DVD Reviews

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Nov 4, 2010, 16:36 GMT

Based on the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car by Ian Fleming, the film tells the story of an eccentric professor (played by Dick Van Dyke) who invents wacky machinery, but can\'t seem to make ends meet. When he invents a revolutionary car, a foreign government becomes interested in it, and resorts to skullduggery to get their hands on it. The all-time family classic evolves from there ...more

It’s phantasmagorical, a fuel burning oracle, looks quite fantastic on Blu-ray.  The film is surely has some flaws but those are polished out by some fantastic songs by the Sherman Brothers, a jolly holiday with Van Dyke and company, and the superb production design. 

Jeremy (Adrian Hall) and Jemima (Heather Ripley) Potts are playing hooky in their favorite location – an old car in a junkyard.  They encounter Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), a candy heiress who disapproves of their skipping school. 

She bundles up the two and takes them to their father, eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke).  The Potts live in a ramshackle house that contains all of his inventions as well as his equally eccentric father (Lionel Jefferies).  Caractacus doesn’t take kindly to her confrontations that his children should be in school and dismisses her. 

The children are eager for their father to buy the junked car from Mr. Coggins (Desmond Llewelyn) before he sells it for scrap.  Caractacus feels for his children and tries several disastrous attempts at making money, including selling some candy to Truly’s father Lord Scrumptious (James Robertson Justice), before stumbling onto the Ole’ Bamboo that allows him to buy the car. 

He redoes the car with his inventing acumen (he did buy it from Q) and the children christen it Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the noises it makes.  Caractacus, Truly, and the children take off in the wonderful auto for a day at the beach where the car comes to the attention of Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe), the villainous ruler of Vulgaria, who wants to steal the magnificent motorcar for himself. 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is most likely compared to Mary Poppins (1964).  That may not be too far of a stretch since the film shares star Dick Van Dyke and songs by the Richard and Robert Sherman.  Supposedly Julie Andrews was asked to co-star but thought it was too Mary Poppins. 

Then we throw in a James Bond connection (Chitty Chitty Bond Bond?) as the film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli, loosely based on a book by Ian Fleming, and the production design was by the masterful Sir Ken Adam. 
All of those players bring something different to the table, but the result does have an uneven feel.  It may be a tad too long, but the charm, songs, and cars make you forget whatever you may have problems with. 

The charm emanates from the cast, the songs are memorable and singable, and that production design is top shelf.  The cars are fantastic and not just the one that the film is named after, but even the “co-stars.”  The sets are grand as well and don’t forget those stylized gadgets that fill up Potts’ workshop. 

Even in the third act when we go into a Suessical fantasyland dreamt up by Roald Dahl is a delight.  Maybe out of place with the first part of the film, but a delight nonetheless.  What is also delightful is the high definition transfer (including an intermission).  It’s glowing and the best that the film has ever looked. 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is presented in a scrumptious 1080p high definition transfer (2.20:1).  Special features are in standard definition, unless noted.  First up is the sing along that puts up lyrics during the movie or you can just pick a song.  The “Music Machine” option plays all the songs in the film in one 44 minute lump (both are in high def since it uses scenes from the film). 

You also get the new games “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s Driving Game” and “Toot Sweet Musical Maestro.”  The 26 minute “Remembering Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is an interview with Van Dyke.  The 9 minute “A Phantasmagorical Motor Car” looks at Pierre Picton (www.chittygen11.com) the owner of the roadworthy car from the film.  There are also 30 minutes of Sherman Brothers audio demos. 

Vintage featurettes include the 10 minute “Ditchling Tinkerer” about Roland Emmett who created Caractacus’ whimsical inventions, the 9 minute “Dick Van Dyke Press Interview,” and the 3 minute “Pott’s Children” showing the kids goofing on the set.  There’s also a photo and vintage advertising gallery.  Disc two is a DVD copy of the film. 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has some flaws, but its best to not think about them and just get swept up in the film and magical car.  The transfer is fantasticagorical. 

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