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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
Review: I enjoyed the movie!...Visually I was blown away by all the elaborate sets, and all the little details that went into each scene. OMG, this film deserved an Oscar for set design, maybe it won one? But I'm too lazy to go and look. (OK I just looked it wasn't even nominated for set design....booo!)
I bet this movie cost a fortune to make! I'm actually surprised they would have spent all the time and money shooting the opening Gran Prix races with vintage cars. Which was impressive looking, but, if I was the executive producer controlling the purse strings I would have said no, it's not needed. I would have started the movie in the junk yard with the kids in the old junk car. But, I'm glad those race scenes are included, just surprised.
I'm even more surprised that they used a real dirigible airship. How cool is that! We get so use to modern day movie magic and CG effects, that we can take for granted what we're seeing on the scene. I know I do, so I ran the DVD back and watched that scene twice, and it looks like they really lifted Owen Jefferies (Grandpa) up in the air as he's answer nature's call. They must have used a crane to do that. Damn impressive! But all of the movie is impressive.
That's a real castle they visit and the aerial shots of it are speculator! The castle is King Ludwig II's castle at Neuschwanstein, located at the foot of the Alps, Germany and the airship is visible in the courtyard. I assume that's real too.
I like to know how many major sets they used. The inside of the candy factory was massive and reminded me of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. Not surprising the writer of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Roald Dahl also wrote: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory(1971), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005) &
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009).
I couldn't help but to think that the leading lady (Sally Ann Howes) was Julie Andrews' twin. Not only did she look like her, but she clearly was doing an imitation of Miss Andrews. Not surprising that the role of Truly Scrumptious was originally offered to Julie Andrews, who turned it down. Interesting to note that Sally Ann Howes replaced Julie Andrews in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady when Andrews left the show. Sally Ann Howes was good in this movie and no doubt felt the presences of the larger than life Andrews looming over her parasol. I enjoyed her songs and she was fine but to be honest she lacked charisma
That's probably not her fault, as the director Ken Hughes was noted for being an action director and disliked kids and so was out of his element here. He himself didn't like the movie and Dick Van Dyke is on record saying he didn't get along with the director or the producer.
As much as I liked this, I thought both leads were lack luster and didn't have much chemistry. The movie is amazing visually and has lots of fine moments, some great songs, but the emotional elevation that films like Mary Poppins brings to the game is missing.
Still a fun adventorus movie and a great technical and visual film.
Director: Ken Hughes
Writers: Ian Fleming (novel), Roald Dahl (screenplay)
Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Length: 2 hours 24 minutes
About: A hap hazard inventor who's near penniless, takes a wrecked ex race car and through the magic of his inventions enables the car to float on water and even fly. After grandfather is abducted by evil agents from a foreign country, the inventor, his girlfriend and his kids fly off for a grand adventure. CR
Writers: Ian Fleming (novel), Roald Dahl (screenplay)
Stars: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries
Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Length: 2 hours 24 minutes
About: A hap hazard inventor who's near penniless, takes a wrecked ex race car and through the magic of his inventions enables the car to float on water and even fly. After grandfather is abducted by evil agents from a foreign country, the inventor, his girlfriend and his kids fly off for a grand adventure. CR
I bet this movie cost a fortune to make! I'm actually surprised they would have spent all the time and money shooting the opening Gran Prix races with vintage cars. Which was impressive looking, but, if I was the executive producer controlling the purse strings I would have said no, it's not needed. I would have started the movie in the junk yard with the kids in the old junk car. But, I'm glad those race scenes are included, just surprised.
I'm even more surprised that they used a real dirigible airship. How cool is that! We get so use to modern day movie magic and CG effects, that we can take for granted what we're seeing on the scene. I know I do, so I ran the DVD back and watched that scene twice, and it looks like they really lifted Owen Jefferies (Grandpa) up in the air as he's answer nature's call. They must have used a crane to do that. Damn impressive! But all of the movie is impressive.
That's a real castle they visit and the aerial shots of it are speculator! The castle is King Ludwig II's castle at Neuschwanstein, located at the foot of the Alps, Germany and the airship is visible in the courtyard. I assume that's real too.
I like to know how many major sets they used. The inside of the candy factory was massive and reminded me of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. Not surprising the writer of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Roald Dahl also wrote: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory(1971), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005) &
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009).
I couldn't help but to think that the leading lady (Sally Ann Howes) was Julie Andrews' twin. Not only did she look like her, but she clearly was doing an imitation of Miss Andrews. Not surprising that the role of Truly Scrumptious was originally offered to Julie Andrews, who turned it down. Interesting to note that Sally Ann Howes replaced Julie Andrews in the Broadway production of My Fair Lady when Andrews left the show. Sally Ann Howes was good in this movie and no doubt felt the presences of the larger than life Andrews looming over her parasol. I enjoyed her songs and she was fine but to be honest she lacked charisma
That's probably not her fault, as the director Ken Hughes was noted for being an action director and disliked kids and so was out of his element here. He himself didn't like the movie and Dick Van Dyke is on record saying he didn't get along with the director or the producer.
As much as I liked this, I thought both leads were lack luster and didn't have much chemistry. The movie is amazing visually and has lots of fine moments, some great songs, but the emotional elevation that films like Mary Poppins brings to the game is missing.
Still a fun adventorus movie and a great technical and visual film.