Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Director:

Ken Hughes

Writers:

Ian Fleming (novel)
Roald Dahl (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 December 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy | Musical | Fantasy

Tagline:

The most fantasmagorical musical entertainment in the history of everything!

Plot:

A hapless inventor finally finds success with a flying car, which a dictator from a foreign government sets out to take for himself.

Plot Keywords:

Car | Children | Inventor | Baron | Candy

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Dick Van Dyke	...	Caractacus Potts
Sally Ann Howes	...	Truly Scrumptious
Lionel Jeffries	...	Grandpa Potts
Gert Fröbe	...	Baron Bomburst (as Gert Frobe)
Anna Quayle	...	Baroness Bomburst
Benny Hill	...	Toymaker
James Robertson Justice	...	Lord Scrumptious
Robert Helpmann	...	Child Catcher
Heather Ripley	...	Jemima Potts
Adrian Hall	...	Jeremy Potts
Barbara Windsor	...	Blonde at Fair
Davy Kaye	...	Admiral
Alexander Doré	...	Herman the 1st Spy (as Alexander Dore)
Bernard Spear	...	Sherman the 2nd Spy
Stanley Unwin	...	Chancellor
Peter Arne	...	Captain of Guard
Desmond Llewelyn	...	George Coggins
Victor Maddern	...	Junkman
Arthur Mullard	...	Big Man at Fair
Ross Parker	...	Chef
Gerald Campion	...	1st Minister
Felix Felton	...	2nd Minister
Monti DeLyle	...	3rd Minister (as Monti de Lyle)
Totti Truman Taylor	...	Duchess
Larry Taylor	...	Lieutenant
Max Bacon	...	Orchestra Leader
Max Wall	...	Inventor
John Heawood	...	Inventor
Michael Darbyshire	...	Inventor
Kenneth Waller	...	Inventor
Gerald Taylor	...	Inventor
Eddie Davis	...	Inventor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Audreson	...	Peter (uncredited)
Theo Aygar	...	4th Minister (uncredited)
John Baskcomb	...	Castle Chef (uncredited)
Eunice Black	...	Courtier (uncredited)
Phil Collins	...	Vulgarian child (uncredited)
Sadie Corre	...	Field Worker (uncredited)
John Crocker	...	Under Chef (uncredited)
Gabrielle Daye	...	Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Soldier at Castle (uncredited)
Gary Graham	...	Child in Castle (uncredited)
Kay Hamilton	...	3rd Duchess (uncredited)
Miranda Hampton	...	Scullery Maid (uncredited)
Robert Jenner	...	Field Worker (uncredited)
Nigel Kingsley	...	Child in Castle (uncredited)
Connel Miles	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Roy Murray	...	Fairground Barker (uncredited)
Grace Newcombe	...	2nd Duchess (uncredited)
Dickie Owen	...	Major Domo (uncredited)
Colin Rix	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Jessie Robins	...	Pastry Cook (uncredited)
Joseph Ross	...	Child in Castle (uncredited)
Peter Ross	...	Child in Castle (uncredited)
Janette Rowsell	...	Scullery Maid (uncredited)
John Ruddock	...	Minister of Finance (uncredited)
Rosetta Tropea	...	Child at the Fair (uncredited)
Richard Wattis	...	Secretary at Sweet Factory (uncredited)
Jeannette Wild	...	Minor Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Ken Hughes

Writing credits
Ian Fleming		(novel)
Roald Dahl		(screenplay) &
Ken Hughes		(screenplay)
Richard Maibaum		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
Albert R. Broccoli	....	producer
Stanley Sopel	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Irwin Kostal

Cinematography by
Christopher Challis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Shirley

Production Design by
Ken Adam

Art Direction by
Harry Pottle

Costume Design by
Joan Bridge		(colour costume designer)
Elizabeth Haffenden		(colour costume designer)

Production Management
David Middlemas	....	production supervisor
Hubert Fröhlich	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gus Agosti	....	assistant director
Richard Taylor	....	second unit director

Art Department
Robert W. Laing	....	assistant art director (as Bob Laing)
Peter Lamont	....	assistant art director
Jack Stephens	....	associate art director
Michael White	....	assistant art director
John Chisholm	....	prop man (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Best Jr.	....	assistant sound editor
Fred Hynes	....	sound recordist
Harry Miller	....	dubbing editor
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Les Wiggins	....	dubbing editor
Maurice Askew	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound camera operator (uncredited)
Peter Lacey	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Anthony Sloman	....	assistant dialogue editor (uncredited)
Dan Wallin	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Wally Armitage	....	special effects crew
Jimmy Harris	....	special effects crew
Garth Inns	....	special effects crew
John Stears	....	special effects
Jimmy Ward	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	matte effects
Roy Field	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Vic Armstrong	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
George Leech	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Mike Reid	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Harris	....	camera operator
John Jordan	....	aerial cameraman
Skeets Kelly	....	cameraman: second unit
Martin Body	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Mike Fox	....	focus puller: second unit (uncredited)
George Pink	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jackie Cummins	....	wardrobe supervisor
Keeley 'Wyn' Ellen Winifred	....	wardrobe mistress (uncredited)

Music Department
Marc Breaux	....	stager: musical numbers
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Irwin Kostal	....	conductor
Irwin Kostal	....	music supervisor
Dee Dee Wood	....	stager: musical numbers
Irwin Kostal	....	musical director (uncredited)
Irwin Kostal	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Albert R. Broccoli	....	presenter
Rowland Emett	....	creator: Potts inventions
Frank Ernst	....	location manager
Peter R. Hunt	....	production associate (as Peter Hunt)
Angela Martelli	....	continuity
Antonia Ellis	....	double: Sally Ann Howes (uncredited)
Peter R. Hunt	....	title sequence (uncredited)
Peter Ross	....	stand-in: Adrian Hall (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dramatic Features (as A Warfield - D.F.I. Picture)
• Warfield (made by) (as Warfield Productions)

Distributors

• United Artists (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (released thru)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• UA (1968) (Japan) (theatrical)
• United Artists Films (1969) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1969) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Artistes Associés)
• CBS/Fox (video)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Fox Video (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1984) (Finland) (TV)
• Scanvideo (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Time-Life Video (video)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• Crest Digital  restoration work
• Ford Motor Company  grateful acknowledgements
• Ford Motor Company  the producer gratefully acknowledges the assistance and co-operation of (as The Ford Motor Company)
• Todd-AO Studios  recorded at (as Todd-AO)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

144 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:o.Al. | Sweden:Btl (cut) (1969) | Portugal:M/6 | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Norway:5 (video rating) | Norway:7 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 (original rating) | UK:U | USA:G (Approved No. 21682)

Filming Locations:

Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Dramatic Features

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of the stage musical "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" opened at the Hilton Theater in New York on April 28, 2005 and ran for 285 performances.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The locomotive overtaken by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the main song sequence is a J94 "Austerity" Saddle Tank locomotive. It has the legend "GWR" (Great Western Railway) on the side. The J94 type of engine was not built until WW2, well after the period the film is set, and no J94s were ever operated by the Great Western Railway. Also, the GWR livery was a deep green, not blue as shown.

Quotes:

Truly Scrumptious:Is that all you do Mr. Potts, invent things?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Starlet! (1969)

Soundtrack:

Lovely Lonely Man

Great Comic and Fantasy Film

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was one of those films from my childhood that I never outgrew. Every song, every outrageous comic moment tattooed itself on my memory and my heart. I love this film. It's funny, it's touching and it's beautifully made. True, it's not for the cynical or for those who want realism. For those, however, who seek adventure, comedy, great songs and most of all fun this classic 60's musical delivers it all in great style. A truly fun family film, although very small children may not be able to sit still through the entire movie (even with the Intermission). CCBB will always be at the top of my favourite movie list. Do yourself a favour if you like fun musical comedies and see Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes do some truly scrumptious work.