In the 1950s brothers Richard and Robert Sherman began collaborating on songs. Their songs were performed by Annette Funicello and eventually they were introduced to Walt Disney. Disney saw potential and hired the brothers to the Disney studio to contribute songs to their animated and live-action films.
Their father, Al Sherman, also a songwriter, suggested the brothers write songs together. Robert was a war veteran with dreams of writing a novel, while Richard had dreams of writing the "Great American Symphony." They wrote memorable family friendly songs, but could barely get along...
I discovered this film while watching the previews for Waking Sleeping Beauty, and wanted to see it ever since. The Sherman Brothers wrote many beloved Disney songs (from before the 1980s). They wrote all the songs for Mary Poppins (they won 2 Oscars in 1965 for this film) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang... which both feature Dick Van Dyke (and happen to be the favorite movies of my 2 year old niece). In fact, it's hard to think of a live-action Disney film from the 1960s-1980s that doesn't include at least one Sherman Brothers' song.
The documentary was directed and produced by Bob and Dick's sons: Greg and Jeff, who were reunited at a Sherman Brothers' event. Their fathers estranged relationship caused their families to drift apart, to the point where Greg and Jeff hadn't seen each other in years. In an effort to reunite their fathers at the premier of Mary Poppins Broadway debut.
The documentary features interviews with both Bob and Dick Sherman, along with their families. The actors that made their songs famous and other composers (mostly Disney affiliated) also talk about their experience with or reaction to the songs of the Sherman Brothers.
An intriguing documentary.
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story (2009) 102 minutes
Director: Gregory V. Sherman and Jeffrey C. Sherman
Starring: Richard M. Sherman
Robert B. Sherman
Roy E. Disney
Julie Andrews
Dick Van Dyke
John Williams
Stephen Schwartz
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