How Mary Poppins Changed Movies Forever | Movies Insider

“Mary Poppins,“ the 1964 Disney film about a flying, magical nanny isn’t just a beloved classic — it’s a monumental movie in the history of filmmaking. The film is regarded as Walt Disney’s crowning live-action achievement, as the only Disney film to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in his lifetime. What’s often overlooked is that the film was also that year’s Oscar winner for Best Visual Effects. To bring “Mary Poppins“ to life, Disney hired the engineer and inventor, Petro Vlahos.