Dick Van Dyke on working with Julie Andrews in 'Mary Poppins': 'She was so patient with me'
Dick Van Dyke on working with Julie Andrews in 'Mary Poppins': 'She was so patient with me'
Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews starred in "Mary Poppins" together in 1964.
ByAngeline Jane Bernabe
June 27, 2024, 2:15 PM
Dick Van Dyke is still fascinated by Julie Andrews today as he was years ago when they worked together in "Mary Poppins."
The legendary actor, known for his role as Bert in "Mary Poppins," reminisced this week about working on the 1964 musical film as well as acting alongside the iconic Julie Andrews, who portrayed the magical English nanny in the film.
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Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews cross a river using turtles as stepping-stones in a scene from "Mary Poppins," directed by Robert Stevenson, in 1964.Hulton Archive/Getty Images, FILE
"It's like she had done a whole lot of movies," Van Dyke said about his former co-star in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast. "She was as cool as a cucumber."
When it came to recording the soundtrack for the film, he said that he had to "keep voice" with her impressive range.
Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews appear in a scene from the 1964 film "Mary Poppins."Donaldson Collection/Getty Images, FILE
"She not only is a soprano, she sang just a hair on top of the note, just that little bit sharp and I sang flat," Van Dyke said. "So I just -- what a sweater that was. Getting through that album. Because I had to keep voice, keep voice."
"I'm actually a bass, but I had to sing," he added. "It turned out alright and she was so patient with me."
Van Dyke also shared how he enjoyed working on the film, which had early visual effects film techniques.
In this Nov. 30, 2004 file photo, Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews pose at Disney's "Mary Poppins" 40th Anniversary Edition DVD release party at El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles.Kevin Winter/Getty Images, FILE
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"I did the dance with the penguin," he said. "It was such fun working with that stuff because animators would be there when I was filming and say no, he was a little higher or he was over there."
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"Mary Poppins" was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 1965 including best picture, best actress and best cinematography (color) and best song. Andrews ended up winning the Oscar for best actress and "Chim Chim Cher-ee," which is sung by Van Dyke in the film, won the Oscar for best song.