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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [1968]

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [1968]
Director: Ken Hughes
Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill, Gert Froebe
Studio: MGM Entertainment
Category: Video

List Price: £5.99
Buy Used: £0.06
You Save: £5.93 (99%)



New (12) Used (20) Collectible (9) from £0.06

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 25 reviews
Sales Rank: 556

Format: Digital Sound, Hifi Sound, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 136 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1

EAN: 5014789925329
ASIN: B00004CII0

Theatrical Release Date: December 18, 1968
Release Date: April 3, 2000
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: SUPER FAST SHIPPING, DISPATCHED SAME DAY FROM UK WAREHOUSE. GREAT VIDEO IN GOOD OR BETTER CONDITION, VIDEO IN PAL FORMAT. MORE GREAT BARGAINS IN OUR eSHOP. amazon.co.uk/shops/awesome_books_001

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  • The Wizard Of Oz [1939]
  • Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971)
  • The Wizard of Oz (2 Disc Special Edition) [1939]

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
This remastered, pan-and-scan 30th-anniversary edition of that kiddie-car caper is flawed, but nevertheless a 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 is charming. The script was cowritten by Roald Dahl and based on the novel by Ian Fleming, best known for his James Bond adventures. I--Rochelle O'Gorman/I

Amazon.co.uk Review
IChitty Chitty Bang Bang/I entranced and thrilled children and their parents when it puttered into the cinema in 1968. More than three decades later, and despite the eventual arrival of a stage version that throws the full weight of blockbuster effects at the story, the original remains the real thing for fans of all ages. The flying car is the star and it's impossible not to feel a surge of thrilling relief as the wings kick in when she plunges over the cliff and soars off on her great adventure. The songs might not be the greatest in musical history, but they are delivered with great charm by Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts (a toned-down version of his infamous Bert in IMary Poppins/I), Sally Ann Howes (Truly Scrumptious) and the children. p And then there is Robert Helpmann's child catcher, a terrifyingly sinister figure who exudes a pungent whiff of undiluted evil unmatched by any character since Dorothy squared up to the witch in IThe Wizard of Oz/I. Cameos from British character actors abound: Benny Hill, Lionel Jeffries, Anna Quayle, James Robertson Justice and Max Wall all put in appearances that add some fibre to the overall sweetness of the story. IChitty Chitty Bang Bang/I is the ultimate nostalgic confection for family viewing. p BOn the DVD:/B IChitty Chitty Bang Bang/I Special Edition comes to DVD in widescreen format with a Dolby soundtrack to recreate the authentic cinematic experience for everyone who remembers it from the first time round. The picture quality is robust, revealing some rather homespun aspects to the special effects. Extras are dominated by Dick Van Dyke remembering his time on the film, plus a short item on the origins of the car itself and various trailers. --IPiers Ford/I


Customer Reviews:   Read 20 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars 'High, Low, Anywhere We Go, In Chitty Chitty We Depend'   September 28, 2008
Sir S. R. Martin (u.k)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [1968] 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' is my second favourite after 'The Wizard Of Oz'. 'Chitty' stars Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, James Robertson Justice and Robert Helpmann. Though this release onto DVD is the Full Screen version of this film i personally prefere it due to the fact this is a wonderful transfere to Disc, with it's lovely deep colours and so beautifully restored it looks like a modern film. Dick Van Dyke is superb as the children's father who rescues a vintage racing car from a junk yard and gets the car working again. He decides the car should be called 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and he tells his children a story of how the car is magic and able to float and fly. Everything is so wonderful about this film, this includes the lovely songs like 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' (We Love You), You Two, Hushaby Mountain and not forgetting Lionel Jeffries song 'Posh' (Port Out Starboard Home, Posh with a capital P). Ballet dancer and actor Robert Helpmann gives a perfect performance as the evil child catcher, scaring generations of children in the same way as Margaret Hamilton did in 'The Wizard Of Oz'. 'Chitty' is also available in a special widescreen 2 Disc set, but the colours of the film seem a bit washed out and less vibrant so i prefere this Full Screen release because of the more vibrant colours. (and the Full Screen version seems to be more popular and more widely available than the latest widescreen release). If like me you like the original release onto DVD of 'The Wizard Of Oz' this release of 'Chitty' makes a good companion. DVD. br /


5 out of 5 stars a BRILLIANT musical!!   July 6, 2008
S. Schofield
I never saw this when I was younger and I really wish I had. I love everything about this movie, especially the songs. I am taking singing lessons and several times I have sung the entire score. If I had to pick a favourite song, it would be a tie between, You Two, Toot Sweets, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hushabye Mountain and Lovely Lonely Man. I really think that the behind-the-scenes team could not have picked a better cast.


5 out of 5 stars Wonderful children's film   March 18, 2007
Marshall Lord (Whitehaven, UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is a wonderful film for small children, and adults will be pleasantly surprised by how little it has dated. br / br /I saw this film as a small child when it first came out and loved it. br / br /Recently I was reminded how good the music of the film was when I happened on the song "The Roses of Success" on the internet, and my children appeared in my office in ten seconds flat to see what Daddy was listening to. So I thought I would get them the DVD. br / br /It held their attention for several playings, and the music was as good as I had remembered. br / br /The original books were written by Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, and were quite dark in tone. The film version, however, is a light musical comedy. br / br /Dick van Dyke plays Caractacus Potts, who is a poverty stricken inventor, and a widower with two small children. He buys and rebuilds a famous former racing car, which his children name Chitty Chitty Bang Bang after the distinctive noise made by the car's exhaust. (Fleming put a note in the books to the effect that there really was a famous racing car which had this nickname for precisely that reason.) br / br /The Potts family meet Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes) daughter of the local sweet magnate Lord Scrumptious (James Robertson Justice.) After they get off to a bad start, she tries to help Caractacus Potts raise the money to restore the car. Initial plans to raise money fall through, but Caractacus gets the necessary funds by pure chance. br / br /Restoration completed, Caractacus takes his children to the beach and again they join up with Truly Scrumptious. He tells his children an imaginary story about a wicked foreign potentate, with a wife who hates children, and who wants to steal this wonderful car - a car which can turn into a boat, and also fly. Foreign agents first try to steal the car, then kidnapp Caractacus's father. The viewer is caught up in the story. br / br /Most people will know the ending but I'm not going to give it away for those who don't. br / br /Excellent performances from van Dyke, Howes (was she really 38 years old when this was made?) and James Robertson Justice. Benny Hill plays a toymaker who helps rescue the twins - this was made before his on-screen persona became set as a comic parody of a dirty old man. It seems mildly odd now to watch him performing a straight role as one of the heroes in a children's film but not because there is anything wring with his acting. Other cast members included Lionel Jeffries and Barbara Windsor (long before she was famous). Roald Dahl and Ken Huges did the screenplay. br / br /Perhaps the most memorable part of the film is Richard M Sherman's wonderful music and lyrics.


5 out of 5 stars Wacky, crazy vintage musical!   March 1, 2007
FAMOUS NAME (UNITED KINGDOM)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

br /This must be the craziest, zaniest, and crankiest musical ever to hit the silver screen! It's a movie that 'flits' in and out of fantasy like drifting in and out of sleep! It's full of innocent charm - much which I suspect is lost on children of today; modern society and change having ruined so much... br / br /Sally Ann Howes shows her marvellous talent, both as a singer and also as an extremely talented actress (though we already knew it from when she was a child star) when she plays her part as the mechanical figurine on a music box - no easy feat! Robert Helpmenn is simply magnificent as the 'Child Catcher' - what a performance! br / br /One of the funniest scenes is when two big names in TV; Barbara Windsor and Arthur Mullard are at a fairground, and Arthur's character steps into an automatic hair-cutting machine, only to come out of it again with a mohican haircut! This results in his chasing Dick Van Dyke all around the fairground - seeming never to give up! br / br /The only slight problem, was Dick Van Dykes difficulty in mastering the English accent - he had the same problem in 'Mary Poppins'. One ought to note, that it is far easier for an English person to pick up an American accent, than it ever is the other way around... Very few Americans can master this, but those that do are particularly adept. br / br /This is a fabulous movie, with all the charm and innocence that is ideal for the whole family! br /