Even though Mary Poppins is mainly aimed at children, there is plenty of intelligence to be shown within this movie. While a lot of the film requires the audience to have tons of imagination, there is equally a need for brains to be required for what are some fairly complex issues in relation to money, morals, and job security.
The reason that it blends so well is that the characters themselves are quite intelligent on the whole. While not everyone is smart enough to know everything, there are some very smart characters which constantly make audiences think about a variety of subjects, which helps the movie be so thoughtful in its tone.
Michael Banks
Michael Banks draws the short straw when it comes to intelligence, purely because of his age. Michael is just a young boy within this movie who is most excited about playing and having fun than trying to have intelligent or analytical thoughts.
He may be the least intelligent character within the movie, but that's not really a slight on him. He tries to learn things and always engages in conversation very well, but he just isn't as smart as the others as he's not learned enough yet.
Jane Banks
Much like her younger brother, Jane Banks has a far lower intelligence than the vast majority of the characters within this movie, and that is down to her lack of life experience. There's no doubt she's been brought up well as Jane has great manners and is well-spoken, but she just isn't old enough to be overly intelligent.
Jane tries her best to learn as much as possible though and she is certainly inquisitive. Always asking questions and trying to act as mature as possible, it is clear that she hopes to one day be smart like the other adults within the movie.
Uncle Albert
Uncle Albert is certainly a memorable character from Mary Poppins, but it isn't because of his intelligence, that's for sure. He turns up and brings the entire movie into chaos in the funniest ways possible, having everyone in hysterics.
However, Uncle Albert doesn't showcase great intelligence during the time when Mary and co. visit. He has uncontrollable laughter and then huge sadness as he showcases a true range of emotions within the film but he doesn't come up with any overly intelligent moments to write home about.
iral Boom
iral Boom is a very intelligent character which is no surprise considering he used to be in the Navy. He is a true military man through and through and he showcases that within his appearances in the movie. He has great organization and he keeps things very timely, which is a sign of smartness.
While others might think he's completely bonkers, screaming out random orders and having his cannon fire at a different time to Big Ben, in the sequel he gets to prove his point as they finally match up on time.
Winifred Banks
When Mary Poppins takes place, Winifred Banks is trying to push the Suffragette movement in a bid to empower women and try to help the people of tomorrow. That's something that does require great intelligence and she certainly shows that with how ionately she speaks about the subject.
When she's put into a family situation, Winifred doesn't always have all of the answers and that much is clear. However, she always tries her best in order to help her children, showing comion and kindness throughout, which only adds to how smart she is.
Constable Jones
Constable Jones may only be one of the ing characters in the movie, but he is someone who certainly is very intelligent. Anyone taking up a role in the police force has to have a certain level of smartness and Constable Jones showcases that.
He knows not to be too harsh on the children when they escape and run-off, and manages to showcase his ability to communicate brilliantly with children and adults. Being able to do that takes intelligence, and that's something Constable Jones deserves credit for.
Bert
Bert might not have a job as a banker, but that doesn't mean he isn't smart. Bert is able to do a wide variety of jobs and that's because he's a very practical and creative man. He showcases a totally different side of his brain than many of the other characters in that regard.
Bert has an amazing ability to showcase imagination and think outside of the box, which is something other characters can struggle to do at points in the movie. He is also very good at reading people and has the smartness to see a situation brewing, knowing when to try and calm things down.
George Banks
George Banks is certainly a smart character, which is clear from the job that he has. It would be impossible to take on the role he does at the bank without being a very smart person, and he showcases that with the advice he gives his family and how analytical he is about situations.
While he is arguably a little too analytical at times, getting caught into his own head and focusing too heavily on his work, there's no denying it leads to him being a very smart man. He creates a strong life for his family based on his income and proves himself to be one of the smartest characters in the film.
Mr. Dawes. Sr
He might be the main antagonist of the musical movie, but that doesn't mean he can't be one of the most intelligent at the same time. Sure, he's not overly kind to others, including his own son, but when it comes to the brains department he has plenty to offer.
Mr. Dawes. Sr is the man in charge at George's bank and it's impossible to get into a position like that without being a very smart man. He showcases great knowledge of finance and how to create an investment, but sadly he goes about giving out his advice in the wrong way.
Mary Poppins
Whether it's because she has unexplained magical capabilities or just that she's supremely intelligent isn't really clear, but Mary Poppins herself is certainly the smartest character in the film. While she doesn't assert her opinion all of the time, it's clear that Mary is always one step ahead of everyone, no matter what the situation.
She knows when to get involved and say something and when to back off and allow a situation to play out. That's because she reads people very well, and of course, her previously mentioned magical abilities don't hurt either in helping to have an answer for every possible moment.
