A very happy 82nd birthday goes out to Dick Van Dyke today! Disney fans will know Dick as Bert the Chimney Sweep in Mary Poppins!
Dick's first role in the movie biz came in 1963 when he starred in the film adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie. The film was a hit and a year later Dick found even more fame with the mega hit, Mary Poppins!
The Cockney accent that Dick uses for the character of Bert in the film is so ridiculous that many people say that it is the worst attempt at a British accent by an American actor! Well, I like it no matter how wrong it is because I didn't know what a Cockney accent was when I was little and now it just sounds like "Bert's Accent" to me. It gives him character and humour.
To celebrate his birthday, I have posted Bert's theme song from Mary Poppins, Chim Chim Cher-ee, sung by jazz legend LOUIS ARMSTRONG off of his Disney tribute album DISNEY SONGS THE SATCHMO WAY. I hope you enjoy it!
 | Chim Chim Cher-ee Louis Armstrong 1968   |
3 comments:
This blog rocks!
That has to be one of the great covers of a Disney song. Armstrong was so cool.
I'm with you on the Cockney accent...I thought it was cool.
Dick's freakin' old!! I had no idea he was already in his 80's. Yeesh.
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