The UK has changed its age rating for the original “Mary Poppins” movie due to “discriminatory language.”
The Disney movie, which came out in 1964, stars Julie Andrews as magical governess Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke as her chimney-sweep sidekick, Bert.
It snared 13 Oscar nominations — including one for Best Picture — and won five Academy Awards, including one for Andrews as Best Actress.
It is being re-released in some movie theaters in the UK next month to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
The British Board of Film Classification changed the “Mary Poppins” rating from U — meaning that it contained “no material likely to offend or harm” and is suitable for audiences four years and older — to PG, which delineates “discriminatory language,” and that some scenes may be unsuitable for young children, though unaccompanied children of any age may watch, according to the Independent.
The offending language in question is the use of the word “hottentots,” which is used in the movie by Admiral Boom (Reginald Owen), including one instance in which he refers to chimney sweeps (like Bert) whose faces are covered in soot.
A BBFC spokesperson told Variety that the film “includes two uses of the discriminatory term ‘hottentots.’ While ‘Mary Poppins’ has historical context, the use of discriminatory language is not condemned, and ultimately exceeds our guidelines for acceptable language at U.
“We therefore classified the film PG for discriminatory language.”
The word is a racially insensitive term for the Khoekhoe, an indigenous group of nomadic herders in South Africa.
The slur was adopted by Dutch settlers in South Africa to refer to this group, but was later used to refer to all black people, according to the Independent.
“We understand from our racism and discrimination research, and recent classification guidelines research, that a key concern for people, parents in particular, is the potential to expose children to discriminatory language or behavior which they may find distressing or repeat without realizing the potential offense,” the BBFC said.
“Some language or behaviors are therefore not permitted at U or PG in any circumstance, or are wholly dependent on context.”
The upgraded PG rating will only apply to cinematic releases of the original 1964 “Mary Poppins” movie; the U rating will remain for home-video releases.
“Mary Poppins” is rated G in the US, meaning that it’s suitable for all audiences.
It co-starred David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Elsa Lanchester, Arthur Treacher and Ed Wynn, and was Disney’s top-grossing release at the time.
It was also the top-grossing movie of 1964 in the US, raking in $44 million.
The 1964 film spawned a 2018 sequel, “Mary Poppins Returns,” starring Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Jack — a lamplighter and former apprentice of Bert — alongside Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Colin Firth and Meryl Streep.
Van Dyke appeared as the uncle of Firth’s character.
