Mary Poppins remains a staple of childhood wonder, but there is a lot more to the story of the film and its author than most people realize. This quiz examines the tension behind the scenes and the specific creative choices that defined the classic.
You will see questions about the original books, the challenging production at Disney, and the specific dance rituals found in the natural behavior of penguins. It is an unusual mix that connects whimsical fiction with real animal habits.
Think you know the films well? Try our trivia on Disney classics, troubled productions, or book adaptations.
Which species of penguin is famous for the intricate ‘bowing’ dance rituals used to establish territories?
Chinstrap penguins
Chinstrap penguins
King penguins
King penguins
Emperor penguins
Emperor penguins
Adélie penguins
Adélie penguins
What is the primary biological purpose of the courtship dance performed by most penguin species?
Food storage
Food storage
Mate selection
Mate selection
Nesting sites
Nesting sites
Predator avoidance
Predator avoidance
Who spent over 20 years attempting to secure the film rights to the character Mary Poppins?
P.L. Travers
P.L. Travers
Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Robert Sherman
Robert Sherman
Richard Sherman
Richard Sherman
In the ‘laughing tea party’ scene from the classic film, where does the gravity-defying tea take place?
The London Zoo
The London Zoo
The Banks family nursery
The Banks family nursery
The park near the Banks home
The park near the Banks home
A magical ceiling-dwelling relative’s home
A magical ceiling-dwelling relative’s home
Before it became a film, ‘Mary Poppins’ was originally published as what?
A stage musical
A stage musical
A radio play
A radio play
A book series
A book series
A series of short stories
A series of short stories
Besides physical movement, what auditory signal is critical to a penguin’s ‘dance’ when locating a mate in a crowded colony?
Flippers slapping
Flippers slapping
Vocal calls
Vocal calls
Foot tapping
Foot tapping
Head bobbing
Head bobbing
P.L. Travers famously objected to the inclusion of which specific element in the 1964 film adaptation of Mary Poppins?
The reduction of the children’s role
The reduction of the children’s role
The overuse of magic in the plot
The overuse of magic in the plot
The portrayal of Bert as a romantic interest
The portrayal of Bert as a romantic interest
The animated sequences
The animated sequences
During the iconic ‘laughing tea party,’ which character floats toward the ceiling because he laughs too much?
Admiral Boom
Admiral Boom
Bert the Chimney Sweep
Bert the Chimney Sweep
Uncle Albert
Uncle Albert
Mr. Banks
Mr. Banks
Which penguin species is known to incorporate ‘side-to-side head shaking’ as an aggressive dance-like display during disputes?
Little Blue penguins
Little Blue penguins
Adélie penguins
Adélie penguins
Magellanic penguins
Magellanic penguins
Gentoo penguins
Gentoo penguins
In what year was the live-action Mary Poppins film finally released?
1948
1948
1970
1970
1955
1955
1964
1964
During which historical period is the story of Mary Poppins set?
The Edwardian era London
The Edwardian era London
Post-WWII London
Post-WWII London
Victorian era London
Victorian era London
The Great Depression era London
The Great Depression era London
What is a distinguishing characteristic of the ‘dance’ social behavior of King Penguins?
They perform dances only when they are migrating.
They perform dances only when they are migrating.
They are the only birds known to dance on ice.
They are the only birds known to dance on ice.
They are less synchronized than other birds
They are less synchronized than other birds
They use dance to reinforce pair bonds throughout the year, not just at breeding time.
They use dance to reinforce pair bonds throughout the year, not just at breeding time.
Which best describes the conflict between P.L. Travers and the creative team regarding the music of the film?
Travers wanted no songs, while Disney hired the Sherman Brothers.
Travers wanted no songs, while Disney hired the Sherman Brothers.
Travers disliked the music, while Disney championed it.
Travers disliked the music, while Disney championed it.
Travers wrote the songs herself, but Disney rejected them.
Travers wrote the songs herself, but Disney rejected them.
Travers wanted only classical music, while Disney wanted pop.
Travers wanted only classical music, while Disney wanted pop.
What is the title of the musical number performed during the gravity-defying tea party?
‘Feed the Birds’
‘Feed the Birds’
‘A Spoonful of Sugar’
‘A Spoonful of Sugar’
‘I Love to Laugh’
‘I Love to Laugh’
‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’
‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’
How do most standing penguins maintain balance while performing complex courtship ‘dances’?
They have flexible ankles that allow for intricate stepping patterns.
They have flexible ankles that allow for intricate stepping patterns.
They rely entirely on vision to mimic their partner’s movements.
They rely entirely on vision to mimic their partner’s movements.
They use their stiff tail feathers as a third leg for balance.
They use their stiff tail feathers as a third leg for balance.
They puff out their chests to increase surface area for wing flapping.
They puff out their chests to increase surface area for wing flapping.
How does P.L. Travers consistently define the profession of Mary Poppins in her books?
Mary Poppins is a time-traveling governess.
Mary Poppins is a time-traveling governess.
Mary Poppins is a magical nanny.
Mary Poppins is a magical nanny.
Mary Poppins is a fictional nurse.
Mary Poppins is a fictional nurse.
Mary Poppins is a mythological water spirit.
Mary Poppins is a mythological water spirit.
Regarding the P.L. Travers vs. Disney conflict, where was the entire 1964 film shot despite Travers’ desire for authenticity?
It was filmed entirely on the Disney lot in California.
It was filmed entirely on the Disney lot in California.
It was a mix of real locations and studio sets.
It was a mix of real locations and studio sets.
It was filmed entirely in the UK.
It was filmed entirely in the UK.
It was filmed in a French studio.
It was filmed in a French studio.
Beyond courtship, which function is served by certain penguin displays involving movements and vocalizations within their colonies?
To signal the start of a migration.
To signal the start of a migration.
To coordinate group diving for fish.
To coordinate group diving for fish.
To communicate hunger to their chicks.
To communicate hunger to their chicks.
To assert territorial ownership.
To assert territorial ownership.
P.L. Travers was often compared to which other British author known for whimsical children’s literature?
G.B. Shaw
G.B. Shaw
J.M. Barrie
J.M. Barrie
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
A.A. Milne
A.A. Milne
What is the secondary, physical benefit of the ‘preening’ or grooming dances performed by many penguins?
They are adaptations used to navigate through dense sea grass.
They are adaptations used to navigate through dense sea grass.
They are purely ritualistic and have no physical utility.
They are purely ritualistic and have no physical utility.
They are used to keep their feathers aligned for better insulation.
They are used to keep their feathers aligned for better insulation.
They help in shedding excess heat during the summer months.
They help in shedding excess heat during the summer months.
What was the primary reason P.L. Travers was so resistant to Walt Disney’s vision?
A lack of confidence in the film’s success.
A lack of confidence in the film’s success.
Financial disputes over royalty payments.
Financial disputes over royalty payments.
A protective attitude toward her literary character.
A protective attitude toward her literary character.
A desire for more screen time.
A desire for more screen time.
Sophisticated dance displays in Gentoo penguins are primarily observed for which social outcome?
To entertain their chicks until they are ready to swim.
To entertain their chicks until they are ready to swim.
To keep track of local predator populations.
To keep track of local predator populations.
To burn calories and stay warm in freezing winds.
To burn calories and stay warm in freezing winds.
To strengthen pair bonds during courtship.
To strengthen pair bonds during courtship.
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