Mary Poppins 1964 Rating Increased In UK Due To Language

• 1964 film 'Mary Poppins' age rating raised in the U.K. due to discriminatory language.

• BBFC increased cinema rating from U to PG for the use of discriminatory language.

• Specific term not disclosed, but reports suggest racially insensitive term for Khoekhoe.

Mary Poppins 1964 movie

IMDB

The age rating for the 1964 film 'Mary Poppins' has been increased in the U.K. due to 'discriminatory language.' The British Board of Film Classification raised the cinema rating from U to PG for the use of such language. The specific term that led to this reevaluation was not disclosed by the BBFC, but reports indicate it was a racially insensitive term for the Khoekhoe, an indigenous group in South Africa. This term was reportedly used twice in the film by a character named Admiral Boom.

In response to concerns about exposing children to discriminatory language, the BBFC emphasized the importance of clear condemnation in content to receive a lower rating. The original 'Mary Poppins' featured Julie Andrews as the magical nanny and Dick Van Dyke as her sidekick Bert. The film was a huge success upon its release and has since been adapted into a Broadway musical and a sequel titled 'Mary Poppins Returns' in 2018.

In the sequel, Emily Blunt took on the role of Mary Poppins, with a cast that included Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, and Meryl Streep. Dick Van Dyke also made a cameo appearance in the sequel. The decision to increase the age rating of the original film serves as a reminder of the evolving standards in media content and the importance of addressing discriminatory language in entertainment.