Writing has always been a form of therapy for me—a place where I can put words to the thoughts that swirl in my brain, to process anxiety, to contemplate my feelings, to dive deeper into my own head. My mind gets heavy with the weight of the world, the challenges of life, being a father in this crazy world that seems to get darker day by day. When it all gets too heavy, a nagging thought often begins to plague my mind, over and over, until finally I relent and write down the millions of words that swarm around in my brain. The funny part is that I never expected to have an audience for my words, but here we are.
The past few days have been heavy. The horrific death of an American cinema icon, another senseless college campus shooting, a tragic mass shooting in Australia, and more idiotic political commentary (ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE) that makes you want to bang your head against the wall. It all just feels like too much. This is supposed to be a season of joy, peace, goodwill toward men, and all the holiday merriment… but this year I find myself in a grinchy mood. Even as I write this next to a crackling fireplace and the twinkling of my Christmas tree, my heart feels far from where I want it to be. All I can see are the problems in this sad world, the issues I battle within myself that I need to prioritize changing (New Year’s resolutions, of course!), and the millions of little things that run through my mind constantly. I have nine days to get myself in the mood for Christmas, and I’m not exactly sure how to get there—much like I’m not sure how I can turn this article into something about cinema. But I am the captain here, and I’ll figure out how to steer the ship as we go.
When life gets hard and the weight of the world is upon me, I turn to cinema—see, look, it’s all coming together now. There was a piece of news that got lost in the shuffle around here, and a personal favorite cinema treasure: Dick Van Dyke turned 100!!!!! If there is a man who can take a frown and turn it upside down, it’s him. The man is older than the Oscars, and somehow the Academy has never nominated him, nor have they ever been kind or smart enough to grant him an honorary Oscar—which is shameful, if you ask me. So let’s allow this article to be a mini tribute to the great Dick Van Dyke.
I discovered this enormously talented man as a young child, as many of you likely did. If I wasn’t watching The Wizard of Oz or The Mask, I was watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang—those three movies were on a constant rotation, much to my family’s dismay. Truly Scrumptious was a dream lady for me, and Dick Van Dyke got to steal her away in a flying car. The music from that movie still plays on a reel in my mind, and I often break out into singing those songs—much to my wife’s dismay. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lives in my mind rent-free to this day and forever will be a favorite. Dick Van Dyke proved his dancing, singing, and acting chops—something that has never really been in question—but this movie has long been forgotten by most people and was never truly appreciated when it came out. Still, he was the first man I ever saw do all of this and be loved for it.
The next thing I ever saw Dick in wasn’t Mary Poppins, which would have been the obvious next step—but it wasn’t. My family was obsessed with the classic, long-forgotten show Diagnosis: Murder. I have many fond memories of watching it together as a family, back when people watched TV as a family in the living room, with commercials and everything. To us, this show was must-watch, can’t-miss television. Dick played a doctor who found himself solving murders with his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son. The show wasn’t any kind of towering achievement, but it was just fun. Honestly, it’s probably why I love the new Matlock with Kathy Bates, and why I’ll probably love the upcoming Murder, She Wrote with Jamie Lee Curtis.
After that, for me, came Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show. That’s when I truly realized how incredibly talented this man was—and still is—and how much of a treasure Dick Van Dyke is to both television and the big screen. He’s been nominated for 12 Emmys, winning six; won one Grammy and one Tony; and was nominated for two Golden Globes. He deserves so much more. There aren’t many actors who can do what he did—sing, dance, and act. That trifecta is usually reserved for the stage, and very few get to shine the way Dick did on television and in cinema.
One of the greatest things about Dick Van Dyke is how authentic, humble, and kind he seems to be. To make it to 100, I think you kind of have to be—it’s probably the healthiest way to live. Maybe Dick Van Dyke is the answer to this conundrum I find myself in. He seems to roll through life unburdened, grateful, and aware of the good things he has. That’s probably the secret to a long life. I said to my wife several times over the last year, “I hope Dick Van Dyke can make it to 100.” Even this month I was counting down for him. I was so bummed when dear Betty White came so close and then passed. Man, I’m so happy Dick made it—to me, he’s the male version of Betty.
Thank you, Dick Van Dyke, for giving the world your many talents and for showing us how to be a great human being. HAPPY BELATED ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY to the legend—Dick Van Dyke!
Lastly, let me leave you all with this: to all my friends who are hurting and feeling low during this holiday season—especially my dear friends in Sydney, Australia—I pray you all find peace and hope. And go watch some fun, comforting, heartfelt movies. That’s always good medicine. Maybe start with Dick Van Dyke.
With that, be kind, be respectful, and of course…..Let’s Talk Cinema!
