Grow the roses of success (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD))

Member Name: sweetpea1

Product:	Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (DVD)
Date:	07/05/06 (538 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great film for the whole family. Great songs to singalong to.

Disadvantages: None

When it comes to musicals, you can guarantee I’ll be in front of the TV watching it! I love musicals, and have quite a few in my DVD collection. One of them is “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. I don’t think there’s many people out there who hasn’t seen it. It’s normally on every Christmas/New Year. (Perhaps I should have posted this review then!). Anyway, on with the show, as they say! Welcome to Ian Flemming's CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.

The film starts with the car in question in a speedway race and the theme tune to the film. But, those days are long gone and the poor old car is now sitting in a yard as a rust bucket ready to be sold for 30 shillings to a nasty old man!.........

………Welcome Caractacus Potts, the inventor of many things that never seem to go quite to plan, and his two children, Jeremy and Jemima. And, of course, the eccentric Grandpa Potts.

There’s really a couple of storylines in this film. The story and the romance


CARACTACUS AND TRULY
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These two characters get off to a dodgy start after Truly Scrumptious very nearly run over Jeremy and Jemima. They (Potts and Scrumptious) meet again when he ‘accidentally’ invented a sweet that whistles. (His dog, Eddison, is whistling the sweet!). He sets off to the sweet making factory to show the managing Director, Lord Scrumptious. He didn’t know at the time that he was Truly’s father. But, he swiftly found out and was going to make a fast exit, but she persuaded him to stay and show her father his new found sweet.

After another hiccup in the car concerning Truly and Caractacus, they, and the children, end up all going on a picnic together at the seaside. Jemima said they have ‘sausage tarts and marmalade rolls’ to eat. Bless!

Watch how Truly and Caractacus can really come together, even though their lifestyles are a world apart!


CHITTY CHITTY
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As I said, Chitty Chitty was just a scrap heap. But, once acquired from Mr Potts Junior, he works on it to make it the once glorious car it once was! Watch the fun fair bit to see how he earns the money! But, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is no ordinary car. You see, whilst on the beach, Caractacus starts telling a story of pirates, thieves and just wacky people! As he is telling the story, it comes to life so you can see it for yourself.

Baron Bomburst is the Baron of Vulgaria. He really wants the car that flies and do all these magical and wonderful things! His two cack-handed thieves try, in vain, to steel the car. But, once Grandpa Potts is kidnapped (they think he’s the inventor of the car), the car follows the flying machine that’s carrying Grandpa and his hut to Vulgaria. Follows, as in, flying in the air following them there! (The thieves do manage to capture him!).


VULGARIA
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Baron Bomburst hates children, as does his pain-in-the-butt wife Baroness Bomburst. That’s why they employ a child catcher. He’s my favourite character! When the Pott children get captured, the toy maker helps Caractacus to rescue them. In Vulgaria, you will witness how the poor children live under the castle, how Benny Hill plays a marverlous role as the toy maker, and the singing and dancing peppered throughout the film.


SINGING AND DANCING
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Apart from the storyline, it’s the singing and choreography I really enjoy watching. The song “Toot Sweet” in the factory is really good. “The Old Bamboo” is another really good song at the fun fair. In the fun fair scene, look out for Barbara Windsor and Arthur Mullard briefly!

On the beach, “Truly Scrumptious” is another great sing-a-long which you’ll be humming to for the rest of the day, I’m sure! And, how can I write a review about this film and not mention the song “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”? Certainly the best song in the film. I’m sure you all know the words to this song! And “Roses of Success” sung by Grandpa Potts & Co in the locked up room.


DVD EXTRAS
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Unfortunately, the DVD I’ve got isn’t a limited addition one, so not too many extras on it. But, what we do have is:

~ Original theatrical trailer
~ Interactive menus screen with 40 scene selections
~ Colour booklet containing behind the scenes information on the making of the film.

Caractacus Potts – Dick Van Dyke
Truly Scrumptious – Sally Ann Howes
Grandpa Potts – Lionel Humphries
Baron Bomburst – Gert Frobe
Baroness Bomburst - ~Anna Quayle
Toymaker – Benny Hill
Lord Scrumptious – James Robertson Justice
Child Catcher – Robert Helpman
Jemima – Heather Ripley
Jeremy – Adrian Hall

Running time: 2 hours 25 mins
An MGM film
Made in 1968


SUMMARY
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My verdict? I love this film. It’s the sort of film the whole family can watch and enjoy singing along to. Although this may seem a bit long for the kids, the time does pass by pretty quickly, especially as the songs are so good.

Buy it, watch it, and enjoy it!

It's a good job the Potts family got the car, and not the nasty old man, isn't it?!

NOTE: This review is also written on Ciao under my username there LOUISE90

Thanks for reading!
Louise

Summary: An all rounded family film with great songs!