The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has upgraded the age rating for Mary Poppins from U to PG, nearly 60 years after its original release, due to the use of discriminatory language.
The change was prompted by the term 'Hottentot', a derogatory word for the Khoikhoi people, used by the character Admiral Boom. The term appears twice in the film, once referring to off-screen characters and again when the child stars have soot on their faces.
A BBFC spokesperson explained that parental concerns about exposing children to discriminatory language influenced the decision. The reclassification only applies to the cinema version; home releases remain rated U.
This follows recent trends where other classic films like Watership Down and Star Trek: The Motion Picture have had their ratings revised to align with current societal standards.
