with Paul Giamatti as her chauffeur. The supporting cast included Bradley Whitford as Disney songwriter Richard Sherman and Colin Farrell as Travers' father.  

### Narrative and Themes  
The film intercuts between two timelines: Travers' childhood in Australia (featuring her alcoholic father and strained relationship with her mother) and the 1961 Disney studio meetings. This structure frames her resistance to Disney's musical adaptation as a defense of her father's memory. Key scenes depict Travers rejecting Disney's vision, including her demand for animated penguins and refusal to incorporate songs. The climax involves a breakthrough during a screening of *Mary Poppins*, where Travers finally approves the film.  

### Release and Reception  
Premiering on December 13, 2013, in the US, the film grossed $117 million worldwide. Critical reception highlighted Thompson's performance as "career-defining," though some criticized its sympathetic portrayal of Disney. The National Board of Review named it among 2013's top ten films, and Thompson received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic scores (79% and 65/100, respectively) reflected solid but not universal acclaim.  

### Cultural Impact  
The film reignited public interest in P.L. Travers' life and Disney's adaptation controversies. It sparked debates about creative ownership, with scholars analyzing its portrayal of gender dynamics (Travers as a female author navigating a male-dominated industry). Disney leveraged the film to promote *Mary Poppins* merchandise, while Thompson's screenplay became a case study for adapting biographical material.  

### Technical and Production Details  
Filming occurred in Los Angeles and London, with production designer Michael Corenblit recreizing 1960s Disney studios. The score by Thomas Newman incorporated period-appropriate jazz and orchestral elements. The film's 125-minute runtime balanced biographical depth with commercial pacing. Post-production included color grading to evoke 1960s aesthetics, with visual effects limited to recreating *Mary Poppins* animation sequences.  

### Legacy and Adaptations  
*Saving Mr. Banks* has been analyzed in film studies for its meta-commentary on adaptation. Emma Thompson's screenplay is studied for its use of dual timelines to explore psychological trauma. The film inspired stage adaptations, including a 2023 Australian theatrical production. It remains a reference point in discussions about Disney's cultural legacy and the ethics of biographical filmmaking.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. Letterboxd
3. The Movie Database
4. Saving Mr. Banks. Rotten Tomatoes
5. Box Office Mojo
6. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140373/releaseinfo)
7. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/166259/premierfilmek_forgalmi_adatai_2014.xlsx)
8. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
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10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. [Source](https://deadline.com/2013/10/london-film-festival-disneys-saving-mr-banks-world-premieres-can-it-be-heading-for-oscar-night-616148/)
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13. [Source](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=savingmrbanks.htm)
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