Show Notes
One of the most beloved and cherished Disney movies is the classic Mary Poppins. It has amazed and delighted audiences for 61 years through its technical innovation, incredible set pieces, and of course, its iconic music by the legendary Sherman Brothers. Almost all of us love the movie and many of us know at least some of the background of the film through the movie Saving Mr. Banks, which shed some light on how Walt Disney made the film, how the Sherman Brothers wrote the music, and the interplay with the notoriously difficult author, PL Travers. But there is so much more history and context behind the film, with so much previously unknown information and details about the prominent role that the Sherman Brothers played in bringing it to life. All these stories are revealed in the new book “Making Mary Poppins: The Sherman Brothers, Walt Disney, and the Creation of a Classic Film” by Todd James Pierce. Todd joins us today to discuss the book and shares some of those stories with us. You can find Todd at www.toddjamespierce.com and order the book on Amazon here.
More from Music Behind the Magic
The use of music in Disney movies has evolved over the years. While always present, its use as a narrative device and emotional touchstone has shifted from the background to the forefront, depending on what “Disney era” (Golden Era, Silver Era, Bronze Era, Renaissance, or Revival) the movie was made. Of course, while Disney has a particularly strong emotional connection to us, the best film (and television) music helps navigate and guide the audience journey, and there is a long and incredible history of music in both film and TV. With that, we are joined today by Jon Burlingame, the leading authority on the subject of movies for film and television. I saw Jon at D23, where he moderated an amazing discussion called “The Art of the Score” with Michael Giacchino, who as most listeners of this podcast will know, is one of my favorite composers. And Jon was gracious enough to join us and share his knowledge and expertise about the history and impact of Disney music across the years. It was a wonderful conversation, and I could have spoken to him for several more hours, so I am sure you will enjoy it. Please follow Jon at jonburlingame.com and find his latest book "Music for Primetime" as well his other works on Amazon or at your favorite book store.
Over the course of the 9 episode Skywalker Saga, John Williams created a comprehensive, wide ranging symphonic masterpiece, brilliantly conceived and meticulously constructed. To do a deeper dive around the musical (and psychological) elements of those scores, we are joined by Frank Lehman, a professor of Music at Tufts University who has just released his latest book The Skywalker Symphonies: John Williams and the Music of Star Wars. You can order Frank's book on Amazon, at Oxford University Press, or at your favorite bookseller. And you can find Frank at www.franklehman.com
The Jungle Cruise is one of Disney fans’ most beloved attractions. And while many people love the theming, the mechanical animals, and the scenery, the jokes and puns are usually what keeps us coming back for more. But this ride has a long and storied history, starting with its debut as an opening day attraction at Disneyland in 1955 and at Walt Disney World in 1971. It just so happens that there is a brand new book out detailing the attraction’s history, called Jungle Cruise: The Definitive History, and it is written by none other than our very good friend Tim Foster from Celebrations Press. Tim joins us to talk about the attraction, it’s history and hidden gems, the jokes, and of course, the music. You can order the book, any of his other wonderful books, or subscribe to Celebrations Disney magazine and celebrationspress.com.
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is Disney’s largest fan convention, bringing together fans from around the world for major announcements, immersive exhibits, exclusive merchandise, special performances, and more. Taking place August 14 – 16, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center and nearby Honda Center, D23 2026 is the ultimate destination for Disney fandom. What does that mean? It means that if you took San Diego Comicon, an Awards telecast, an entertainment industry convention, and the world's largest shopping mall--put them in a blender and sprinkled a vat of pixie dust on it, and you would have D23. I attended my first ever D23 last week, and it was a true experience that I will never forget. WIth that, I wanted to give you a trip report about what I saw, what I liked, what I didn’t exactly like, and some of the awesome panels, presentations, and shows that I got to see, with a special emphasis on Disney music.
With the recent release of The Mandalorian and Grogu marking the return of Star Wars to the movie theaters for the first time in 7 years (after 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker), the recent conclusion of the Maul: Shadow Lord animated series, and with the 50th Anniversary of the release of Star Wars (or Episode IV, or A New Hope) coming next year, I figure it’s a great time to take a look at our favorite franchise from a musical perspective. Because SO much of Star Wars is tied to music, almost all of which was written by the legendary maestro John Williams. George Lucas himself said “John Williams’ music is what truly brought the Star Wars universe to life. He gave it its soul.” Tom Hanks said “John’s music is part of the fabric of American culture. It’s a soundtrack to our lives.” And when Steven Spielberg talked about John Williams’ legacy across all the films he scored, he said “Without John Williams, bikes don’t really fly, nor do brooms in Quidditch matches, nor do men in red capes,” “There is no Force, dinosaurs do not walk the Earth, we do not wonder, we do not weep, we do not believe.” And who better to have this discussion with that our pal Tim Foster from Celebrations Press. You can find Tim, and his new book "Jungle Cruise: The Definitive History" at celebrationspress.com.