Margaret Carey is a supporting character who appears in the 1963 Disney live-action film Summer Magic.
Background[]
Margaret is the widow of the Carey family who initially lived with her children Nancy, Gilly, and Peter. Ever since the financial problems in her life when she lived at Boston, Massachusetts, she became uncomfortable in paying the house at a very expensive price, giving a challenge for her and the Carey family. Over time, she adapted living her life at the town of Beulah. In spite of being a caring mother who takes care of her children, she is shown to remind her children to be compassionate with Julia, who is part of the Carey family, telling them to adapt a new life with Julia being part of the family.
Role in the film[]
Margaret is first seen during the musical number "Flitterin" where she approaches her family where she tells them that she received an unsolvable problem from the lawyers. She explains to her children that she is being charged fifty dollars a month, discussing that she can't afford to live in this house due to financial problems. Nancy asks her mother that Osh Popham is the one who owns the new house, just as she tells her to read Osh's letter, but her daughter tells her to read over the important part of the letter. After reading, Margaret and the rest of her family leave Boston on their way to Beulah.
Just as the Careys arrive at Beulah, Margaret approaches Osh Popham who is excited to see him just as she introduces her daughter to Osh. After a conversation between him and Nancy and then Osh leaves the house, Margaret sings the titular song "Summer Magic" to her children.
The next day, Margaret approaches her daughter who is painting the house. She later becomes aware when Sam, Peter's pet dog, runs into the house and cause commotion inside, but not before Sam stops. Margaret tasks her son to take Sam back to the rich man, only for Peter to reply to her that the man already left town. The conversation between Margaret, Nancy, and Peter becomes interrupted when Osh enters the house and gives a special delivery letter to Margaret, which is about Julia planning to stay next week. Margaret explains to her children to stop behaving in such a manner, explaining that Julia is their cousin part of the Carey family. She also shares her story about Julia who was unable to remember her mother and after her father died, the Fergusons began to raise Julia throughout her life. Margaret then decides to give a plan to welcome her to the family as a cousin, just as she reminds Nancy and Gilly not to complain when she comes.
Later the next day, Margaret approaches Julia who is happy to see her back with the Carey family. Just as she adapts her new life with the Careys, Margaret offers her son Peter to sleep with her, due to Peter's room being occupied by Julia and that there is no spare room yet. Just as Nancy takes Osh to see her mother, she negotiates with him about Mr. Hamilton and the rent payment, just as Osh asks her about a favor in return from the Carey family as in finding a suitable place for his mother's picture, leading Nancy to follow the instructions of the last details of the letter (as in a vase of flowers for her birthday) with her birthday being on Halloween, just before Gilly arrives and brings his wife with Osh. Furthermore when Osh's wife Mariah arrives and engages in a conversation with the Careys, Osh fakes having a leg injury, causing Margaret and everyone in the house to get their attention.
Later, Margaret approaches Charles Bryant whom Nancy and Julia invited him for a lawn party, followed by Margaret and the rest of the Popham family members following along. After the party during the argument between Nancy and Julia, Margaret hears the commotion between them. She then reveals to Julia that she received a letter from Mr. Ferguson, explaining that the Ferguson family is ready to take her back; however, Nancy decides to let Julia stay, causing her to apologize for her flaws.
As Halloween arrives, Peter approaches his mother who tells him to be patient about the painting of Mrs. Hamilton, telling him to go back carving his pumpkin as well as telling him not to spoil the fun right away. At the end of the film, Mariah approaches Lallie Joy who approaches Gilly, just as the couple leaves for a dance at the barn. She later hosts the ceremony of honoring Mr. Hamilton's mother, and after her speech, she then presents her daughter Nancy who is tasked to unveil the portrait, which she later was able to unveil the picture. After the ceremony, Mariah and everyone else become impressed by the painting just before the party continues, ending the film.
Trivia[]
- Margaret is the only character whose singing voice was dubbed over by another actress other than being done by the actress herself (in this case, Marilyn Hooven).
- Marilyn Hooven, who did the singing voice of Margaret, was not credited in the opening credits of the film. Nevertheless, Hooven was confirmed to have done the singing voice of Margaret as revealed in the vinyl record soundtrack releases of Summer Magic.
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