~~ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ~~
It is back to my collection of musicals and here I review the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When I started to think about the movie, I asked myself what comes to mind when I think about it, is it the characters, the silly jokes, all the production numbers. ... Read review
Production Year: 1999 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough
Advantages: A fun family film suitable for all ages young and old Disadvantages: A required taste so my hubby says.
~~ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ~~
It is back to my collection of musicals and here I review the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When I started to think about the movie, I asked myself what comes to mind when I think about it, is it the characters, the silly jokes, all the production numbers. No; it is the car and that fun song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; I love you. Even now in my head I am singing away to that song. It will take me days ... ...out. Our car makes chitty noises and bangs, and her name is born.
The movie continues taking us on an adventure filled with drama, music, dancing, slapstick comedy and loads of laughter. It is fun to watch and very silly at times, it will make young and old laugh and enjoy the fun.
~~ Songs ~~
Overture - Chitty Classic in the background
You Two - A lovely endearing song that Potts sings ... more
~~ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ~~
It is back to my collection of musicals and here I review the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When I started to think about the movie, I asked myself what comes to mind when I think about it, is it the characters, the silly jokes, all the production numbers. No; it is the car and that fun song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; I love you. Even now in my head I am singing away to that song. It will take me days to get it out of my head now, I know, I know I need to get a life, he, he.
~~ The Film ~~
You put your DVD in and start the film, but you are faced with a blank screen and just the sound of a car engine roaring into life, no; your DVD is not broken, this is all part of the film. We then get to see the life of the vintage racing car winning many races whilst the credits roll. As the credits come to an end so does the life of the racing car as it crashes.
We move on to the two children Jeremy and Jemima playing in the very same racing car which is rotting away outside Mr Coggin's garage. He decides it is time to sell it for scrap, but the children really want the car, so Mr Coggins tells them that if they can find the 30 shillings to buy the car then can have it, they are given until the next day. Off home they run to ask their father to buy the car, but on the way they run in front of Truly in her car, causing her to abruptly stop. Angry that they are not in school she takes them home to confront their dad, Caractacus Potts an eccentric inventor.
It is here we get to meet Grandpa Potts who is an old soldier and sceptical about his sons inventions, but is possibly more eccentric than Caractacus. We hear some lovely songs and some great dance scenes; even a young Barbara Windsor gives an appearance as our hero Caractacus Potts gets the funds to buy that old banger of a race car. Weeks pass and Caractacus finally comes up for air with a fully restored and shiny classic car. He grabs the excited children and sets off with the children for a picnic at the seaside. A near collision with Truly Scrumptious gets them another passenger on their day out. Our car makes chitty noises and bangs, and her name is born.
The movie continues taking us on an adventure filled with drama, music, dancing, slapstick comedy and loads of laughter. It is fun to watch and very silly at times, it will make young and old laugh and enjoy the fun.
~~ Songs ~~
Overture - Chitty Classic in the background
You Two - A lovely endearing song that Potts sings to his two children, it is a very catchy number and easy to join in with.
Toot Sweet - A big production number with Potts and Truly taking the lead. Lots of singing and dancing as Potts tries to sell his idea to Lord Scrumptious.
Hushaby Mountain - This is a lovely lullaby which Potts sings to his children to get them to go to sleep.
Me Ol' Bamboo - A very lively song and dance routine, with Potts trying to earn some money to buy the car. It took 23 takes to get this gruelling dance routine right, the problems were with the stick and them having to jump over it. When they finally got it right Dick Van Dyke had lost his hat, but by now they were really tired and so they decided to keep it as it was.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - The by now very famous song, performed by Potts and his children, when they name their newly restored car.
Truly Scrumptious - Sung by the children and also sung by Truly to the children, it is a very endearing song, which is again repeated later on in the film and sung by Potts.
Lovely Lonely Man - Truly sings this song whilst walking around the spectacular gardens at her home, singing all about Potts.
Posh! - Sung by Grandpa Potts and it is all about being Posh.
The Roses of Success - Grandpa and the ensemble singing about the roses of success in life, another comical song.
Chu-Chi Face - A very silly song by The Baron and Baroness Bomburst, Goldfinger like you've never seen him before.
Doll on a Music Box/Truly Scrumptious - A big lovely production number I really did enjoy this one; it has a lovely catchy tune and it is a pleasure to watch.
~~ The Cast ~~
Caractacus Potts - Played by Dick Van Dyke who is also famous for his role in Mary Poppins; bought his charismatic and madcap hilarity to the film, he really did fit the part of the eccentric inventor who was struggling to make his inventions work and bring up his two young children on his own.
Truly Scrumptious - Sally Ann Howes plays the part of the daughter of the wealthy sweet manufacture Lord Scrumptious. Even though Sally has 20 years of acting experience under her belt at the time of the auditions for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, she was best known for her appearance in the stage musical My Fair Lady, which she took over from Julie Andrews in 1958.
Grandpa Potts - Played by Lionel Jeffries, he may have been playing Caractacus Potts's father, but he was in fact seven months younger than Dick Van Dyke. He was an old soldier who was an eccentric, if not more so than his son, even if he did not agree with his inventions.
Jemima - played by Heather Ripley and Jeremy played by Adrian Hall.
Also stars James Robertson Justice as Lord Scrumptious (well known from the Doctor films of the 70's), Gert Frobe as Baron Bomburst, Anna Quayle as Baroness Bomburst, Benny Hill as the Toymaker, Robert Helpmann as the child catcher and Stanley Unwin as the Chancellor.
The music and lyrics were done by the Sherman brothers Richard and Robert known for working a lot on Walt Disney films, actually this was the first non Disney film they did.
Choreography - Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood.
~~ Trivia ~~
The Bond Connection - I bet you are wondering how James Bond links into Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It links in more ways than one and all started after Ian Fleming's death in 1964 when United Artists bought the film rights to all his work. When they went through his work they found a series of children's stories called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang written by Fleming.
Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes wrote the screenplay; Roald Dahl had previously written the script for You Only Live Twice another Bond Connection.
Ken Adam who designed and built the wonderful Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Car was also the production designer on seven James Bond movies.
Even the stars themselves got in on the act with Desmond Llewellyn who has played Q in the Bond movies) played Mr Coggins, and finally Gert Frobe who played Goldfinger in the film of the same name, stars in this as the villainous Baron Von Bonburst.
Finally not to forget the Producer Cubby Broccoli who produced the James Bond movies.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opened its World Premier at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London on 16th Dec 1968, at first it was not a raving success and initially made a loss, but it was one of those films that grew in popularity with time and increased sales further with the video and DVD releases. It also went live in 2002 as the stage musical opened in London.
Cartoonist and inventor Rowland Emmett made eight special devices for the film these included the breakfast making machine and the haircutting machine used in the film.
~~ DVD Extras ~~
Scene Selection - 1-32 scenes in blocks of 4 for you to hop around.
Subtitles - No different languages offered, but you do have a selection of 8 different subtitles in various languages.
~~ Special Features ~~
A Fantasmagorical Motorcar - This is a ten minute film with Pierre Picton, who used to be a clown that owned a car that fell to pieces. He was approached by Cubby Broccoli to help them with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He maintained the car during the production of the movie. He also doubled on a couple of driving sequences; after the film was finished Picton kept the car for promoting the film in the UK, later in 1973 he finally brought it off Cubby.
This short film was made in 2003 and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was still going strong and living out its retirement in Stratford-Upon-Avon, so if you are lucky you may see her on an occasional day out.
~~ Vintage Advertising Gallery ~~
Theatrical Trailer - There are two of these listed here, one in English and one in French; both exactly the same apart from the language difference. They both last approx 3.5 minutes.
5 Original T.V. Spots - There are 5 T.V adverts listed here 1-5 all showing a different 1 minute advert.
Sing-a-long - This is a great feature for you and the kids to enjoy; you can either just play the songs like a karaoke machine, where the words light up as you sing them, or you can turn this feature on and watch the movie and when the songs start you get the karaoke feature.
~~ And Finally ~~
I recommend this film; it is a great all round family film, which is as popular today as ever, especially with the stage show touring the country at the moment. It is a slapstick comedy and music at its best, I even like the child catcher as this gives your children a warning about not doing as you are told and taking sweeties from strangers; plus I am a sucker for happy endings.
...fee stakes.
1968's 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' was adapted for the screen by Roald Dahl, he who had already mangled Ian Fleming's work with the film adaptation of 'You Only Live Twice'. The book was Flemings only literary departure from Bond, and while Bond took to the big screen with little difficulty, 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' is one big unwieldy mess of a picture.
Receiving lukewarm to damning reviews on it's original release, and subsequently ... ...a unwelcomed new lease of life by some darned stage musical. Now heralded as some kind of wonder, it's received 4 DVD releases in the space of 2 years, and is being shoved in our faces as something as magical as its obvious idol, 'Mary Poppins'.
'Chitty...' is far from magical, and even as a child I recall wilting under it's colossal running time. 144 minutes would have been fine and dandy for one of director Ken Hughes' historical romps, but as ...
dadmancat 03.05.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD)
Advantages: Good film. Good sing-a-long songs Disadvantages: Could be a bit long for some people. Not many extras on the DVD
...One of them is “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. I don’t think there’s many people out there who hasn’t seen it. It’s normally on every Christmas/New Year. (Perhaps I should have posted this review then!). Anyway, on with the show, as they say! Welcome to Ian Flemming's CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.
The film starts with the car in question in a speedway race and the theme tune to the film. But, those days are long gone and the poor old car is now sitting in ... ...are a world apart!
CHITTY CHITTY
<><><><><><><
As I said, Chitty Chitty was just a scrap heap. But, once acquired from Mr Potts Junior, he works on it to make it the once glorious car it once was! Watch the fun fair bit to see how he earns the money! But, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is no ordinary car. You see, whilst on the beach, Caractacus starts telling a story of pirates, thieves and just wacky people! As he is telling the story, it comes to ...
Louise90 28.08.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD)
Advantages: Good Family fun Disadvantages: Rather long for younger children
...it fact and improbably it’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!
From the first Bond film in 1962 to his last in 1989 ‘Cubby’ Broccoli devoted himself to producing what was to become the multi-million dollar James Bond movie franchise. However 1968 was a rare exception and sitting in between ‘You Only Live Twice’ (1967) and ‘On Her Majesty's Secret Service’ (1969) we find the unlikely children’s film Chitty Chitty ... ...other protagonist to mention is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang herself a beautiful period car that over the years is still recognisable and has become an icon of children’s movies far in excess of the film’s initial impact. After all no one can resist a car that flies!
The look of the film is impressive and a great deal of time and effort (and money) has obviously been spent bringing the story to life. The mad inventions of the eccentric Caractacus ...
Mauri 19.02.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD)
Advantages: A classic in family entertainment Disadvantages: A very long film, no thrills DVD
...to describe the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, It is family entertainment at its very best. With a running time of 2 hours and 25 minutes it is extremely long for a children’s film. Remarkably however children as young as two or 3 will watch the entire film with interest such is the level of entertainment it provides. THE STORY: Dick Van Dyke takes the lead role as Caractacus Potts, an inventor whose enthusiasm is far greater than his level of ... ...trim and red wheels emerges, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is born. Potts and Truly are now firm friends and a trip to the seaside with the children leads to the next part of the story. Stranded due to the tide, Potts begins to tell a story to pass the time, we follow the story in the film. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang can now float and whilst taking a tour on the sea is spotted by Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe). He sets his sights on the car and sends two comical ...
LouiseA 10.02.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD)
Advantages: everything Disadvantages: whish i had this car
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
Has got to go down as an all time favourite of mine, its been enjoyed in my family as far back as I can remember, and still just as popular today,
The story is based on the Potts family, Father Caracatus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) his two children Jemima (Heather Ripley) Jeremy (Adrian Hall) and Grandfather Potts played by (Lionel Jeffries).
Caracatus is an eccentric Inventor, who is trying to make ends meet, and support his ... ...air, it makes a chitty, chitty sound and as the compressed air is omitted it gives a little double bang sound, here lies the tail of the cars name Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
After a minor incident with the car of Truly Scrumptious, Caracatacus apologises and Truly is asked to join them on their trip,
After fun and frolics on the beach, Caratacus tells them a story of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and as they listen in a marvellous adventure begins.
An ...
dreamscancometrue 15.01.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD)
Did you enjoy it?
Characters / Performances
Soundtrack
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD)"
Advantages: classic family musical with magical sequences Disadvantages: may be too kid orientated
Sally Ann Howes who has a very strong singing voice. Filled with character turned by several names that include Lionel Jeffries and the slight mad Granddad, Benny Hill as the Toy Maker, Stanley Unwin as the chancellor and Gert Frobe as Baron Bomburst (aka Goldfinger). If you keep your eyes open you'll see Babs Windsor pop up in a small role too.
Disc Features
Unlike the previous DVD release, this one is in glorious widescreen, the way it was meant to be seen and there is something for everyone here.
MGM have matched the high quality of the Bond DVD's by providing a lot of background material;. ' The extras kick off with 'Remembering ChittyChittyBangBang with Dick Van Dyke' documentary There is a Region 2 exclusive extra in the form of a just under 10 mins featurette of behind the scenes of the new West End musical based ...
go off for a picnic in the car and along the way they bump into Truly again where they invite her to join them . As they are driving along they decide that the car makes a chittychittybangbang noise and this is where they decide to call the car Chitty.
They all spend a wonderful day at the beach and as they are preparing to leave they start to hear a story from Potts. It is during this story where Chitty flies and floats. The story begins with a pirate ship coming to steal their car. The story takes the children, Potts and Truly to a magical place which is run by the Baron and Baroness Bomburst. The Baroness hates all children so they are not allowed to live in their town, it is here where we meet the nasty child catcher and the toymaker who helps them. Grandpa has also been kidnapped by the Baron as he believes that he is ...
Advantages: great songs and great cast Disadvantages: bit slow
Chittychittybangbang chittty chitty band bang
My girls have always loved this film (so have I) so when I saw the 2 disc special addition available for only £25 I had to have it. I ordered it from Britannia 2 years ago now. It came in a velvet box with a small chitty car model with pull out wings; a booklet telling about the theatre productions a two disc DVD and a discount ticket for the theatre.
The car is a great toy; it is exactly like the one on the film but only about 2 inches long. The theatre ticket was useless because it was for a show in London and I live no where near there. The booklet is a short read but interesting none the less but obviously the thing I was most interested in was the DVD. Obviously it has the wonderful film but also the second the DVD which is filled with extras so I couldn't wait to put it on. I ...
Dutch, English, French, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish
Hearing Impaired Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Booklet, Trailer, Interactive Menus, Chapter Selections, Sing a Long Feature
Aspect Ratio
4:3 Full Frame
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.0, Mono
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.0 English Mono French German Italian Spanish
DVD Description
Here we are children, come and get your lollipops... ice-cream, chocolate... all freeeeeee today! These words have put a generation of children in abject fear. The dainty dancing man in jester's garb with the delectable little sweet cart, becoming the horrific scrawny child catcher for the Baron who hates them. He wants all the toys for himself. Robert Helpmann, the Australian dancer extraordinaire, plays this wonderfully wicked kiddy-catching character with glee.<BR>Dick Van Dyke is charming as a daydreaming inventor who fixes up an old jalopy and, with the vivid imaginations of his two children Jeremy and Jemima, and a lady friend Truly Scrumptious, it is transformed into a flying, floating wonder car that carries them to a magical kingdom where they must endure the child catcher at first hand and save the kingdom's children from imprisonment. Lionel Jeffries plays the delightfully inventive grandpa and Gert Frobe the spoilt Baron who hasn't grown up. With some great songs and of course the fantastic flying, floating car this is one of th greatest family movies. Inspired by an Ian James Bond Fleming idea.
Compare Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD) to other similar Musicals & Music Films »
![Bang (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Thunder](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/703/Bang_Parental_Advisory_PA_Thunder__7036703.jpg)
![Bang Bang Rock 'n' Roll [Digipak] - Art Brut](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/671/Bang_Bang_Rock_n_Roll_Digipak_Art_Brut__6220671.jpg)
