A Man Has Dreams
Encyclopedia
"A Man Has Dreams" is a song from Walt Disney
's film Mary Poppins
, written by Richard M. Sherman
and Robert B. Sherman
. The song melody is a slowed down version of "The Life I Lead
" which serves as Banks' leit motif as he was tired. In both the motion picture and the stage musical, the song is performed as a conversational duet between Bert, the chiminey sweep (Dick Van Dyke
) and George Banks (David Tomlinson
). It is operatic in nature, sung dialogue, and was highly unusual for a musical film
of that era. The song incorporates a reprise of "A Spoonful of Sugar
" which is Mary Poppins' leit motif.
The melody first appears as George Banks marches into the front door of his home. At that point in the film, the song is bouncy in nature to reflect Banks' triumphant spirit. The song is then titled, "The Life I Lead
". It is reprised several times throughout the film. The final reprise is sung when Banks thinks he has lost everything, during which the music somber and the song itself retitled as, "A Man Has Dreams".
This song is pivotal in both the stage musical
as well as the film.
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 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...
, written 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...
. The song melody is a slowed down version of "The Life I Lead
The Life I Lead
"The Life I Lead" is a song from the 1964 Walt Disney film Mary Poppins, composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Academy Award winning music arranger, Irwin Kostal used the theme from this song as the leit motif of the protagonist, "George Banks" as it most expresses the way he...
" which serves as Banks' leit motif as he was tired. In both the motion picture and the stage musical, the song is performed as a conversational duet between Bert, the chiminey sweep (Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke
Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer with a career spanning six decades. He is the older brother of Jerry Van Dyke, and father of Barry Van Dyke...
) and George Banks (David Tomlinson
David Tomlinson
David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson was an English film actor. He is primarily remembered for his roles as authority figure George Banks in Mary Poppins, fraudulent magician Professor Emelius Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and as hapless antagonist Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug.-Early life:Born...
). It is operatic in nature, sung dialogue, and was highly unusual for a musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
of that era. The song incorporates a reprise of "A Spoonful of Sugar
A Spoonful of Sugar
"A Spoonful Of Sugar" is a song from Walt Disney's 1964 film and the musical versions of Mary Poppins, composed by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman....
" which is Mary Poppins' leit motif.
The melody first appears as George Banks marches into the front door of his home. At that point in the film, the song is bouncy in nature to reflect Banks' triumphant spirit. The song is then titled, "The Life I Lead
The Life I Lead
"The Life I Lead" is a song from the 1964 Walt Disney film Mary Poppins, composed by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Academy Award winning music arranger, Irwin Kostal used the theme from this song as the leit motif of the protagonist, "George Banks" as it most expresses the way he...
". It is reprised several times throughout the film. The final reprise is sung when Banks thinks he has lost everything, during which the music somber and the song itself retitled as, "A Man Has Dreams".
This song is pivotal in both the 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...
as well as the film.