Mary Poppins to be released yet again for 45th anniversary

[Mushu]

I am currently on a vacation in New York City and I just attended the Broadway musical of the movie Mary Poppins. A few seats away from where I was sitting, someone was taping the show. My sister asked him why he was filming and he told her that it was for a bonus feature on the 45th anniversary DVD. So for the fourth time, Mary Poppins will be released on DVD (and I assume Blu-Ray as well) in 2009 (I again assume, as he didn’t actually say anything date-wise besides 45th anniversary).

Why does Disney insist on re-releasing movies that have received great DVD treatments in the past and yet not releasing amazing movies that have yet to receive more than one poor version?

[pap64]

Yeah, it would make the special edition from 2006 very redundant.

[slave2moonlight]

Are you sure the guy wasn't joking? Anyway, I think you answered your own question. Blu-Ray. It hasn't been released on Blu-Ray yet, has it? Man, I want to see it on Broadway and Little Mermaid as well.

[JiminyCrick91]

I sure hope not. I had the VHS, Gold DVD, and the 40th. I don't need anymore Poppins. No matter how wonderful it may be.

-Sky

[Escapay]

I had the VHS, Gold DVD, and the 40th. I <strike>don't need anymore</strike> will never have enough of Mary Poppins.

Much better.

Still, I'm annoyed that Mary Poppins is getting another edition while we still have yet to see a restored anamorphic and filled-to-the-brim-with-extras DVD of The Rocketeer, a special edition of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, or a legitimate release of Song of the South.

Albert

[JiminyCrick91]

I had the VHS, Gold DVD, and the 40th. I <strike>don't need anymore</strike> will never have enough of Mary Poppins.

Much better.

A friend (who's gone because she says she lost her password) calls me that ONE TIME on UD and I'm Sky-Sky for life. Oh well. Now, why do YOU think I need so many Poppins's? You pusher, you!

-Sky

[Cordy_Biddle]

I echo Escapay's comment in that we need a full-blown Special Edition for "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" more than we need yet another "Mary Poppins" (masterpiece though it is).

For the new "Bedknobs" I'd like to see a feature-length documentary on the making of the movie (lots of interview footage with Angela, the actors who played the kids--if possible--and other surviving cast members). Audio commentary with Miss Lansbury; the long-lost musical number "A Step in the Right Direction" found and re-inserted into the film; and anything else the Disney people can dig out of the archive.

Aside from "Poppins" this has always been my all-time favorite live action Disney musical.

[Flanger-Hanger]

I'd like to see Disney at least give Bedknobs the same 40th Anniversary treatment that Poppins got. That would include for me a 2-disc CD soundtrack and Blu-ray release.

[Wonderlicious]

Hmm...I too think that this may be not only a DVD re-release but a Blu-Ray debut of sorts. Nearly all of the Disney classics still need to come onto Blu-Ray, and I think that after the Sleeping Beauty Blu-Ray comes out, the likelihood is that all re-releases of Disney classics will be simultaneously released in both the SD and HD formats. And considering that Mary Poppins is big enough of a title to experiment with on Blu-Ray, then this 45th Anniversary edition is easy enough to understand.

By the way, the "Anniversary" labelling is just beyond the point of stupidity now. And it would also be nice if a better edition of Bedknobs and Broomsticks came about, even if I forgot to buy it.

[UmbrellaFish]

Another one? I probably won't double dip unless they keep the bonus features from the last release and add new ones worth the purchase.

[Disneykid]

This news doesn't surprise me. Someone on HomeTheaterForum had this to say about a week ago:

I had big ears at lunch today as a couple of guys from Disney spoke about upcoming restoration projects in the next booth. They were talking about release schedule... Sleeping Beauty in the Fall, then Pinocchio, then Snow White... They were also talking about the technical problems involved in going back into the editorial elements of the penguin dance from Mary Poppins. It sounds like they're going to restore each element separately and recomposite.

While I'll certainly buy this on BD, I agree with Escapay on the lack of re-releases for other films not yet given the royal treatment (or the release of Song of the South, period).

[Flanger-Hanger]

Thanks alot for the quote Disneykid! I guess that also means Snow White will be the October 2009 Platinum. Too bad, I'd rather they wait until March 2010 for that title and finish the Platinum line with Fantasia first.

[kbehm29]

If there is a Blu-ray Disc release coming soon I'm so excited!!!
Can't wait - I hope they make it spectacular.

[buffalobill]

This news doesn't surprise me. Someone on HomeTheaterForum had this to say about a week ago:

I had big ears at lunch today as a couple of guys from Disney spoke about upcoming restoration projects in the next booth. They were talking about release schedule... Sleeping Beauty in the Fall, then Pinocchio, then Snow White... They were also talking about the technical problems involved in going back into the editorial elements of the penguin dance from Mary Poppins. It sounds like they're going to restore each element separately and recomposite.

While I'll certainly buy this on BD, I agree with Escapay on the lack of re-releases for other films not yet given the royal treatment (or the release of Song of the South, period).

In the same thread at HTF they talk about the "one mess of a transfer" & the "horrible audio remix" of the 2 disc SE so the dvd that everyone is so happy with apparently is not universally appreciated. Perhaps Disney agrees that the 2 disc SE was subpar.

[Matt]

wow, I do not understand this at all. This is getting so many re-release and yet we still wait for song of the south, hercules, hunchback, and many others. This stinks!

[50's MouseLover]

And ......... what about Westeard Ho The Wagons with Fess Parker. When will that ever come out on DVD? I'll be gone into the hearafter if they don't hurry and release that movie from 1956

[PeterPanfan]

I'm actually excited about a filmed version of the stage musical. Though I don't understand why the filmed the Broadway one as opposed to the original London one..

[JiminyCrick91]

I'm actually excited about a filmed version of the stage musical. Though I don't understand why the filmed the Broadway one as opposed to the original London one..

I highly doubt they whould have the whole show on Home Video/DVD/Blu. I think it will be a promotional featuretteabout it.

-Sky

[Escapay]

Much better.

A friend (who's gone because she says she lost her password) calls me that ONE TIME on UD and I'm Sky-Sky for life. Oh well.

Now, why do YOU think I need so many Poppins's? You pusher, you!

You can never have too much Mary in your life!

Cordy:
I echo Escapay's comment in that we need a full-blown Special Edition for "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" more than we need yet another "Mary Poppins" (masterpiece though it is).

Wire:
I'd like to see Disney at least give Bedknobs the same 40th Anniversary treatment that Poppins got. That would include for me a 2-disc CD soundtrack and Blu-ray release.

Wondy:
And it would also be nice if a better edition of Bedknobs and Broomsticks came about, even if I forgot to buy it.

Kelvin:
While I'll certainly buy this on BD, I agree with Escapay on the lack of re-releases for other films not yet given the royal treatment (or the release of Song of the South, period).

Bedknobs and Broomsticks Fans Unite! Glad to see a lot of B&B loving going around. Disney better step up and get around to this before the only one left to interview about the movie is Roy Snart (the kid who played Paul Rawlins).

Kelvin:
They were also talking about the technical problems involved in going back into the editorial elements of the penguin dance from Mary Poppins. It sounds like they're going to restore each element separately and recomposite.

buffalobill:
In the same thread at HTF they talk about the "one mess of a transfer" & the "horrible audio remix" of the 2 disc SE so the dvd that everyone is so happy with apparently is not universally appreciated. Perhaps Disney agrees that the 2 disc SE was subpar.

Glad to hear they're going to do a far more extensive restoration/recomposition for Mary Poppins and I definitely agree about the horrible audio remix. That 5.1 is abysmal, and even the 2.0 mix of the DEHTM is horrible. I always stick with the original 2.0 theatrical mix.

Hopefully they'll get the aspect ratio right this time around as well (1.75:1 as disneyfella found in an old Mary Poppins pressbook).

I highly doubt they whould have the whole show on Home Video/DVD/Blu. I think it will be a promotional featuretteabout it.

The Collector's Edition and Ultimate Edition DVDs for [i}Dirty Dancing[/i] featured a complete recording of Dirty Dancing: Live in Concert, so anything can happen!

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that it will just be excerpts for a promotional featurette.

Albert

[SpringHeelJack]

I should also think the stuff they shot at the theater would be for clips. No way Disney would provide a the stage show on DVD while it's still running.