Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | | Cast : | Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill | | Director : | Ken Hughes | | Studio : | Mgm/Ua Studios | | Format : | Full Screen, Closed-captioned, THX | | Released Date : | December 18, 1968 | | DVD Released Date : | July 30, 2002 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | G (General Audience) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 05, 2005 | | Summary | Chitty Chittyrific! | Content
 | I saw this on the original DVD of this movie, but all the same, it's still wonderful! In fact, fantasmagorical! When bring some of the hottest stars, songwriters, directors, and dancers of the decade together, you are sure to be in for a treat.
The story takes place in the British country side, where races are held every so often. Two children, Jeremy and Jemima (Adrian Hall and Heather Ripley), would play in the junkyard with the worn down cars. There they meet a lady named Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes) who wants to meet the childrens' parents. She drives Jeremy and Jemima over to the house with the windmill, where she meets Caratacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins, Diagnosis Murder), an inventor whose inventions goe awry. The two meet and argue for some time. Potts always has time for his children, even when his inventions don't go the way he planned. His father, (Lionel Jefferies), encourages him to give up his inventions, and start living in reality. Potts considers this, until his dog, Edison, gives him an idea of a new candy: toot sweets. A candy that toots like a flute. The next day, he sends his invention to Lord Scrumptious (James Robertson Justice), head of a large candy factory. He approves of this candy, until the whistle sounds sends a pack of dogs into the factory, and Scrumptious rejects it. Saddened by this, Jeremy and Jemima try to comfort their father by willing to give up their most precious possessions so that Potts can buy the car the children were trying to save from the junkyard. Potts appreciates this, but couldn't take them. He reassures them that he will find a way to make money, 30 shillings, to be exact, and he does! He sends his latest invention, a hair styling machine, to the fair that's being held in town. But once again, his invention goes awry, and a chase from an angry customer leads Potts to a dancing act he performs in, and in the end, earns him enough money to buy the car for his children. Jeremy and Jemima are excited, and can't wait to see what their father does to fix the car. What will happen to the car? Will Potts and Truly ever get along? Is this the ultimate adventure for everyone?
This film has great dancing, choreographed by the choreographers of Mary Poppins. It simply makes me want to dance along with them! It also has great songs by the same songwriting team of Mary Poppins, The Parent Trap, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Charlotte's Web, Snoopy Come Home, Little Nemo, and many more great classics, Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. They are delightful! You'll love "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "You Two", "Husabye Mountain", "Me Ol' Bam-Boo", "Truly Scrumptious", and many more songs from this film.
This film is one of the many grat musical classics of the 20th century. There aren't much of them around these days, and that makes me sad. Who couldn't love the funny Dick Van Dyke? He brings so much happiness to every movie or show he does. And the music is so unforgettable. You'll love it. I can't wait to own the special edition DVD. Buy it today! It's chitty chittyrific! |
| Rating | | | Date | July 30, 2005 | | Summary | Truly Scrumptious! | Content
| A Classic! Timeless! These adjectives go with a movie in which a person of any age could watch and enjoy! I have experienced this in my own home. For I grew up watching this movie, and now I get to experience the same joy and laughter with the next generation, and possibly the generation after that! It's colorful, enjoyable, and it can even teach a few lessons! |
| Rating | | | Date | April 21, 2005 | | Summary | This is a classic for the family. | Content
| I miss these kinds of films. They are classics for the whole family. I put together a list to remind folks of some of the best ones out there that are family oriented interesting and full of great music. It blows me away when I meet a 10 year old who hasn't seen something like Sound of Music or Wizard of Oz. It's been a long time since Hollywood has come up with one of these!
Mary Poppins
Sound of Music
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
My Fair Lady
Wizard of OZ
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Annie
Oliver
I am an advocate of good old fasion family fun. I try and take my kids to these and other live musicals as well. We even do voice lesson Cds: (I recommend them as well)
"Voice Lessons To Go" by Vaccarino, to prep before we sing through their sound tracks. It's just another alternative to regular television time. There is a wholesome quality to them that sadly is not very prevelent today. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 23, 2005 | | Summary | Great movie, just as I remembered | Content
| If you're just looking for a really neat movie to share with your kids, maybe one that you saw as a kid, then this is it. I saw this in the theater as a child and never forgot it. Just to see that car fly is something to a kid, especially when it lands on the water. When the king of Bulgaria (?) wants to steal it, all the mayhem breaks out and it's just plain funny. If you've ever wondered if Dick van Dyke is really a noodle, then this movie should settle that question once and for all. Yes he is! That bit where he dances like a doll is nothing short of amazing. Of course, Sally Ann Howes has a gorgeous singing voice and it's just worth it to hear her sing. The imagination that this movie has is just remarkable, especially with the child snatcher and the doll scene. And, how van Dyke goes about getting his children back. Of course, the car saves the day and he gets the girl in the end. Don't let the beginning surprise you, however. If you're buying this for young children, you'll need to spend the time explaining what's going on in the beginning. It's the car's story - how it was a wonderful race car until it was wrecked and caught fire during a race, trying to avoid hitting a child. It's a very good movie, one for a family movie night and one that your children will always remember. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 17, 2005 | | Summary | A bit better than a Mary Poppins wanna-be; cynics stay away! | Content
| This film followed the recipe of the highly successful Mary Poppins, including the same songwriters (the Shermans) and the same cast (Dick Van Dyke). Although it's a fun film, it does not really measure up to its prototype.
The film has Disney-fied the charmingly eccentric family of Caractacus Potts, a wacky inventor who lives in a dilapidated windmill. In the book (believe it or not, by Ian Fleming, the writer of the James Bond books), Caractacus is truly and humorously eccentric, but Dick Van Dyke as Potts plays the part pretty much as as a Wonderbread romantic lead: all Caractacus' odd behaviors are pretty much erased, and with it a lot of the fun of the book. In 1968 I wanted to be his love interest, Miss Truly Scrumptious, an heiress with both a spunky attitude and lovely clothes, but in 2004 I wish she's been given more to do.
Finally, there is such a thing as a song being TOO singable - the title song - the heroine's song "Truly Scrumptious" - are so melodic they are unforgettable, although you are likely to wish you could get them out of your head.
I remember really liking this one when I was a kid, although it does not hold up as well as Mary Poppins herself. Nevertheless, watching it with small children was an entertaining evening at home.
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