In keeping with the quiz this week (BIG clues there!), I thought I would revisit a timeless classic. A film that was made in 1968, that's right folks, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is almost 40 years old! But it appeals to kids of today, just as much as it appealed to me when I was a kid. Even the Child catcher still scares kids today!
But the most amazing thing of all is that it was written by the author who wrote the James Bond novels. You have so many similarities between Professor Caracticus Potts and James Bond, that it had me thinking, "was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the very first Bond movie, rather than Dr. No or Casino Royal??"
Well lets look at the film...
Professor Caracticus Potts (Brilliantly played by Dick Van Dyke) is a man struggling to bring up his kids (Jeremy and Jamimah) on his own, with a little help from his father (Lionel Jeffries). To make ends meet he tries to sell his wacky inventions, but everything goes out the window, when the children fall in love with a dilapidated race car.
After narrowly escaping a severe beating, after a hair cutting machine goes wrong at the local fair, Potts raises the money needed to buy the race car from the scarp merchant thus saving it from being crushed. After doing up the car, to it's former glory, Potts takes the kids for a drive, he then bumps into (quite literally!) Truly Scrumptious (Note the Bond influence on the name here!, Truly Scrumptious indeed!), the daughter of the local sweet manufacturer, Scrumptious and sweets (ouch!), the kids love her, and soon a picnic is arranged. During said picnic, a story is told, and events happen that show Chitty Chitty for the fantastic car it is.
The story continues with kidnap, child cruelty, fun, and hilarity and above all memorable songs! Indeed the very success of the film has produced a musical, that is wowing them in Theatres.
What then is the appeal of the film?
Well for me it's just the very feel of the film, it feels as good today as when I first saw it all those years ago, it is still hauled out in the UK every Christmas,as it is that type of complete family film. You never really tire of Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. Who has never joined in with the songs either? And who has slipped up when singing "Oh pretty Chitty, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you, and our Chitty Chitty Bang Bang loves us to?"
They also have lovely songs like "Hush-a-bye Mountain", and "truly Scrumptious". There are a wealth of British stars in the film too, and the child actors are excellent! The guy that plays the child catcher - Robert Helpmann, was in reality one of the best loved on the set by the kids.
So lets have a look at the similarities between CCBB and Bond:
1) Hero seems to be able to get out of any situation, using charm, humour and intellect
2) Heroine has ridiculous made up name, that is both suggestive and tongue in cheek
3) villain has a silly name too, Baron Bomburst????
4) Gadgets -lots of little inventions to help the main character
5) A fantastic Car
6) An evil henchman - Child Catcher
7) The world - or town in this case - in peril
8) Hero saves the day, and gets girl
Now in my opinion that is way too many co-incidences.
Keep watching Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang, as they will never make a film like it again!
Starring: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill and many others
Rating:
*****
Further info: Chitty Chitty
2 comments:
Not only did Fleming write the book, Roald Dahl wrote the screenplay, so you can say CCBB is James Bond meets Willy Wonka. This really is a Bond film for the kids.
I've not ever seen this movie. But now that you wrote about it, I really would like to.
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