Chitty Chitty Bang Bang [DVD] [1968]

This musical film is amazing.

Definitely one of the greatest British musicals that has never lost its charm and is appealing today as it has been to audiences since it was made. A great story line, beautiful music, catchy memorable songs, very funny at times with moments of pure slapstick comedy, beautiful English, French and German scenery and a touching love story to top it all. No dubbing was used for any of the songs as everyone who sang in the film used their own voice on the soundtrack. The film was made in Super Panavision 70mm., so it is very unusual that you get the best print outlay in the 4.3 format. This means the screen size is smaller with black horizontal tabs not only at the top and bottom of the screen (the 'letterbox' effect), but also down the side of the screen vertically. This still gives perfect picture quality and colour rendition and full size of the original 70mm. print, although you may not realise it. By all means, you can fill your tv screen using 'zoom' format, but you will lose some picture quality and full size of the frame. Don't try it, just enjoy it in the 4.3 format. The DVD shows the complete film with a very short but loud 'bang-bang' overture for a few seconds before the credits begin, then a short intermission and then the exit music. And the star of the show....the car! Enjoy!! David in Colchester.

Great price and fast service

Based on the novel written by James Bond creator Ian Flemming, this delightful fantasy charts the journey into the mysteriously childless world of Vulgaria by Caractacus Potts, his two children, Truly Scrumptious and super car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I think the main thing that makes this film work so well is that it has a little of everything to make a successful family movie. Catchy tunes at every turn, a fairy tale kingdom awash with colour, bonkers technology, and a little slice of wickedness involving class distinction. Split very much into two halves, Chitty at its core is really about forming a complete family. We are introduced to Caracatus (Dick Van Dyke) who is a single father, who is doing his best to raise his two children with moral fortitude. It's through the children's love of an old rusty car that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is born, and after pretty lady Truly Scrumptious (a gorgeous Sally Ann Howes) comes into their lives, all four of them enter the second half of the movie after having firmly capturing the audience's attention with a firming promise of a family in waiting. The second half of the picture then whisks us far away into fantasy territory. Vulagaria is ruled by crackers toy obsessive Baron Bomburst (Gert Fröbe in wonderful bacon sandwich mode), he has banned children, and naturally he has his sights set firmly on the magnificence that is Chitty Chitty. Bomburst sends out his child snatcher to nab Caracatus' kids in the hope of bargaining for the special car. The child snatcher played by Robert Helpman is as iconic as he is terrifying, wonky hat and pointy nose he lures children in with promises of sweets and treacle tarts, he thus became the invader of many a childs poor nightmares for sure. But this is a family film after all, and sure enough this splendid ride speeds to a joyous finale that is cloaked in colour and feel good eccentricity, yep, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang still works on repeat viewings. 8/10

I read other peoples comments on just how good the HD 1080 transfer to Blu Ray Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was. so i made the decision to get my own copy, to see if they were right. The colour reproduction and sound is almost as impressive as the film Zulu and i donot think there are many films on Blu Ray as fine as this one. Last night (9 Jan 2012) i had another critical look at the picture quality of this Blu Ray disc. The picture quality is remarkable to say the least, the litchen on the tiles of the garage roof where he assembles GEN11 can be seen in great detail with incredible sound quality to the accompanying music. Next to Zulu this BluRay disc is the best picture quality and sound i have experienced. Depending on equipment used i would love to know if there a finer quality picture available on Bluray. As it is to be expected the sound reproduction is magnificent in 7-1 Theatre Surround and the clarity and sharpness of picutre is almost perfect. Strangely enough because the picture and sound quality is so good i enjoyed the film far more than the standard dvd offering most of us are used to. When you can see and read background detail that before was unclear you enjoy the film so much more, you pause the film to see who is in the photographs in their livingroom and the billboards in the fairground and when the beautifull car fully restored makes its first appearence the shimmering light on GEN11 bodywork is gorgeous. Just pause the film at 52min 2sec and study the minute detail on the cars bodywork,the blades of grass as so clear and vivid you almost want to get up out of your chair and pick a handfull. I can still remember being taken by my mum to the now closed Plaza cinema in Cardiff the very week the film was released in 1968 when i was five yrs old, and even remember where in the auditorium i sat and i can remember going to Macross to be bought the original Corgi toy version of the car that same afternoon. Like all original Corgi toys i played and damaged them and who could blame me with no child thinking of keeping their toy as an investment. It is still an emotional event when Chitty makes her first appearence in the film and seeing GEN11 almost jump out of the screen in this Blu Ray transfer makes my memories of seeing the film back in 1968 that more special. One area of the film that looked especially impressive were the beach scenes filmed in the south of France where the grains of sand stood out as they should in 1080 quality. Now ive been told that not every Blu ray transfer is as successfull as others but anyone with a top quality HD tv and Blu Ray player should buy this film to see just how near perfect a Blu Ray transfer can be and remember it was made back in 1968 which makes it a fairly old film in modern cinema but as with his James Bond films Albert Broccoli the films director only used the finest film then available hence the stunning Blu Ray transfer we are lucky to see today. Any musical that can utilise 7-1 Surround sound to its advantage is bound to be a treat and this version of CCBB is on par with The Sound of Music faultless. When before i played the film very infrequently i can now see me playing this BluRay disc many times bcause the picture and sound is so good. Thank god for Blu Ray because when its this good its heaven.

This is a true adventure into the imagination. Pure and simple. It's uncategorical, a fuel burning oracle. For those who've reviewed this film as if they're looking for some kind of truth of life, or life-changing event from a film...grow up, and stop poohing on others' dreams. Movies aren't supposed to give you the answers to the universe; you're supposed to figure that out for yourself. Stop being so lazy. Movies are supposed to be pure escapism. They're intended to entertain you and feed the imagination so that, if you ever do grow up, you don't forget to stop and smell the flowers along your journey, and maybe take a little time to daydream--and that's what Chitty does, with imagination, kooky characters, and song all interposed in one wizardly keen daydream. I don't know what the Amazon description means by "flawed but solid family fare" as they didn't go into detail about what 'flaws' are held within the film. I found it truly entertaining and extrememly light-hearted fun for kids of any age, and I thumb my nose at anyone so 'old' that they think this is not good film-making. It's exactly what films are supposed to be for. It had an uplifting storyline about a poor inventor realizing his dreams, but who never loses site of the fact that the kids are the most important thing in his world. The songs were wonderful, except for Truly's song about Professsor Potts--and that only because I've never been fond of that high-pitched opera type singing, still, it didn't make me sick. And, whenever I get a little upset, I now find myself humming the theme song, or picture Dick Van Dyke doing the 'Old Bamboo' or even sing a little of Grandpa's 'Capitol P.O.S.H. Posh' and go for a walk, "Port out, starboard home!" and I instantly feel better. Buy it. Watch it with the kids, or alone. Take off your adult hat and set it aside for a bit. Try remember what it's like to daydream. You'll see what I mean.

na een zoektocht van 2 jaar ligt hij eindelijk in de kast niks beter dan dit origineel

Delivered well packed. The DVD played well with no issue. One of the best musical classics

Ottimo DVD. Il film è in Spagnolo ma ha anche l'audio in Italiano. L'oggetto è esattamente come descritto. L'audio in Spagnolo è molto utile perché mia moglie essendo di lingua spagnola ha apprezzato molto il film che gli è piaciuto e sopratutto ha capito i dialoghi nel suo idioma (Spagnolo)

Great for movie popcorn times with older grandchildren. Love the idea of flying car. People snatches might be a bit scary for younger so do not use age 4 down. Instead do Charlie Chocolate Factory - older one. Great price for a hard to find product. Prompt delivery Good Price. Thankyou