Sister Suffragette
Encyclopedia
"Sister Suffragette" is the pro-suffrage
protest song
pastiche sung by Mrs. Winifred Banks in the 1964 Walt Disney
film Mary Poppins
. The melody of the song was originally used for a scrapped piece called "Practically Perfect". It was written and composed by Richard M. Sherman
and Robert B. Sherman
, and was performed by Glynis Johns
.
The lyrics mention Emmeline Pankhurst
, who with her daughters founded the Women's Social and Political Union
in Manchester
. Some of the words are: "Our daughters' daughters will adore us, and they'll sing in grateful chorus, well done, Sister Suffragette!"
. According to the songwriters in their autobigraphical book, Walt's Time, Actress Glynis Johns
had thought that she was being offered the lead role of "Mary Poppins", when in fact, she had been slotted to play, "Mrs. Banks", instead. To amplify Disney's and Johns' mutual embarrassment, the misunderstanding only became apparent while both parties sat opposite each other in Walt Disney
's Burbank
studio lot office. Thinking quickly, Disney softened the actress's disappointment by telling her of the 'terrific new song' which the Sherman Brothers
had written, especially for her. Disney called up the songwriters, telling them how he was 'just about to take Johns to lunch and how she was looking forward to hearing the new song following the meal", all within earshot of the actress. The Sherman Brothers deciphered Disney's coded hint, working feverishly through their own lunch hour. Originally the lyrics for "Practically Perfect" read:
In record time, the lyric evolved into:
The Mary Poppins stage musical
contains a song entitled "Practically Perfect" which is based heavily on the original but contains none of the tune. The replacement song is instead called "Being Mrs. Banks".
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
protest song
Protest song
A protest song is a song which is associated with a movement for social change and hence part of the broader category of topical songs . It may be folk, classical, or commercial in genre...
pastiche sung by Mrs. Winifred Banks in the 1964 Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
film Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins (film)
Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, produced by Walt Disney, and based on the Mary Poppins books series by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Mary Shepard. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, with songs by...
. The melody of the song was originally used for a scrapped piece called "Practically Perfect". It was written and composed by Richard M. Sherman
Richard M. Sherman
Richard Morton Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical film with his brother Robert Bernard Sherman....
and Robert B. Sherman
Robert B. Sherman
Robert Bernard Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard Morton Sherman...
, and was performed by Glynis Johns
Glynis Johns
Glynis Johns is a South African-born Welsh stage and film actress, dancer, pianist and singer . With a career spanning seven decades, Johns is often cited as the "complete actress", who happens to be a trained pianist and singer...
.
The lyrics mention Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement which helped women win the right to vote...
, who with her daughters founded the Women's Social and Political Union
Women's Social and Political Union
The Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Some of the words are: "Our daughters' daughters will adore us, and they'll sing in grateful chorus, well done, Sister Suffragette!"
Original version
The melody from this song was borrowed from an earlier song entitled, "Practically Perfect" which had, by then, been deleted from the 1964 film productionMary Poppins (film)
Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, produced by Walt Disney, and based on the Mary Poppins books series by P. L. Travers with illustrations by Mary Shepard. The film was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi, with songs by...
. According to the songwriters in their autobigraphical book, Walt's Time, Actress Glynis Johns
Glynis Johns
Glynis Johns is a South African-born Welsh stage and film actress, dancer, pianist and singer . With a career spanning seven decades, Johns is often cited as the "complete actress", who happens to be a trained pianist and singer...
had thought that she was being offered the lead role of "Mary Poppins", when in fact, she had been slotted to play, "Mrs. Banks", instead. To amplify Disney's and Johns' mutual embarrassment, the misunderstanding only became apparent while both parties sat opposite each other in Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
studio lot office. Thinking quickly, Disney softened the actress's disappointment by telling her of the 'terrific new song' which the Sherman Brothers
Sherman Brothers
The Sherman Brothers are an American songwriting duo that specialize in musical films, made up of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman ....
had written, especially for her. Disney called up the songwriters, telling them how he was 'just about to take Johns to lunch and how she was looking forward to hearing the new song following the meal", all within earshot of the actress. The Sherman Brothers deciphered Disney's coded hint, working feverishly through their own lunch hour. Originally the lyrics for "Practically Perfect" read:
- "I'm Practically Perfect in ev'ry way
- In ev'rything I do and in ev'rything I say"
In record time, the lyric evolved into:
- "We're clearly soldiers in petticoats
- Dauntless crusaders for women's votes!"
The Mary Poppins stage musical
Mary Poppins (musical)
Mary Poppins is a Walt Disney Theatrical musical based on the similarly titled series of children's books by P. L. Travers and the Disney 1964 film. The West End production opened in December 2004 and received two Olivier Awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical and the other for Best Theatre...
contains a song entitled "Practically Perfect" which is based heavily on the original but contains none of the tune. The replacement song is instead called "Being Mrs. Banks".
Literary sources
- Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyondWalt's Time: from before to beyondWalt's Time: from before to beyond is a 252-page autobiographic, full color book by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. It was edited by Imagineers Bruce Gordon, David Mumford and Jeff Kurtti and was published in 1998 by Camphor Tree Publishers who are out of Santa Clarita, California...
. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.