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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [VHS] [1968] starring: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill, Gert Fröbe

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Rating: - Fantastic Family Floght of Fancy!

This film is what "Willie Wonka" should have looked like - beautiful, sumptuous colour - and is coupled with elements of "Allo Allo!" and the Chuckle Brothers. Well Roald Dahl did co-write the script.

It is mainly remembered for the "Vulgarian" scenes in a Balkan country ruled by a comedy Gert (Goldfinger) Fröbe and the sinister Childcatcher (Robert Helpman) but these are only in the final quarter of the film - for the parents there is actually a better version of Mamma Mia (if that is hard!) before that, and a mad inventor. Why Dick van Dyke (Caractacus Potts) became the archetypal Cockney, I don't know, but what could be more Cockney than setting up your own fairground booth? your customers then simply *have* to be Arthur Mullard and Barbara Windsor! and chirpy Cockney dance routines don't come much better than "The Old Bamboo"...done better than the best of one of these modern dance videos...

Benny Hill also turns up on Vulgaria as a toymaker in a country where children are banned! Is this his most serious ever role before Professor Peach in "The Italian Job"?

Lionel Jeffries is great as Caractacus's father, although he was IIRC actually younger than Dick Van Dyke. Only a real trouper could sing a jaunty song in a lavatory suspended from a Zeppelin and partly immersed in the sea !

Wherever you look, great actors in minor roles. Richard Wattis (Mr. Scrumptious's flunkey), James Robertson Justice (Mr. Scrumptious), Max Wall (imprisoned inventor), Stanley Unwin (Gert Fröbe's advisor). It all makes for true family entertainment which never suspends its belief in what is happening!

I doubt the maker of James Bond could make such a great film nowadays. No clear product placement, money in shillings, cars with the steering wheel on the right ;-) side, and none of the Americanisms that clutter the Harry Potter films and spoil them. Just great family fun!

This film is *very* long (two and a quarter hours) but is worth it! starring two children, so something for the kids throughout.

I also note that there are two versions to choose from here on Amazon, this is just the film, there is another version with a bonus CD, so check which one you want.

Oh, did I say "recommended"? ;-)

Rating: - worth every penny!!!!!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this product when I ordered it as the description wasn't very clear. What a pleasant surprise I got when it came. Definitely worth it !!!!!

Rating: - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Thanks for this product it was exactly as described, dispatched quickly and a very welcome Christmas present for my mother. I would definately use this seller again

Rating: - Xmas Present

Bought for a Xmas present and they were very pleased with it, you cannot go wrong with a classic old film that everybody knows and young children are happy to find out about and the Collector's Edition was the icing on the Xmas cake

Rating: - Family fun

I thought this would seem very dated but as we had plans to go to see the Chitty Chitty Show on Boxing Day with the grandchildren thought it worth a try. My little 2 year old grand daughter didn't watch it from beginning to end but she did keep an eye on it as she played with her lego and joined in shouting at the "bad men" and loved watching the car both in the water and flying. Still have to try it out on the slightly older children but I'm quite sure they will enjoy it. My husband even objected when I turned it off part way through as he was watching it! Dated? Well of course it is but still good value for money so very pleased with my purchase.

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