20 Best Movies About The Movies Of All Time
17. Saving Mr. Banks
Adapting material for the big screen can be an incredibly difficult process and one that often requires a lot of compromise. In Saving Mr. Banks, the extent of compromise is the point of focus as P.L. Travers directly involves herself in the adaptation of her Mary Poppins books for the future Walt Disney motion picture.
The film is primarily about the author's life but the best sequences are those where Travers is butting heads with the filmmakers and Disney himself over the changes that would need to be made to her beloved creation.
From the inclusion of animation to the types of songs that are sung, Travers doesn't budge on many issues and the discussions that come from the behind the scenes negotiations are actually quite fascinating to watch unfold. Film is truly a collaborative process and Saving Mr. Banks shows it isn't always a happy one.
It is also worth noting that the film leans very favourably in its portrayal of Walt Disney so the realism should be taken with a grain of salt. As the film is produced by Disney Studios, they ironically didn't have to compromise much when adapting Travers' story.