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S39E8: Starring Dick Van Dyke | Clip

Karen Dotrice on working with Dick Van Dyke in “Mary Poppins”

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Karen Dotrice, who starred in “Mary Poppins” with Dick Van Dyke, reflects on her time on set with Dick and how he always found joy in life. “He really lives in gratitude,” said Dotrice.

TRANSCRIPT

- Gosh, my first impression of Dick, when we were making "Mary Poppins," the first thing you do before you go on set is go and put down the music.

So my first impression of him was we were in front of a hundred piece orchestra, very intimidating for an 8-year-old girl from the Cotswolds of England.

It was like, I didn't hear about this part, and Dick was conducting them, which he shouldn't have been, but he's a silly, naughty boy.

So he was just messing around.

So my first impression of him was, oh, this is gonna be fun, because he's just badly behaved.

(soft music) It's always about the joy with Dick and finding the good stuff, finding something fun about anything.

There's a Richard and Bob Sherman line, it's a line that Mary has, which is, "In every job that must be done, "there is an element of fun.

"You find the fun and snap, the job's a game."

And that's exactly Dick.

You know, it might be a job, and it was a very long shoot for "Mary Poppins," but every day was fun.

(soft music continues) I like the bit, it was kind of magical when he and I are looking up the chimney together.

I've never thought about this, but you know, it's awfully dark and gloomy up there, and that was his world.

The character of Bert is sort of a father substitute.

You know, he's the fun dad in our lives, brought in by Mary, whereas Mr.

Banks at this juncture is a grumpy, miserable, overwrought man.

So it was kind of cute to look up that chimney with Dick and fantasize his world up on the roof.

(soft music continues) And Dick, you know, just as silly as he was off camera, he was on camera.

He just sees the joy in life and I know over the years he's had to, like most actors, reinvent himself and come up with a new tactic of who to be and how to be it.

But he does it with such a love and and such joy.

He has this joie de vivre, which is I guess why he's turning a hundred, and I hope there's another a hundred in him for all our sakes.

That's what he taught me the most, with just see every day as a fine opportunity and be grateful.

He really lives in gratitude.

(soft music continues) (upbeat music)