The darker side of the Sherman brothers.

The other day, Jim Hill complained that far too many Disney DVDs feature interviews with Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, the two guys who composed the bulk of the music for Mary Poppins (1964), The Jungle Book (1967), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) and several other Disney projects, as well as the non-Disney films Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Charlotte’s Web (1973). In his write-up on the brand new “special edition” of The Aristocats (1970), Hill wrote:

It’s hard to get all that excited about the meager assortment of “Bonus Material” that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has placed on this DVD. I mean, yet another interview with Richard M. & Robert B. Sherman? Zzzzz …

Don’t me wrong, folks. I grew up listening to the Sherman Brothers. So I love these guys and greatly admire their work. But that said, when you watch as many WDSHE releases as I do, it seems like Dick & Bob are interviewed for every single DVD that Disney puts out. And — to be honest — I’m getting kind of tired of looking at these guys.

Well, maybe this story from today’s Variety will spice things up, then — or maybe it will just add to the Sherman fatigue:

. . . Disney is financing a documentary that will reveal the darker side of the venerable songwriting team of Robert and Richard Sherman.

Jeff and Gregg Sherman, sons of Robert and Richard, respectively, are directing “The Boys” and will produce. Ben Stiller’s Red Hour will exec produce with Permut Presentations’ David Permut. Steve Longi is co-producer.

Stiller hopes to use the docu as the template for a feature biopic that would allow him to play Robert Sherman. Disney has committed only to make and release the docu at this point. The picture will be ready for release late this year.

While they crafted scores of cheerful tunes such as “You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine,” and “It’s a Small World,” the Shermans had a complex relationship that became so strained that cousins Jeff and Gregg didn’t know each other even though they grew up just seven blocks apart.

After meeting, the cousins, who are screenwriters, decided to make a film that would explore the spectacular career and split of the Shermans. . . .

Let’s see if the Sherman brothers do an interview for this DVD!

And hey, if Ben Stiller ends up playing Robert (the one on the left in the above photo), who will play Richard? Owen Wilson?