The classic film “Mary Poppins,” starring Julie Andrews, has undergone a revision in its age rating by British film censors due to the inclusion of “discriminatory language.” Originally classified as a U (universal), it has been elevated to a PG (parental guidance) rating.
The 1964 film, set in London in 1910, portrays a magical nanny, portrayed by Dame Julie, caring for a family’s children alongside Bert, a busking chimney-sweep played by Dick Van Dyke. However, it includes the use of a derogatory term, historically employed by white Europeans to describe nomadic peoples in southern Africa, in reference to soot-faced chimney-sweeps. This usage, notably by the character Admiral Boom, a neighbor and Naval veteran, now “exceeds our guidelines” for U films, stated the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).
The BBFC, responsible for the film’s classification both in 1964 and during a re-release in 2013, recently re-evaluated “Mary Poppins” following a submission for another theatrical re-release in February 2024. A spokesperson clarified, “Mary Poppins (1964) includes two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots.'” Despite the film’s historical context, the use of such language is not condoned, leading to the decision to classify it as PG for discriminatory language.
The term in question, referring to the Khoikhoi and San peoples, is considered both archaic and offensive by the Oxford English Dictionary. The BBFC’s decision stemmed from research indicating concerns, particularly among parents, about exposing children to discriminatory language or behavior that could distress them or be repeated unknowingly.
According to the BBFC, a PG rating implies that while the content should not unsettle children aged around eight or older, parents should consider whether it might upset younger or more sensitive children. In contrast, a U rating suggests a film is suitable for audiences aged four years and over, though it acknowledges the impossibility of predicting what might upset any particular child.
“Mary Poppins” remains a beloved classic, having won five Oscars in 1965, including best actress and best song. Despite the revision in its age rating, the film continues to hold its place in cinematic history. Moreover, a sequel starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, released in 2018, and a West End show in London, have ensured the enduring legacy of the magical nanny for generations to come.
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