Saving Mr. Banks - touching on autism?

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Hi everyone

I recently watched the movie 'Saving Mr.Banks', which is about Walt Disney, and the woman who wrote the original story of Mary Poppins. The main character is quite eccentric (and entertaining, with a dry, British wit), and I must say I felt right away that she was an Aspie, as I related quite well with her.

****spoiler alert***

Later in the film she hands her driver a list, and advises him that the list contains names of famous people; all have struggled in life, but were able to manage to achieve great things, nonetheless. It was a small celebration for autism, I believe. Just wanted to hear what others thought of the movie.

Spoiler alert was very considerate thanks

No problem

That was an invented scene. The "diagnoses" it listed were not used in 1964. It was anachronistic. Also there is no evidence Travers was that well versed in psychology.

Having said all that, it was a nice moment in the movie, although I disagree with Disney being ADD. If anything, he was Obsessive-Compulsive.

Oh yes, I agree it's an invented scene, definitely, but it was a nice little Easter egg to find. I don't believe Disney had ADD either, though I imagine this was a joke to vent her frustration, as she was getting tired of his inability to focus on the original script.

Keep in mind that those were actors, and not the original people. Thus, their interpretations of other people's behavior -- while entertaining -- is limited, at best, and does not necessarily reflect reality (as exemplified by the anachronistic diagnosis).

Isn't it enough to see that a movie is entertaining without having to believe that there is Autism at the bottom of it too?

... with apologies to Douglas Adams ...

Obviously I'm aware of this

I was more interested in that the movie makers had decided to communicate this message with the audience. It wasn't necessary for the story line, so it was an obvious attempt to make an impression.

That's what happens when Walt Disney Pictures and BBC Films get together -- "sending a message" becomes more important than the essential facts of the story.

Then too, it amazes me that bad acting is often mistaken for an intentional portrayal of Autistic behavior.

I completely disagree.

Yes, she never showed any sensory problems. It would have been overwhelming to go into Disneyland with Walt as your host, but she said she didn't want to because it was a "money making machine." She did object to all the food they put in the room, but she never said she couldn't eat this or that, it seemed more to be disgust at the huge quantities.

There were the scenes where she went to the bar in the Beverly Hills hotel, seemingly interested in fitting in with the crowd. That was the only part where she showed an ASpie tendency, in my view.

Spoilers...


I did not interpret that scene in the same way that you did. She gives that list to the limo driver because of the story that he told earlier about his daughter being in a wheelchair. It was her way of saying to him that his daughter can be successful in life despite her difficulties. I did not see that scene having anything to do with autism specifically.

I could definitely relate to the main character in many ways, but I think that has less to do with being Aspie and more to do with her general personality trait of being uptight and particular, words that people have used to describe me. In my case it may stem from me being Aspie, but in her case it stemmed from growing up with an alcoholic father and absent mother.