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Film: Mary Poppins (1964)
Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Format: NSTC/Blu-ray PAL
Discovered By: Andrew C. Wendland and Todd Ellis
Set Up: Begin the album when "Distributed by Buena Vista pictures" has faded all the way out and the opening shot of London fades in.
Length of Sync; 139 minutes (Repeat album to cover film length)
Notes: The 2009 Stereo Remasters or the original stereo CD works best in the case of this sync. Avoid any bootlegs or unofficial releases. Also avoid the mono releases, as some songs are sped up/slowed down. The 2017 Remix by Giles Martin is also not to be used.

Connections

  • On the front cover of the album, in the crowd standing behind The Beatles, in the top row, seventh from the left, is Carl Gustav Jung, noted for his research on the philosophical concept of synchronicity.
  • Below the wax statues of The Beatles on the left, under the wax Ringo Starr, there is a tuba. Below the tuba, is a small figure of Snow White in a green dress. This could be a clue pointing towards a Disney film, or it could foreshadow one of the Beatles' next movie syncs.
  • The Beatles met with Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews during the filming of Mary Poppins during the production of their own film, A Hard Day's Night.
  • The song "When I'm Sixty-Four" on the album may be a reference to the year of Mary Poppins' release, 1964.
     
  • The following song, "Lovely Rita", describes the singer's affection for a meter maid named Rita. One of the Banks family maids in the film is played by Reta Shaw.
     
  • The idea of The Beatles making Sgt Pepper's to sync with Mary Poppins may not be as far-fetched as one would believe, as this quote may give some credence:

    "Randomness as art appealed to all of the Beatles very much. The idea that a silent movie selected at random could link up with a piece of music equally randomly picked out was a great wheeze; they loved playing around like that." - Sir George Martin on The Beatles' recording sessions.

Lyrical/musical connections

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

  • Paul McCartney wails the title of the album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!" as the title of the film, "Mary Poppins" fades in.

With a Little Help From My Friends

  • Song begins as Mary Poppins makes her first appearance.
     

  • "I get high with a little help from my friends" - as Mary Poppins sits high up in the clouds.
     

  • Bert's one-man-band routine synchronizes very well with the song..

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

  • "Follow her down..." - as the camera follows Bert down to Cherry Tree Lane.
     

  • "So incredibly high..." - as the camera pans up Admiral Boom's rather tall house.

Getting Better

  • The song begins just as Mrs. Banks bursts in singing "Sister Suffragette."
     

  • The actresses seem to dance in time with the music, and the themes of the lyrics in both match rather well, the song being about the women's suffrage campaign that Mrs. Banks has just attended.

Fixing a Hole

  • "...past my door" - as Mr. Banks walks through the front door.
     

  • "I'm taking the time for a number of things." - as Mr. Banks sings about the various aspects of his meticulously planned life.

She's Leaving Home

  • The song, which is about a teenage runaway and her parents' distress, starts just as Mrs. Banks tells her husband about her children's disappearance, obviously distraught.

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite

  • Mr. Banks' mannerisms fit the music.
     

  • "A splendid time is guaranteed for all" - as the children describe their idea of an ideal nanny.

Within You, Without You

  • The lyrics here could refer to Mr. Banks. He is so caught up in his strict, authoritarian business-like lifestyle, that he fails to take into consideration what his children want. "We were talking about the love that's gone so cold, and the people who gain the world and lose their soul. They don't know, they can't see. Are you one of them?"
     

  • "And to see you're really only very small" - as the camera shows the perspective of Admiral Boom, the long line of nannies looking very small from that high up.
     

  • "Then you may find peace of mind is waiting there." - as the maid opens the door, revealing Mary Poppins to be standing at the door.

When I'm Sixty-Four

  • "And if you say the word, I could stay with you." - as Mary Poppins lists off her qualifications as being the Banks family's nanny.
     

  • "...by the fireside" - as Mr. Banks looks into the fireplace.
     

  • ​Mr. Banks hits his head on the fireplace mantle to the sound of a ringing bell.

Lovely Rita

  • "Lovely Rita, meter maid.." - as the camera cuts to the Banks' family maid, Ellen.
     

  • "...away." - as a dog runs off.
     

  • "...and the bag across her shoulder.." - as Mary Poppins sets her magical bag down on the table.

Good Morning, Good Morning

  • "How's your boy been?" - as Mary measures Michael with her tape measure.
     

  • ​Horse whinnies at the end of the song as Mary picks up a toy rocking horse.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band [Reprise]

  • Clucking noises at the start of the song as Mary observes a nest of birds outside the window.

A Day in the Life

  • "The English army had just won the war" - whilst a few toy British soldiers pop out of a toy-box.
     

  • "Found my way downstairs" - as Mary Poppins, Jane, and Michael make their way downstairs and out the front door.

Second Play-through

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help From My Friends

  • "Would you stand up and walk out on me?" - as the children run off into the distance.
     

  • "Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song" - as Bert starts singing "Jolly Holiday".
     

  • "I get high with a little help from my friends" - Bert flies high up in the air with a couple of birds.
     

  • In the song, the sky darkens when Bert sings, "When the day is gray and ordinary..." then brightens up when he sings, "Mary makes the sun shine bright.". In this sync, the sky darkens when Paul and John sing, "Are you sad because you're on your own?", and the sky brightens up when Ringo sings, "No! I get by with a little help from my friends..."
     

  • "I need somebody to love" - as Bert pantomimes his heart beating.

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

  • "With tangerine trees and marmalade skies." - Precisely on the word "skies" the movie cuts to a panning shot of the sky.
     

  • "Cellophane flowers..." - scene cuts to Mary and Bert continuing their dance routine, colorful flowers in the foreground.
     

  • "And she's gone". - On the word "gone" the bouquet that Bert gives Mary turns into a flock of butterflies which flies away.
     

  • "...to a bridge.." - as Mary and Bert cross a bridge made from turtles' backs.
     

  • "...rocking horse people.." - as Bert rocks and sways, balancing on the turtle's back.

Getting Better

  • Bert and the penguins dance in time to the music.
     

  • ​The song ends as their dance routine ends.

Fixing a Hole

  • "...where the rain gets in.." - as Mary holds up her umbrella.
     

  • "There I will go..." - as the horses break free from the carousel one by one.

She's Leaving Home

  • "Meeting a man from the motor trade" - as Mary meets a proper-looking man who hands her a bouquet of flowers.
     

  • "She.. is having.. fun.." - as Mary Poppins has just won the race.

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite

  • Song starts playing just as soon as Mary Poppins starts singing the song with a similarly long title, "Supercalifragilistexpialodocious."
     

  • During the first solo, Mary utters the word backwards. This part of the song contains many backwards tape loops.
     

  • The band begins at 10 to 6" - as a band is shown playing.

Within You, Without You

  • Mood of the song fits very well as Mary Poppins sings her (anti-)lullaby to the children, putting them to sleep.

When I'm Sixty-Four

  • "...and if you say the word.." - as Michael recites 'the word' to his father. I'm not gonna bother to try and type it all out again.
     

  • "Will you still feed me?" - as Mr. Banks frustratingly eats his breakfast.
     

  • ​Piano "plinks" as a piano rolls into view and straight into Mr. Banks.

Lovely Rita

  • Song begins as Mary takes the children out once more.
     

  • "In a cap she looked much older, and the bag across her shoulder made her look a little like a military man." - as we see Admiral Boom, in his sailor's cap.

Good Morning, Good Morning

  • "Feeling low down..." - Uncle Albert is floating high toward the ceiling, but Mary, Bert and the children are still low down on the floor.
     

  • "After a while you start to smile.." - as Bert and the children burst out laughing.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band [Reprise]
A Day in the Life

  • "Woke up, fell out of bed" - as the group slowly falls to the ground.
     

  • "...and drank a cup" - as Mary Poppins holds a cup of tea.
     

  • "...the Albert Hall" - during a shot of Uncle Albert.

Third Play-through

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help From My Friends

  • "Would you stand up and walk out on me?" - as Mary Poppins turns and walks away from Mr. Banks.

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

  • "...kaleidoscope eyes.." - as the perspective changes to that of inside a snow-globe. The blurred, ray-like edges of these shots make it look almost kaleidoscopic.
     

  • In turn, this filter suits the psychedelic vibe to this song very well.

Getting Better

  • "Holding me down, turning me 'round, and filling me up with your rules.." - as Mr. Banks scolds the children.

Fixing a Hole

  • "...and stops my mind from wandering.." -as Michael gives his father a strange look, who then gestures for Michael to go back to paying attention to Mr. Dawes' song.

She's Leaving Home

  • The song plays as the children run away from their father once more.
     

  • "Friday morning at 9 o'clock she is far away..." - as the children run, already very far from the bank, through the London streets.

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Within You, Without You
When I'm Sixty-Four

  • Mary, Bert, and the children march to the beat.
     

  • Clock chimes in the song while Mary and the children are atop a clock tower

Lovely Rita

  • The song starts up as soon as Bert begins performing "Step In Time" with the chimney sweeps.
     

  • ​Mary Poppins taps her feet to the beat.

Good Morning, Good Morning

  • "People running 'round..." - as the chimney sweeps start to run across the rooftops.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band [Reprise]
  • "We're sorry but it's time to go.." - as the chimney sweeps run from the exploding fireworks.
A Day in the Life

  • "Found my way upstairs..." - as the children watch their father from upstairs.

Fourth (and Final) Play-through

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help From My Friends

  • "How do I feel by the end of the day? Are you sad because you're on your own?" - as Mr. Banks somberly walks at night, contemplating his life which has solely revolved around himself, knowing he is about to lose his job at the bank.

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better

  • The song begins as Mr. Banks starts to smile and become joyful, even cracking a joke.
     

  • "Man I was mean, but I'm changing my scene." - as Mr. Banks exits the bank with a noticeable spring in his step.

Fixing a Hole

  • "I'm taking the time for a number of things that weren't important yesterday." - as Mr. Banks returns home, taking the time for joy and exuberance in his life (which weren't important to him previously). You might say he's filling a void in his life... or fixing a hole...

She's Leaving Home

  • "Fun is the one thing that money can't buy.." - as Mr. Banks decides to have fun with his children by flying kites in the park.

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite
  • The music in this sync ends with Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!, and the film ends with the song Let's Fly a Kite.
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