The Fourcroft Hotel was crowded with adults, on Monday evening, to watch a Disney film. But it wasn't the usual offering from Uncle Walt's studio. It was instead Saving Mr. Banks, a very intelligent story of the huge difficulties the great man had in filming Mary Poppins in the early '60s. Doesn't sound very interesting, does it? But the friction between Walt and P. L. Travers, the British woman who wrote Mary Poppins, and who fought Hollywood every step of the way to produce what became one of the top children's films of all time, is absolutely fascinating. Emma Thompson plays to perfection the disgruntled author in Margaret Thatcher mode. Tom Hanks, not only gave a riveting performance as Walt Disney, but looked just like him, too. A miracle of make-up. Despite the film being the story of a big bust-up, it was a gentle affair, full of likeable characters. Mr. Disney has often been criticised for an autocratic manner. There was none of this side to him in this film - he seemed sensitive to other's feelings, dedicated to entertaining children and full of fun. Saving Mr. Banks was presented by the community film group, Films4Tenby, which has regular screenings at the Fourcroft Hotel on some Monday evenings.

Malcolm Stacey