The world is a better place because Dick Van Dyke is a part of it.
He stars in two of my most favorite movies: Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I love the characters that he portrays in both films, with their playfulness, simple pleasures, and zest for life.
I loved Mary Poppins as a child for the magic and music. I love it now, because I get it. When Bert tells Mr. Banks "You got to grind, grind, grind at that grindstone though childhood slips like sand through a sieve and all too soon they've up and grown and then they've flown and it's too late for you to give.' ...That's it. Then when you have "Let's go fly a kite" sung following after that, I generally have to go to another room because I have "something" in my eye.
During an interview with Dick Van Dyke reminiscing about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang he said something that finalized my admiration for him. He said that the movie/story may be "considered square and corny today but children need that". I say, we adults need that too.
Hubs knows about my deep admiration for Dick Van Dyke. He arranged for me to get a surprise in the mail last year. A birthday card from Dick Van Dyke!
Dick Van Dyke in more recent times is still his charming, funny, playful self. I found this video that shows him and his wife lip syncing a Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers song.
Watch the comb through out the video. So funny.
They did this before they were married and the lyrics are perfect for them.
Dick Van Dyke's 89th birthday is December 13 and I plan on sending him a card.
I wish him many, many more years!
2 comments:
Hi, I am also a huge fan of Dick Van Dyke. I love Mary Poppins and I own Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Every time I watch it I always rewind all of the dancing parts and the music box scene. I also used to love watching Diagnosis Murder and was very disappointed when the show was cancelled years ago. I'll bet you were over the moon when you received that birthday card... :)
I love the music box scene too! I think the music and dance number for the "Old Bamboo" is my most favorite thing I have ever seen...anywhere on any film. It never fails to put a smile on my face when I am watching it!
~mary~
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