MovieChat Forums > Mary Poppins (1965) Discussion > Did the bird woman die?

Did the bird woman die?

posted 8 years ago by tristandude14
5 replies | jump to latest

It's not that I assume just because she wasn't there the night that Mr. Banks walked by means she died, but the way the music sounded so dramatic and dreary, it seemed like it was trying to tell us it was too late to feed the birds.

[–] mark.waltz 7 years ago

It is a little somber, but being very late at night, she could have just gone wherever she slept. The close-up of Jane Darwell always gets me, knowing that she'd been around in movies for a long time, and the character's living conditions probably indicated that she wouldn't live much longer. Ms. Darwell did appear in one more movie after this, however, but her cameo in this is very profound.

"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep."

[–] hilaryjrp 7 years ago

but her cameo in this is very profound.

Best song in the film, and yes, she was fantastic.

"Outstanding theater may make you weep."

"Feed the Birds" does it for me, every time.

[–] ghostfan 7 years ago

Same here. That song, and Jane, makes me cry every time.

How sad, that you were not born in my time, nor I, in yours.

[–] ScarletPimpernel64 7 years ago

You're not alone. Dick Van Dyke is one who says it makes him cry every time.

"Be sure you're right, then go ahead."
Davy Crockett

[–] liscarkat (16692) 5 years ago

This was Jane Darwell's last film appearance. She was eighty-three.