US actor Dick Van Dyke criticizes cinema, games violence

Veteran US actor Dick Van Dyke who starred in ‘Mary Poppins’ slates prevailing violence in new video games and movies.

The 91-year-old actor, who will play a short role in ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ delivered a warning in a media interview over the prevalence of violent scenes and debilitating effects on young children, adding that young people “idolize it as a romantic way of life.”

Van Dyke became a household name by appearing in films including ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’.

He said new productions are “all gunfire and killing,” adding, “Violence and entertainment have almost became interchangeable…. Even kids sense that there’s something gone wrong.”

Concerning ‘Mary Poppins’, he said in the interview that “I had probably the most fun. It was hard work, but something magical happened every day. It was a glorious thing to have done,” adding, “There was a great spirit about it.”

'Mary Poppins' is a 1964 American musical-fantasy film directed by Robert Stevenson.

AG/AG