Mrs. Banks Quotes in Mary Poppins (1964)

Mr. Banks: [singing] I feel a surge of deep satisfaction, much as a king astride his noble steed.

[speaks]

Mr. Banks: Thank you.

[sings]

Mr. Banks: When I return from daily strife, to hearth and wife, how pleasant is the life I lead!

Mrs. Banks: Dear, it's about the children...

Mr. Banks: Yes, yes, yes.

[sings]

Mr. Banks: I run my home precisely on schedule. At 6:01, I march through my door. My slippers, sherry, and pipe are due at 6:02. Consistent is the life I lead!

Mrs. Banks: George, they're missing!

Mr. Banks: Splendid, splendid.

[sings]

Mr. Banks: It's grand to be an Englishman in 1910! King Edward's on the throne, it's the age of men! I'm the lord of my castle, the sovereign, the liege!

[speaks]

Mr. Banks: I treat my subjects, servants, children, wife with a firm but gentle hand, noblesse oblige.

[sings]

Mr. Banks: It's 6:03, and the heirs to my dominion are scrubbed and tubbed, and adequately fed. And so I'll pat them on the head, and send them off to bed. Ah, lordly is the life I lead!

[speaks]

Mr. Banks: Winifred, where are the children?

Mrs. Banks: They're not here, dear.

Mr. Banks: What? Well, of course they're here! Where else would they be?

Mrs. Banks: [singing] We're clearly soldiers in petticoats, and dauntless crusaders for women's a-votes! Though we adore men individually, we agree that as a group they're rather stupid.

[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.

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!

Mrs. Banks: As a matter of fact, since you hired Mary Poppins, the most extraordinary things seem to have come over the household.

Mr. Banks: Is that so?

Mrs. Banks: Take Ellen, for instance. She hasn't broken a dish all morning.

Mr. Banks: Really? Well, that is extraordinary.

Mrs. Banks: Oh, George, you didn't jump into the river. How sensible of you!

[Mr. Banks kisses her]

Constable Jones: [into phone] It's all right, sir, he's been found! No, *alive*! Or so I presume, he's a-kissin' the Mrs. Banks.

Mrs. Banks: I've been so worried, what happened at the ba...

[Mr. Banks picks her up and whirls her around]

Mr. Banks: I've been sacked! Discharged! Flung into the street!

[singing]

Mr. Banks: A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down! Tra-la-laaa-lalalalala!

Ellen: Gone off his crumpet, that's what he's done. Dotty as you please.

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!

Mrs. Banks: But you're always saying that you wanted a cheerful and pleasant household.

Mr. Banks: Winifred, I should like to make a slight differentiation between the word cheerful and just plain giddy irresponsibility.

Mrs. Banks: [singing] Our daughters' daughters will adore us and they'll sing in grateful chorus, "Well done, sister suffragettes."

Mrs. Banks: I'll try to do better next time.

Mr. Banks: Next time? My dear, you've engaged six nannies in the last four months. And they've all been unqualified disasters.

Mrs. Banks: [sees the time] Excuse me, POSTS, EVERYONE, PLEASE!

[cannon fires]

Mrs. Banks: A proper kite needs a proper tail, don't you think?

Ellen: Coo, there's a whole queue of nannies outside, sir. Shall I show them in?

Mr. Banks: Ellen, I said 8:00 and 8:00 it shall jolly well be. You see? 12 seconds to go. 10... 9... 8...

Mrs. Banks: Posts! 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1!

Mr. Banks: Ellen, it is now 8:00.

Ellen: Yes, sir.

Mr. Banks: I have told you time and time again, Ellen, that I dislike being hurried into things.