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Based on a children's book by James Bond creator Ian Fleming, the 1968 musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has never enjoyed critical cachet. Yet, thanks to Dick Van Dyke's energetic performance, its flights of high-flying fantasy, wacky inventions, and Oscar-nominated title song, it holds a special place in viewers' hearts. Van Dyke stars as crackpot inventor Caractacus Potts, who lives in the English countryside with his two children and their dotty grandfather. The first hour sputters along, as Potts's various inventions, including Toot Sweets, a candy/whistle, backfire. But with the introduction of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang -- a junked race car that Potts restores -- the film switches gears into fantasy overdrive, as Chitty flies, floats, and generally thwarts efforts by the buffoonish Baron Bomburst to capture her. The music by Richard and Robert Sherman lacks the magic of their earlier Mary Poppins score, but the rollicking "Me Ol' Bamboo" and the lovely lullaby "Hushabye Mountain" keep things rolling. Bond buffs will delight in the appearance of Desmond "Q" Llewelyn as a junkyard dealer, and Gert "Goldfinger" Frobe as the Baron; while the heroine's name, "Truly Scrumptious," will also raise an eyebrow. Benny Hill shows up as the toy maker who aids Potts and his family, making this a cameo lover's must-see. Chittyhas been fired up and polished for the two-disc Special Edition, which boasts a 2003 interview with Van Dyke, vintage production featurettes, a sing-along option, and a 34-page storybook. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

One of the stars of Walt Disney's Mary Poppins, Dick Van Dyke, is re-united with that film's composer and lyricist, Richard M.Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, in this big budget and bloodless children's fantasy musical, based on the children's book by James Bond author Ian Fleming. Van Dyke plays Caractacus Potts, a failed inventor who lives in a big house with his two children -- Jemima Heather Ripley and Jeremy Adrian Hall -- and eccentric father Lionel Jeffries. Potts has to raise 30 shillings so his children can buy a broken-down racing car from the junkyard. After a disastrous attempt to sell his invention of whistling sweets to Lord Scrumptious (James Robertson-Justice), the local candy maker, he finally gets enough money for the car by doing a Dick Van Dyke dance routine at the county fair. Potts takes the car and miraculously transforms the vehicle into a shiny new car named Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. While on a picnic with the children and Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), Lord Scrumptious' beautiful daughter, Potts concocts a fantasy tale about the magical powers of the car, which can now float on water and fly. In the tale, Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe) wants the car for himself and kidnaps the automobile and the inventor. But Bomburst captures Grandpa by mistake along with the wrong car, so Potts, Truly, and the children have to enlist Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on a rescue mission to Bomburst's lair to save Grandpa. Paul Brenner

Product Details

• UPC: 027616898159
• Source: MGM (VIDEO & DVD)
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
• Presentation: Pan & Scan, Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Surround, Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English, Français, Español, Portugais
• Time: 2:25:00
• Sales Rank: 995

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Family Classics Gift Set
• MGM Classic Musicals Collection
• United Artists Super Deluxe Gift Set (90 films)
• The Fox-MGM Hollywood Musicals Collection

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