I feel the similarity of the American and older English accents is played up - it's mainly similar due to rhotic vs non-rhotic. Also, of course, you then have

I feel the similarity of the American and older English accents is played up - it's mainly similar due to rhotic vs non-rhotic. Also, of course, you then have to ask what American accents anyhow - Georgia vs Texas vs Vermont vs.. etc. To my (admittedly English) ear the linked speech sounds like broad English but with the rhotic/non-rhotic change reversed.