Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Description

Product Description Children's writer Roald Dahl helped adapt this fantasy by James Bond-creator Ian Fleming. When inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) acquires a run-down racing car and renovates it for his children, Jeremy and Jemima, he makes a few extra improvements. The car, christened Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, now has the ability to fly, and takes the Potts and their friend, Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes) on an exciting adventure. Arriving in the kingdom of wicked Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe), they find themselves pursued by the evil Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann), while the Baron, desperate to get his hands on the car, kidnaps Jeremy and Jemima's grandfather (Lionel Jeffries) by mistake. desertcart.co.uk Review This re-mastered, pan-and-scan 30th-anniversary edition of that kiddie-car caper is flawed but solid family fare. It retains a quaint charm while some of the songs--including the title tune--are quite hummable. A huge plus is Dick Van Dyke, who is extremely appealing as an eccentric inventor around the turn of the century. With nimble fingers and a unique way of looking at the world, he invents for his children a magic car that floats and flies. Or does he? The special effects are tame by today's standards, and the film is about 20 minutes too long--but its enthusiasm charms. The script was cowritten by Roald Dahl and based on the novel by Ian Fleming, best known for his James Bond adventures. --Rochelle O'Gorman