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Will cyber kids get into a piece of pure fantasy made in
the 1960s? Oh well, only one way to find out. Shouldn't really
have worried.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a lovely, multi-layered
yarn filled with a heap of good imagery and songs that will
have even those as young as three entranced.
The story follows the lives of Professor Caractacus Potts
(Dick van Dyke at his best), an inventor of … not much that
works, his two children, his dad (richly played by screen
hog Lionel Jeffries), and Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes)
the daughter of a rich sweet-maker.
Desperate to buy the wreck of a champion racing car for his
little ones, Potts undergoes a series of adventures to raise
the 30 shillings (a fortune in 1909) to buy it.
Along the way he meets, fights and falls for the lovely
Truly. Using all his inventing skills, Potts turns the charred
ruin into a dazzlingly beautiful car that not only transforms
into a boat, but also a flying car.
This attracts the attention of the evil Baron Bomburst (Gert
Frobe) who wants Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for himself
and launches a plot to steal her, kidnap Potts, and take them
back to Vulgaria.
Only his spies get the wrong chap and Caractacus's dad gets
hauled off by the nasties, sparking a rescue mission that
brings our heroes into conflict with the Vulgarian army and
the horrid Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann).
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a very long movie but moves
along at a good rate and you are never caught looking at your
watch. The scenes are well augmented by some really nice tunes
and songs that may not have been No.1 hits but will spark
distant memories of having heard them before. They include
Toot Sweet, Hush-a-Bye Mountain, Me Ol' Bamboo, Travelling
Life, Roses of Success, Chu-Chi Face, Doll on a Music Box.
The theme song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was nominated
for an Oscar.
The transfer to DVD sound really bring the songs to life
and the cinematography is as sharp as you could wish for.
However, it would have been nice to have got a choice of widescreen.
Still, this is a hugely enjoyable film for children and
if parents don't get a huge kick out of it they must have
lost something while growing up.
Conclusion: Movie: 85% DVD Extras: 50%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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