THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

Yes, cine maniacs, it finally happened, I saw my first post-TIFF flick and it was excellent. I mentioned at the end of last week's posting, that I had planned to see, TETRO. Well, there's an expression that says something about the best laid plans of, mice and men, long story short, it was no longer playing. However, all hope was not lost. There was a film I had wanted to see, earlier in the summer and it was still playing!!! That film is this week's subject: THE BOYS: THE SHERMAN BROTHERS' STORY, directed by GREGORY AND JEFFREY SHERMAN, (who are, interestingly enough, their respective sons).

This movie is one of the best docs, I have ever seen. It tells the story of the SHERMAN BROTHERS, who were the in-house tune smiths for the WALT DISNEY company, during its heyday, when it was run by ole WALT himself. They are also two of the most prolific musicians in music history, as well. A partial list of their accomplishments takes us down, movie memory lane: MARY POPPINS, THE JUNGLE BOOK, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS, and CHITTY, CHITTY BANG, BANG (which is not a DISNEY, film, although, people think it is , because, DICK VAN DYKE, was in it and they did the music and lyrics).

The interesting thing, about these two, multi-award winning composers (including 2 academy awards), is that when they weren't working together, they were virtual strangers. As well, their respective families never saw each other. Of the two, Richard (or Dick, as is he is more commonly know), is the more outgoing of the two. He is the music composer, or if you will, the PAUL MCCARTNEY, to Robert's (or Bob's ), JOHN LENNON. Like LENNON, Bob, the lyricist, is more reserved and introverted. The movie tries to show why they are, the way they are. While, they were both soldiers during World War 2, Dick, never really saw any action. On the other hand, Bob was interred in a concentration camp and bears those horrifying scars, to the present day.

I did not realize, how emotionally- affected, I would be by this film, but let's just say that copious tears, were shed during the course of this film, and not just on screen. The SHERMAN'S, are responsible for some of the most wonderful songs ever written: A SPOON FULL OF SUGAR, SUPERCALIFRAGILIS (you know the rest), CHIM CHIM CHE'REE, STEP IN TIME, FEED THE BIRDS, LET'S GO FLY A KITE, HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN, just a name a few in their catalogue.

The talking heads this film contains all attest, to the brothers' genius: HAYLEY MILLS, DICK VAN DYKE, JULIE ANDREWS, ANNETTE FUNNICELLO (in a heart-breaking appearance, she reveals how they wrote some of her greatest hits), ALAN MENCKEN, BARBARA BROCCOLI, (whose father produced, CHITTY CHITTY...), CAMERON MACKINTOSH (who produced, MARY POPPINS, on stage), JOHN LANDIS and many others.

The most fascinating part of course, is the brothers' estrangement. It shows how they were thrown together by fate. They are two people who would never have associated with each other, if they weren't work-partners, even if, they were brothers. Earlier clips show how close together the two brothers were, (they came from a musical family and their dad, who was also a musician, kept the brothers together). When they are reunited at the Broadway, premiere of MARY POPPINS, Dick, is hoping for a reconciliation with Bob, which never really happens.

As, we see them in later years, Bob, has moved to England. He is frail and concentrates on his painting, (he is quite good) and Dick is still spry and playing piano and performing.

The film works on so many levels: the inner-workings, of DISNEY under DISNEY, a look at the music business and of course, the story of two brilliant, albeit radically different brothers. It is however, directed by their sons, so there is hope for future, family reconciliation.

So, until next time, as they say in the biz..

T.T.F.N.