Movie Musings: Disney and More

David Tomlinson: Disney’s Greatest Actor/Voice-Over Artist

You might or might not recognize the name David Tomlinson, but he is best known throughout the world as Mr. George Banks in the Academy-Award-winning Disney blockbuster Mary Poppins (1964). Tomlinson starred in other Disney films, though none of them were ever able to equal or surpass the popularity of “Poppins.” He was first offered the role of Mr. Banks by Walt Disney after Disney saw him in a play in London, England a few years prior to “Poppins.” He was under the impression that Walt was to offer him the role of the father in the film Bon, Voyage! (1962), but that part went to Fred MacMurray. Nevertheless, he agreed to star in “Poppins,” and it was obviously a big hit for him, and the entire Disney family. His contributions, however, extended behind Mr. Banks, as he made several voice-over appearances in the animated sequence in the film?

    David Tomlinson voiced one of the dancing penguins in the “Jolly Holliday,” scene, and one of the Horse Jockey and Racetrack Stewards in the “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” scene. His voice was also dubbed in for Admiral Boom’s first mate, Mr. Binnacle. (Disney voice-over artist, Don Barclay, wore Mr. Binnacle’s costume. Barclay voiced the Doorman in Cinderella (1950), and also lend his voice to Alice in Wonderland (1951) and 101 Dalmatians (1961). He played Dr. Miller and Santa Clause in The Walt Disney Christmas Show (1951).) Tomlinson also provided the voice for the talking parrot handle on Mary Poppins’ umbrella. (They originally considered having the handle talk throughout the whole movie, but Walt decided that that ought to be saved for the very last scene.) 

After “Poppins,” Tomlinson starred as the evil Thorndyke in The Love Bug (1968) and as the clumsy Emelius Brown in Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) where he starred opposite Angela Lansbury and Reginald Owen. Angela Lansbury had previously been considered for the role of Mary Poppins before the role went to Julie Andrews (Ironically, Julie Andrews was also considered for the role of Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast (1991) before that role went to Lansbury.) Reginald Owen played Admiral Boom in “Poppins.” and General Teagler in “Bedknobs.”

Movies have given us many brilliant actors who have taken on the roles of fathers. (Thomas Mitchell as Gerald O’Hara in Gone With the Wind (1939), Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), and Christopher Plummer as Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music (1965).) Though his talent in “Poppins,” goes far beyond Mr. Banks, David Tomlinson created one of the most memorable “movie dads,” and one many of us count as part of our childhood.