With the recent passing of Richard Sherman, it seems appropriate to take a look back at the life and that of his brother, Robert Sherman, as portrayed in the 2009 documentary The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story.
The Sherman Brothers are the Academy Award-winning Disney songwriting duo known for composing countless classics and setting the musical tone for the Disney company for decades. They are known for iconic songs such as “It’s a Small World,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” and “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room,” among countless others.
The bulk of their work was done in the ’60s and ’70s as staff songwriters for Walt Disney, whom he could use at his will, which was frequent. Their talents were used in everything from live-action films such as The Parent Trap and Mary Poppins and animated films such as The Jungle Book and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to theme park attractions and other TV productions such as the weekly TV series Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
It’s a delight to see all the behind-the-scenes moments between these two brilliant musical minds. Seeing footage of them hammering out lyrics and songs at the piano, discussing numbers with Walt, and walking around the mid-century Disney lot is nostalgic. It simply was a golden time for Disney and the Sherman brothers were a key part of it.
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story showcases the joy and tragedy of their lives, which in their later years resulted in a feud and estrangement that never resolved. It’s never explicit what caused the rift, though there are suggestions: Robert’s harrowing WWII service, creative differences, incompatibility between their wives. The Shermans continued to work together—Robert being the principal lyricist and Richard composing the music— but it was strictly business. However, their relationship further devolved upon Walt’s death, creating periods where they wouldn’t speak to or socialize with each other.
You can tell that the filmmakers—Richard’s son Gregory V. Sherman and Robert’s son Jeffrey C. Sherman—thought this opportunity to tell their life story would allow them to come together and settle the rift. However, the on-camera interviews with Robert in particular, it’s clear that forgiveness and resolution were never in the cards. Unfortunately, this ends the film on a melancholy, dissonant note.
Just like Walt Disney‘s favorite song written by the Brothers, “Feed the Birds”, is emotional and poignant, this film likewise conveys the depth of their impact on life. Upon watching The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story, one cannot help but feel immense gratitude for their musical work. For all the classic melodies which have filled the lives of so many with joy.
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story is a must-watch for any Disney fan. Whimsical, emotional, and heartwarming music is synonymous with Disney films and the Disney musical legacy would not be possible without the work of the Sherman Brothers. Without their catchy tunes, our favorite films would not have had the impact and legacy that they had. But like many great stories of old, not every story has a happy ending, so make sure you have a box of tissues handy.
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story is available to stream on Disney+.
★★★★1/2
