Director: Ken Hughes
Release Date: 1968
Running Time: 2hrs 24 minutes
Genre: Musical
Rating: U
Format: DVD
Synopsis:
Eccentric inventor Caractactus Potts, can barely make ends meet, after a whim at a fair, he manages to make just enough money to buy an old Grand Prixx car. Little do his family know of course, that Mr Pott's is hoping to turn it into a very special car, a car that can float, a car that can fly, Chitty!
Based on the novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. Flamboyant inventor Caracatacus Potts lives in a windmill with his father and his two children Jemima (Ripley) and Jeremy (Hall). Barely able to make ends meet, Mr Pott's does everything he can to make some cash. One night after a bit of fun at a fair, he manages to make just enough money to buy his children's favourite car an old Grand Prix car. However after three days, the car that drives out of Mr Pott's workshop is not the same that went in. After learning of the car's powers, nasty Barom Bomburst kidnaps Mr Pott's father believing he was behind the invention. Mr Pott's, his children and with the help of Truly Scrumptious, must do everything they can to get his father back. The adventure that unfolds is truly spectacular.
Starring Dick Van Dyke as inventor Caractacus Pott's, Dyke's performance is not only charming, but absolutely superb. The relationship that he shares with his two children is incredibly genuine and very heartwarming to watch. Mr Pott's soon finds himself fallen head over heels for Truly Scrumptious (Howes) a wealthy woman who's father own's a sweet factory. One that Mr Pott's desperately tries to pitch an idea too. Howe's performance is fantastic, absolutely beautiful in character with a stunning singing voice. It doesn't take long for Pott's children to fall for her too. Warming to her character, looking up to her like a mother.
Child stars (although not so little anymore) Adrian Hall and Heather Ripley deliver magnificent performances as Jeremy and Jemima Potts. Both characters are terrifically charming and innocent through out the course of the film. They to, delivers very good singing performances. It takes quite a skill to play a bad guy and to pull it off well. Robert Helpman is remarkable as the child catcher, a haunting performance, Baron Bomburst and Baroness Bomburst hate children and demand that all children are locked away into the dungeons below their castle. Don't worry folks, the bad guys never win!
A musical with so much talent, Benny Hill and Lionel Jeffries also deliver incredible performances as the toy maker and Grandpa Pott's. Grandpa Pott's is just as eccentric as his son, if not more, always taking himself to his shed to travel to Alaska or South Africa. The characters fit into the storyline beautifully, fantastically written by Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl. The storyline is exciting, it's fun, it's charming, it's full of music, there's twists and turns, is it real? Is it all a dream? Is it simply just a story Mr Pott's is telling his children whilst down at the beach?
Stunning cinematography, shot beautifully by director Ken Hughes and Director of Photography Christopher Challis. The gorgeous scenery of Bavaria, Germany where Bombursts castles resides (you can visit the castle even today) at Neuschwanstein Castle. Incredible production design, including of course the car Chitty. Seven different cars were built, a worn-out one, a restored one, one for the flying scenes, one for the water scenes and three partial models for other scenes. The car itself really is magnificent. At 2hrs and 24minutes, the film doesn't bore for a second. Fantastically imaginative, creative and wonderfully charming. Almost as if being sucked into a fantasy novel.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is suitable for all ages and is is not to be missed by real musical enthusiasts. A classic in it's own right. A masterpiece, a highly entertaining film. Perfect for those days where you just want to be curled up on the sofa.
5/5 stars
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