Film theaters throughout the nation are pulling out the stops for Dick Van Dyke’s a centesimal birthday in December. A brand new documentary in regards to the music and dance man’s life, “Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration,” will probably be in theaters over his birthday weekend on Dec. 13 and 14, Fathom Leisure stated Wednesday.
“It’s wonderful; a total surprise for me,” Van Dyke stated in a press release the filmmakers offered to The Related Press. “If you don’t think luck has a lot to do with it, then you’re mistaken.”
The characteristic size movie has been within the works for over three many years. In telling the story of Van Dyke’s 80-plus years in leisure, the movie weaves collectively clips from basic movies, like “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Bye Bye Birdie,” and tv reveals, together with “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Diagnosis: Murder,” in addition to new interviews with Van Dyke through which he shares never-before-heard tales from his time in Hollywood.
The portrait is bookended with a go to to his hometown of Danville, Illinois, the place he visits his childhood house, the radio station the place he began his profession as a DJ at age 16 and his outdated highschool the place he took the stage as soon as extra to hitch in with the scholars performing songs from a few of his most beloved movies.
“He couldn’t help himself,” filmmaker Steve Boettcher stated. “He got out of the seat and went up on stage and sang and danced with them. It’s really a sweet coming home. Danville built him in so many ways.”
Over the previous 30 years, Boettcher additionally spoke lots of his closest Hollywood associates and collaborators together with Mary Tyler Moore,Carl Reiner,Rose Marie,Morey Amsterdam,Betty White,Tim Conway and Chita Rivera, all of whom have since died.
“We just wanted people who were there at the scene, on set with him and working with him,” Boettcher stated.
The filmmakers didn’t plan on ready for Van Dyke’s a centesimal birthday to launch the movie, however when the landmark second began coming into focus it appeared becoming for a rollout.
“Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration” may have its premiere in early December at Danville’s Fischer Theatre, the place Van Dyke fell in love with the flicks and the thought of being an entertainer watching Laurel and Hardy on the large display screen on Saturdays.
“We’re really excited about the film,” Boettcher stated. “It’s very much in the style of Dick Van Dyke. It’s got laughter and music and touching moments. It’s pure entertainment, much like Mr. Van Dyke.”
Tickets for “Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration” go on sale Oct. 31.
