George Banks Quotes in Mary Poppins (1964)

Mr. Dawes Sr.: Well, do you have anything to say, Banks?

George Banks: Well, sir, they do say that when there's nothing to say, all you can say...

[He feels Michael's tuppence in his pocket, takes it out and looks at it]

Mr. Dawes Sr.: Confound it, Banks! I said do you have anything to say?

George Banks: [begins giggling hysterically] Just one word, sir...

Mr. Dawes Sr.: Yes?

George Banks: Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious!

Mr. Dawes Sr.: What?

George Banks: Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious! Mary Poppins was right, it's extraordinary! It *does* make you feel better! Hee hee hee hee!

Mr. Dawes Sr.: What are you talking about, man? There's no such word!

George Banks: Oh yes! It is a word! A perfectly good word! Actually, do you know what there's no such thing as? It turns out, with due respect, when all is said and done, that there's no such thing as YOU!

[On the failure of their previous nanny]

Mrs. Banks: I'm sorry, dear, but when I chose Katie Nana, I thought she would be firm with the children. She looked so solemn and cross.

George Banks: My dear, never confuse efficiency with a liver complaint.

Bert: You're a man of high position, esteemed by your peers.

[sings]

Bert: And when your little tykes are crying, you haven't time to dry their tears... And see their thankful little faces smiling up at you... 'Cause their dad, he always knows just what to do...

George Banks: Well, look - I...

Bert: Say no more, Gov'ner.

[sings]

Bert: You've got to grind, grind, grind at that grindstone... Though childhood slips like sand through a sieve... And all too soon they've up and grown, and then they've flown... And it's too late for you to give - just that spoonful of sugar to 'elp the medicine go down - medicine go dow-wown, medicine go down.

[speaks]

Bert: Well, goodbye, Gov'ner. Sorry to trouble you.

[Bert exits, whistling "A Spoonful of Sugar"]

Jane: [reading advertisement for a new nanny] "Wanted: a nanny for two adorable children."

George Banks: Adorable. Well that's debatable, I must say.

Jane: [singing] If you want this choice position, have a cheery disposition...

George Banks: Jane, I don't...

Jane: Rosy cheeks, no warts...

Michael: That's the part I put in!

Jane: Play games, all sorts. You must be kind, you must be witty, very sweet, and fairly pretty...

George Banks: Well of all the ridiculous...!

Mrs. Banks: George, please!

Jane: Take us on outings, give us treats, sing songs, bring sweets. Never be cross or cruel. Never give us castor oil or gruel. Love us as a son and daughter, and never smell of barley water.

Michael: I put that in, too!

Jane: If you won't scold and dominate us, we will never give you cause to hate us. We won't hide your spectacles so you can't see, put toads in your bed, or pepper in your tea. Hurry, nanny! Many thanks! Sincerely...

Jane, Michael: Jane and Michael Banks!

George Banks: Shut the window. That bird is giving me a headache.

Ellen: Yes sir.

[to the bird]

Ellen: Quiet! You're giving the master a headache!

George Banks: [singing] These silly words, like...

[speaks and stammers]

George Banks: Superca... superca... superca...

Mary Poppins: Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious.

George Banks: Yes, well done! You said it!

Mr. Dawes Jr: Ah, there you are, Banks. I want to congratulate you. Capital bit of humor, wooden leg named Smith!

[pauses looks a bit confused]

Mr. Dawes Jr: Or, Jones, whatever it was. Father died laughing!

George Banks: Oh, I'm so sorry, sir!

Mr. Dawes Jr: Oh no, nonsense, nothing to be sorry about! Never seen him happier in his life. He left an opening for a new partner.

[puts a new carnation into Banks' buttonhole]

Mr. Dawes Jr: Congratulations.

George Banks: Oh thank you, sir, thank you very much indeed!

[kisses Mrs. Banks]

George Banks: [singing] A British bank is run with precision. A British home requires nothing less! Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools! Without them: disorder, catastrophe! Anarchy! In short, you have a ghastly mess!

Mary Poppins: I beg your pardon, are you ill?

George Banks: I hope not.

George Banks: I suggest you have this piano repaired. When I sit down to an instrument, I like to have it in tune.

Mrs. Banks: But, George, you don't play.

George Banks: Madam, that is entirely beside the point!

George Banks: [singing] A man has dreams of walking with giants. To carve his niche in the edifice of time. Before the mortar of his seal has a chance to congeal... The cup is dashed from his lips! The flame is snuffed a-borning... He's brought to wrack and ruin in his prime.

George Banks: [Going to see the bank] Remember that the bank is a quiet and decorous place, and we must be on our best behavior.

Michael: But I thought it was your bank.

George Banks: Yes, well, I'm one of the junior officers, so in a sense it is. Sort of.

George Banks: Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with facts.

Mary Poppins: [reading the advertisement] Now about my wages; the reference here is very obscure.

George Banks: [dazed] Very obscure.

Mary Poppins: We must be clear on that point, mustn't we?

George Banks: Yes, we must indeed.

Mary Poppins: I shall require every second Tuesday off.

George Banks: Every Tuesday.

[Banks stares into the fireplace]

Mary Poppins: On second thoughts, I believe a trial period would be wise.

Mary Poppins: [looks closely at him] Hmm. I'll give you one week - I'll know by then.

George Banks: [Banks is unaware that the other nannies have disappeared] Ellen?

Ellen: Yes sir?

George Banks: Tell the other applicants they may go, the position has been filled.

Ellen: The others, sir?

George Banks: Yes, the others! How many nannies does she think we need in this house?

[Ellen opens the door; the only one outside is the dog Andrew]

Ellen: [to Andrew] The position has been filled.

Howard Weinstein: [on the phone] Mr. Banks, this is Howard Weinstein. Franck's Executive Assistant. I... ave... your estimate for you.

George Banks: I can barely hear you!

Howard Weinstein: I'm in my car going through Water Canyon. Call you back?

George Banks: No, no, no. I want the estimate. How much? What's the damage?

Howard Weinstein: Well, everything from the flowers, to the honeymoon limo...

George Banks: Ok, everything. How much?

Howard Weinstein: [cutting out] dred and - ifty a -ead.

George Banks: You're breaking up. It sounded like you said 150 a head.

Howard Weinstein: No, no!

George Banks: Good. I was about to kill myself.

Howard Weinstein: It's 250 a head.

Matty Banks: I'm, 4-foot 6, I don't shave, I don't have a job, and I'm gonna be an uncle. Is there something weird about that?

George Banks: Finally, someone who thinks like I do.

Nina Banks: Oh, yeah, a 12 year old.

George Banks: Mr Habeeb, please, You see this pathway? I laid these bricks with my own two hands, I planted this grass, I built this fence, I BROKE THAT WINDOW WITH A FRISBEE, I painted these shutters. Don't bulldoze my memories man sell me back my home.

Mr Habeeb: For how much?

George Banks: I have to admit, having Franck at the house did help. Although I had no idea what he did there all day.

Franck Eggelhoffer: [Marching] Do the baby 'vorkout'! Make those babies gleefull! Oh, that's good. Little tin soldiers. Happy tin soldiers. Richt. And now with an attitude.

[throws head back]

Franck Eggelhoffer: Hello! Who you? Get 'avay'! I don't like 'vat' you say!

George Banks: We could sell this house in a second. It's the Leave It to Beaver house that everybody wants.

George Banks: Now, going to the movies, that'll be economical: one child, two seniors, thanks.

George Banks: What are we, the Schmaltz family?

George Banks: Mr Habeeb, this is not a piece of land. This is my home and I'm gonna be a father again and I don't want to bring my baby home to a condo on the beach! I wanna drive down that street and I wanna pull into this driveway and I wanna honk my horn...

George Banks: What am I supposed to do? Sleep standing up?

George Banks: [talking about his baby's name] Franck Banks - has sort of a continental ring to it.

Nina Banks: Matty, what's going on?

Matty Banks: May I be excused?

Nina Banks: No, no sir. You may NOT be excused.

[George gets up to leave]

Nina Banks: George?

George Banks: The guy offered me $10,000 to be out of the house in ten days.

Nina Banks: The guy offered you $10,000 to out of the house in ten days?

John MacKenzie: I hope you took it, George.

Matty Banks: He did. And he threw in Mom's favorite dishes just to close the deal.

Nina Banks: George!

George Banks: [yells an order in Arabic]