Why Didn't Julie Andrews Help Dick Van Dyke with His Cockney Accent in Mary Poppins?

Julie Andrews did not assist Dick Van Dyke with his Cockney accent in Mary Poppins because she was not a dialect coach and had her own role to handle.

Role Focus and Expertise

Andrews was a seasoned performer and an incredibly talented actress who played the iconic role of Mary Poppins. While she was knowledgeable and skilled, she was not specifically trained in providing Cockney accents.

The Burden of Dialect Coaching

The primary responsibility for Van Dyke's accent fell on him. He worked with a dialect coach, but Van Dyke himself later admitted that his portrayal of the accent was not entirely authentic. Despite this, his performance as Bert, the chimney-sweep, was well-received, and the film remains a beloved classic.

A Deeper Dive into the Cockney Accent

Van Dyke's portrayal of the Cockney accent in Mary Poppins was a natural choice given the character's background. However, the pitfalls of trying to teach a working-class person to speak Received Pronunciation (RP) were starkly illustrated in William Shakespeare's Pygmalion.

The Pygmalion Paradox

George Bernard Shaw's play and the later musical adaptation, “My Fair Lady,” feature the character Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl. Professor Higgins, a linguistic specialist, attempts to transform her into a lady by teaching her RP. The disastrous results highlight how deeply rooted one's accent and background can be:

Eliza Doolittle's Transformation

Eliza's transformation is fraught with challenges and setbacks. Notably, her father, Alfred Doolittle, a local dustman, declines to learn RP because it would give him a sense of "respectability" and distance him from his social class.

Accent and Cultural Integrity

As a UK native speaker from Lancashire, I fully understand the sensitivity surrounding accents and how they are integral to one's cultural identity. It is often implied in discussions that RP is the superior accent, while regional accents are seen as inferior or needing correction. However, this is far from the truth, as RP is spoken by a small percentage of the UK population and is not a universal aspiration.

Regional Accents and the Desire to Maintain Identity

The reality in the UK is that a comparatively small number of people, mostly in the South-East and Home Counties, speak RP, and even fewer genuinely desire to emulate it.

Conclusion

The issue of accents in film and the cultural implications around them continue to be relevant. The portrayal of the Cockney accent in Mary Poppins may have been imperfect, but it remains a testament to the enduring charm and appeal of the film. Understanding and respecting accents for what they are is crucial in appreciating the rich tapestry of our cultural heritage.

About the Author

[Author's Name], SEO specialist at Google. With a background in linguistics and cultural studies, I focus on creating content that resonates with global audiences.