22 thoughts on “Dick Van Dyke Movies”

1. September 11, 2018 at 5:04 am
   HI FLORA Very interesting stuff about Dick Van D, Ann-Margaret and the director. As a Van Dyke fan I thank you for sharing it with the site.

   I don’t think it reflects well on the latter couple, particularly when you contrast it with the actions of our Greg. As I’m sure you well know Peck was so impressed with how Audrey was performing while they were shooting Roman Holiday that he insisted the producers give her equal billing to him above the title though her contract entitled her to only below the title billing.

   Audrey constant praised him for that concession and in an interview with Peck the interviewer did too. However Greg honest chap that he was would have none of it and modestly said that Hepburn was matching him so well in their scenes together that he though he would have looked foolish if his name alone had been above the title.

   Be that as it many others with Greg’s massive star power at that time would have put the pressure on to have their own part built up at Audrey’s expense [and certainly would not have shared star billing with her] if they felt “threatened” by her. [Sadly my Joan night have been guilty of that.]

   Indeed as again I’m sure you are aware when they were making Let’s Make Love Monroe, although she did cede top billing to Greg, got the writers to start building up her part at his expense so that he was finally driven to walk out on the movie. Quite right too in my view.

   I think that all this demonstrates that what guys like Bruce Cogerson and Joel Hirschhorn may not realize, when they make fish of one and flesh of the other in for example rubbishing Wayne and perhaps showering 4-star performance ratings on some of his co-stars, that the Duke may have been indirectly instrumental in generating some of the fine performances concerned.

   Similarly Steve as an English patriot is rightly proud of his country’s William Shakespeare but I wonder if Steve has ever considered the possibility that some of the modern day celebrity of the great Bard of Stratford on Avon could lie in the exquisite delivery of the Bard’s lines by some AMERICAN mega screen actors [and Canadian – Glenn Ford’s Jubal was a western reworking of Shakespeare’s Othello ]

   Of course it is not at all patronizing to concede that everyone is entitled to his and her own opinion but you and I can be proud of the fact that our idol Greg was not just a superstar at the box office and a great actor but a gentleman of integrity as well.

   By the way I have just watched Dick Van Dyke in a rerun of a 1974 Columbo episode “Negative Reaction” as a cold hearted villain whom Columbo outwits. Dick was excellent and he and Peter Falk had good chemistry. Glad you too enjoyed Diagnosis Murder

   Reply

   1. Hey Bob….great breakdowns in this comment….being in the same sentence as Joel makes my day….two greats in movie criticism….lol. I think when you are watching old television shows…I am watching movies…the most recent movies watched….The Lady in the Van, Upgrade, Life of the Party, Hooper, Natural Born Killers and License To Kill. Good feedback.

      Reply

   2. I am indeed familiar with the background of Greg and Audrey’s billing in Roman Holiday. Greg thought that she would walk away with the picture. They remained close friends. When Audrey was dying, Greg arranged for her to be flown to Switzerland.

      I remember the Dick Van Dyke episode of Columbo. Just the other night I was watching one of the later episodes with Faye Dunaway.

      Reply

      1. HI Flora

         Nice touch Greg arranging the Switzerland trip.

         I too have seen the Faye Dunaway Columbo movie. It was made in 1993 and was called It’s all in the Game.

         Reply

2. Like most people in my generation, I grew up watching Dick van Dyke along with Mary Tyler Moore. I always like van Dyke, something very trusting about him. He was a bit like a Jack Lemon character. His role in Mary Poppins as the Cockney is much maligned in the U.K. but I thought he was ok.
   I always thought that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was one of the best kids movies ever and under rated musical. The songs are great and he’s fantastic in it. I can’t believe that the guy is 92. He’s just like an old neighbour, knock the door and he’ll answer or invite you in.
   Thanks for the page.

   Reply

   1. Hey Chris….I am right there with you about “trusting him”. I like the comparison to Jack Lemmon….I can see that. As for Mary Poppins….I think his British acccent is what has so many Brits frustrated with that role. As a kid, I loved Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The scene where the bad guy uses candy to get the kids into the cage used to scared the hell out of me. Stranger danger, stranger danger…lol. It is cool thinking of Van Dyke as the friendly neighbor next door. Good stuff.

      Reply

3. I am a Dick Van Dyke fan from way back into my childhood. I love The Dyck Van Dyke Show. I have also enjoyed Diagnosis Murder.

   I have seen only 6 Dick Van Dyke movies.

   The highest rated movie I have seen is Mary Poppins at number 1.

   The highest rated movie I have NOT seen is Night at the Museum.

   The LOWEST rated film I have seen is Fitzwilly.

   He appeared on the stage in Bye Bye Birdie and was hoping the movie would be a great vehicle for him, but the director fell for Ann-Margret and changed the movie to revolve around her at the expense of Dick’s role. Subsequently, he asked his friends if they were his friends to avoid seeing the movie. I have always had mixed feelings about that movie as a result of that. I have seen it more than once.

   Favourite Dick Van Dyke Movies:

   Mary Poppins
   What a Way to Go!
   Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang

   Reply

   1. Hey Flora….thanks for sharing your thoughts on Dick Van Dyke. More of a television star for sure….but like Andy Griffith….he had a solid movie career too. Tally count…bob cox 10, me 9 and you at 6. I loved the Dick Van Dyke Show…..he and Mary Tyler Moore made a great tv couple. The Night at the Musuem is ok….but mainly for kids…..so I do not think you are missing much by not seeing it. Great trivia on Bye Bye Birdie…I did not know that. I like trivia like that. I have not seen What A Way To Go….but I really want to. Thanks as always for the feedback.

      Reply

4. I saw 10 , including top 8. mary poppins a 10 and a favorite. hidden gem is what a way to go, just for the cast. a great comic with fabulous physical comedy . bob thanks for diagnosis murder reminder. I need to revisit that show.

   Reply

   1. Hey bob cox….you have me by one movie as I have seen 9 of these movies. Mary Poppins is a classic….but rarely played in my house…especially compared to the other Andrews blockbuster The Sound of Music. I want to see What A Way To Go…the attached trailer looks funny. Diagnosis Murder has a nice following…I do not think I have seen an entire episode. Thanks for the feedback.

      Reply

5. TEACH I think I have mentioned before Dick Van Dyke’s appeal for me. He first came to my attention in the Dick Van Dyke television show which ran from 1961-1966 but I never liked that, nor was I struck on him back then.

   He had successful box office movies with the likes of Mary Poppins [a monster hit of course] Bye Bye Birdie and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but only in 5 of the 9 Cogerson 100 million dollar barrier crashers listed above could he be said to have the male lead.

   Also overall the other 10 movies you have listed could not be said to have set the box office alight. They have only a combined adjusted domestic gross of just short of $500 million [average approx. $50 million].

   That’s not as bad as some other new Cogerson averages we’ve looked at recently but as the whole heap comes to just about 70% of your Mary Poppins figure ALONE you and I will not get into a row about how the $500 million should be apportioned among the various stars involve – let somebody like Willis or Loy have it all if you wish!

   However I was never especially interested in Dick as a movie star [and in fact walked out on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang] but like a good wine and Lee Marvin’s looks he improved with age and I did take to him when he played Dr Mark Sloan detective in the television series Diagnosis Murder 1993-2002 [including 2 full length TV movies].

   He then became one of those stars who are probably my 6 fave TV performers Jack Klugman as Dr Quincy [Medical Examiner detective] Peter Falk [Columbo] David Suchet [Christie’s Poirot] Raymond Burr [Perry Mason and brilliant police chief Robert Ironside ] and Kelsey Grammer [the sophisticated albeit snobbish and pompous Fraser Crane]

   You will note all 6 of those characters are “intellectual” people of one kind or another. Not for me thank you any bald action hero with a flare for strong language!

   Anyway as you usually in my experience don’t pay much attention to TV performers unless they are “special” in relation to the movies I will take this new page as a big compliment to the 92 year old Dick Van D. and just register that I was delightfully surprised by the appearance of a Cogerson Van Dyke profile. Great stuff.

   Reply

   1. Hey Bob…..thanks for checking out our latest (at least it was the latest when you commented) UMR page….and the first one too! I would agree with your breakdown of his movie career. He falls more into the celebrity category than a movie star category. His Rob Petrie character on the Dick Van Dyke show was beloved…..but that did not carry to a huge movie career. I view Tim Allen as the new Van Dyke….hit is big on television…..had a good movie run….but in the end was back on television.

      Wow…you walked out on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang….that along with Willy Wonka are two movies I used to watch and love all the time when I was growing up. I am very aware of all 6 performers you mentioned….but with the exception of Grammer in Cheers and Frasier…I have not watched many of those shows.

      I do not have anything against television stars (that is what made Bruce a star) just those shows can’t be “ranked”..at least in the current system…..but I am sure a “formula” could be created to rank all the episodes…..let’s see….we would need…the Nielsen rankings, reviews for critics and audiences….the Emmy awards…..the……lol. Good stuff as always.

      Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.