‘Mary Poppins’ gets a New Age rating in Britain for racist language

The rating for “Mary Poppins,” the beloved children’s musical about a nanny with magical powers released 60 years ago, has been raised to PG in Britain for using “discriminatory language,” according to the British Board of Film Classification.

The change in rating follows a wave of recontextualization and reclassification of films from a bygone era for modern audiences, amid changing cultural norms and mores.

“Mary Poppins” contains two uses of an offensive racial slur to describe an indigenous group in South Africa. It is first heard when Admiral Boom asks Michael, a child, if he is going on an adventure to defeat the said group. Admiral Boom repeats the slur during a chimney sweep dance sequence when he shouts that he is under attack. The dancing figures he sees in the distance are not black Africans, but white dancers with faces blackened with soot.

The film was originally rated ‘U’ by Universal upon its release in 1964, and again in 2013 for a theatrical release, the BBFC said in a statement. When it was resubmitted for another theatrical release in February, it was reclassified as PG.

PG is the second least serious of six ratings in Britain. The strictest is 18, which prohibits anyone under that age from renting, purchasing or seeing the film in cinemas.

“We understand from our research into racism and discrimination, and from recent research into classification guidelines, that a key concern for people, parents in particular, is the potential to expose children to discriminatory language” or behavior that they may find distressing or repeat without realizing its potential. According to a spokeswoman for the board, there has been a violation.

Leshu Torchin, a senior lecturer in film studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, said the change in rating for “Mary Poppins” made sense, noting that the rating acts as a guideline and doesn’t deter anyone from watching a film.

“It becomes a useful kind of instruction, especially for people with children, to think about whether their own children are ready for these discussions, ready for a movie, or completely ready but perhaps inclined to want to talk,” says Dr. Torchin said.

Movies don’t remain static, she said. “As long as it continues to be watched, there will be a new audience watching it,” she said, adding that the rating makes parents aware “that children can watch a movie, and if they can’t contextualize things with their parents, they come away thinking that certain language is okay, or they come away from it feeling harmed by what they have just seen.”

While the change in rating for “Mary Poppins” came as a surprise to many, it is part of a growing list of films that have been reclassified and revisited with fresh eyes in recent years.

The BBFC noted that it was reclassified in 2023 “Santa Claus: The Movie” (1985) rated higher, for PG, for its mild violence and language. Likewise, the review is for “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983) was also elevated to PG for moderate violence.

Movie ratings may also go down. “Enter the Dragon” (1973), “Friday the 13th” (1980) and several others are now labeled 15 after previously receiving higher ratings.

A similar reevaluation has taken place in the United States in recent years. HBO Max is coming in 2020 temporarily removed ‘Gone with the Wind’ a film routinely criticized for whitewashing the horrors of slavery and romanticizing the antebellum South, from its streaming library. The decision came amid intense reflections in the United States over depictions of race and policing following nationwide protests over police brutality. HBO Max cited the need for “an explanation and an indictment” for the film’s depiction of race relations.

Previous television series also came under scrutiny at the time, such as certain episodes of “30 Rock,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Scrubs.” have been removed from streaming platforms for showing white characters with a black face.

Similarly, Disney+ added a content disclaimer in 2021 to 18 episodes of “The Muppet Show” because they include “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.” The company said that rather than removing the content, it acknowledged its harmful effects in hopes of sparking a conversation about the issues.

Books have also been revised after renewed attention. Roald Dahl’s estate in 2023 hundreds of words changed or deletedincluding descriptions of the characters’ appearance, race and gender in at least ten of the author’s children’s books, such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda,” to make them less offensive.