Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Do you know the answer? World War II Naval Commander Ian Fleming wrote the books based on James Bond, and wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for his son Caspar. The book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, was first published in 1964.

In a nutshell (not literally), eccentric inventor Professor Caractacus Potts sells his invented candies to the owner of a candy making factory-Lord Scrumptous. With the money, Mr. Potts build a fantastic flying and floating car that takes them on daring adventures. In the end, Mr. Potts, his girlfriend-Truly Scrumptous, and others help free a group of children held captive by Baron and Baroness Bomburst.

Thanks to Annteebee for the picture!

Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Oh you pretty
Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, we love you.
And our pretty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang loves us too.
High, Low, Anywhere we go, on Chitty Chitty we depend
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend

Your sleek as a thorough bred
Your seats are a feather bed
You turn everybody's head today

We'll glide on our motortrip
With pride in our ownership
The envy in all we survey

Oh Chitty, you Chitty, pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you,
And Chitty our Chitty, pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang loves us to

High Chitty, low Chitty, anywhere we go
On Chitty Chitty we depend
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend(hold).

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Fine four fendered Chitty Chitty friend.

So what about those contraptions? They were all actually invented by Frederick Roland Emett.
I saw the egg one in Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in San Antonio Texas. That was the highlight of my visit there! I don't know if it's still there, but if you live in San Antonio, let me know.

Some of Roland's inventions are on display at the Ontario Science Centre

Lionel Jeffries who played Granpa Potts was a year younger than Dick Van Dyke.

Robert Helpmann who played that wicked Child-Catcher was a favorite with the two child actors who played Jeremy and Jemima.

The song Hushabye Mountain was sung by Dakota Fanning in the movie, War of the Worlds.

In the flying scenes, a partial car was built onto a helicopter!

Picture upper right is that of Robert Helpmann

Rothenburg ob der Tauber! Yes, the village of Vulgaria scenes, including the Child-Catcher scene in the clip above were filmed in this beautiful city, and it still looks the same today. I know this because I visited this city when I lived in Bavaria.

Rothenburg was also the inspiration for the village in Pinnochio.

You're my little chu-chi face
My coo-chi, coo-chi, woo-chi little chu-chi face
Every time I look at you I sigh
And you're my little teddy bear
My lovey lovey dovey little teddy bear
You're the apfel strudel of mine eye
Your chu-chi woo-chi nose
Your chu-chi woo-chi eyes
They set my heart a flutter
Your ooo-chi coo-chi ways
Your ooo-chi coo-chi gaze
Wilts me down like meltings butter
You're my little chu-chi face
And you're my teddy bear
Together we're a chu-chi woo-chi ooo-chi coo-chi pair
Whatever you may ask becomes my happy task
I only live to serve you
I never will divine what magic made you mine
I only know I don't deserve you
You're my little chu-chi face
And you're my teddy bear
Together we're a chu-chi woo-chi, ooo-chi coo-chi
Chu-chi, Woo-chi, Ooo-chi, Coo-chi pair
Chu-chi
Woo-chi
Ooo-chi
Coo-chi pair

The Bomburst Castle in Vulgaria is Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

The captured child "Peter" is the uncredited actor Michael Audreson.

Coggins, who sells the car to Caractacus Potts, is played by Desmond Llewelyn, the same actor who plays Q from the James Bond films, and Baron Bomburst is played by Gert Fröbe, who is the villain in Goldfinger.

The Film version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is different from the book. The film version was written by Ronald Dahl, who wrote the books: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach.

What do you see
You people gazing at me
You see a doll on a music box
That's wound by a key
How can you tell
I'm under a spell
I'm waiting for love's first kiss
You cannot see
How much I long to be free
Turning around on this music box
That's wound by a key
Yearning
Yearning
While
I'm turning around and around
What do you see
(Truly Scrumptious)
You people gazing at me
(you're truly truly scrumptious)
You see a doll on a music box, that's wound by a key
(scrumptious a...)
How can you tell I'm
(whe...)
Under a spell I'm
(...)
Waiting for love's first kiss
(honest truly, your the answer to my wishes)
You cannot see
(Truly Scrumptious)
How much I long to be free
(though I may seem presumptuous)
Turning around on this music box that's wound by a key
(ne..)
Yearning
(my heart beats so unruly)
Yearning
(because I love you truly)
While I'm turning around and around)
(honest, Truly I do)

A gentle breeze from hushabye mountain
Softly blows o'er lullaby bay
It fills the sails of boats that are waiting
Waiting to sail your worries away

It isn't far to hushabye mountain
And your boat waits down by the key
The winds of night so softly are sighing
Soon they will fly your troubles to sea

So close your eyes on hushabye mountain
Wave goodbye to cares of the day
And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain
Sail far away from lullaby bay