MovieChat Forums > Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Discussion > I do love it, but.....

I do love it, but.....

posted 17 years ago by Karen-vinter
58 replies | jump to latest

Is it me, or could this film do with some judicious editing?!

It's a great kids film, but not really considered a great musical film. Is this because of the quality of the songs? The storyline? The acting? No, I think it's because it could easily lose 30 mins without too much damage to the story.

Watching it today, I was amazed to find that the Potts family don't even reach Vulgaria until ONE HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES IN!!

Personally I think the start is way too slow with far too much scene-setting - I would definitely lose the first rendition of Hushaby Mountain; the awfully tedious Lovely Lonely Man (giving Sally the second rendition of Hushaby Mountain to sing instead); cut down the beach scene and most of the spy footage; cut the Roses of Success. And maybe more too! Not every single emotion felt needs a song sung about it - a lot can be suggested with a look or a smile.

I know that there's a lot of great stuff there that I've just suggested could have been out, and of course we all treasure those scenes now we know about them, but I feel it would have made the film flow a lot better if they'd been lost in the original edit.

Anyone else feel it drags in places? Compare it to Mary Poppins, which is only slightly shorter but is paced a lot better in my opinion.

[–] jatrius 17 years ago

Agree totally. Endured rather than enjoyed the movie as a seven year old, the first time it did the rounds in the cinema. watching it as a grown up I can enjoy it far more but it still drags at times.

[–] crouchend 17 years ago

Absolutely agree. Your suggested cuts are spot on.

[–] Chelocean_Jewel 17 years ago

I dunno. I'm 18 and I think movies are far too rushed nowawdays, and really enjoy the length of it. I wouldn't cut anything, but I do see your point, sorta.

[–] summitnax 17 years ago

No way! This film is a classice and perfect in everyway.

[–] annemal33 16 years ago

Totally agree. My husband couldn't believe I had never seen this movie, so we began watching it last night. After an hour, when I found we weren't even half-way through, I realized I would need to partition it into two viewing sessions, as I was growing horribly restless. My husband seems to rank it en par with Mary Poppins, but that film didn't lag like Chitty.

[–] mit800 15 years ago

The whole spy sequence could`ve been cut and the film probably would be held in higher regard. Judicious cuts could have made the film a real classic. Mary Poppins is a true classic.

Dorothy stop that, Mr. Ha Ha`s lookin at you!!

[–] mikwalen 15 years ago

Well, I love LOVELY LONELY MAN way, way too much to cut that scene. I always liked the way that the frenetic pace of the previous scene (car / boat chase, firing cannons, etc) gave way to this quiet little scene with someone expressing a deeply felt emotion. Granted, the scene could have been cut with no damage to the story line, but it's such a beautiful song, and beatifully shot.

"Cut the ballet. It stinks anyway"

[–] mit800 15 years ago

i agree!!

Dorothy stop that, Mr. Ha Ha`s lookin at you!!

[–] chimes27 15 years ago

this movie just sucks. i even hated it as a kid

latest movies seen:
Choke
The Graduate

[–] mikwalen 15 years ago

So, why would you bother to even post that comment? You're actually in a minority here.

"Cut the ballet. It stinks anyway"

[–] TheLittleSongbird 15 years ago

BETHANY COX
"Music comes from within, from your heart and from your soul."

I absolutely love this film, but I think they could have simplified the spy scene. They got a bit tiresome. That's my only problem with the movie.

[–] miz bell 15 years ago

Hushabye Mountain is one of my favorites!

Dick Van Dyke always looked like such a great dad- plus it does add some character. He's not just some crackpot inventor who doesn't think about his kids.

I love the Sherman brothers and think most of the songs are top notch but...

I WOULD cut:

- Roses of Success song with the old, bearded men
- Posh! with Grandpa Potts in the flying house
- those damn spies

I fast forward those whenever I watch it. I'd love to be able to edit those right out myself. I think it would be a better movie for it.

[–] cliffcarson-1 15 years ago

It would be a CRIME to cut HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN. That's considered by many as the best song in the show. Likewise, LOVELY LONELY MAN is a beautiful melody and it becomes the theme for the growing relationship between Potts and Truly Scrumptious. It's also a beautifully shot number. It establishes Truly's growing affection for Potts. NO, I would NEVER cut it. That number is a slow ballad and there are only two in the film. HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN and LOVELY LONELY MAN are the two best songs in the score.

On the other hand, there could be some cutting with the spy's, but after years of repeated viewing, it would be a shame to cut any of it.

Chitty Bang Bang starts out with the children and by and large in the first half is told by their point of view.
By contrast, the children in MARY POPPINS aren't introduced into the story for about 15 minutes.

I have MANY friends who tell me their children cannot sit through MARY POPPINS, that IT drags.

[–] mikwalen 15 years ago

Cliff, you have great taste!!!!

I agree that cutting either HUSHABYE or LOVELY LONELY MAN would be bad. They are two beautiful melodies, and as you say, both are shot wonderfully – especially LLM. I like how they balance out the comical, action packed sequences with two adults expressing emotion.

"Samantha! You picked a lemon in the garden of love!"

[–] cliffcarson-1 15 years ago

AND THEY CUT Lovely Lonely Man from the PLAY??? I just saw it in Costa Mesa over the weekend. In it's place is a dumb duet sung by the spy's and an equally unmemorable song called TEAM WORK. In the play Truly Scrumptious doesn't even have her own song. Her namesake song is sung TO HER to which she sings one little chorus. I spoke to Richard Sherman about it and he said they thought the LLM song would slow down the play. PLEASE!! Would you say that about AS LONG AS HE NEEDS ME in OLIVER! or MARIA in WEST SIDE STORY or the song OUT OF MY DREAMS from OKLAHOMA or IF I LOVED YOU from CAROUSEL? I could go on, but you get the point. Chitty is a children's piece. It needs to be elevated somewhat in the sophistication department, not dumbed down with spy's. The play was a complete disappointment.

HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN and LOVELY LONELY MAN are the ballads of the piece.

http://cliffcarson.com/HOME.html

[–] miz bell 15 years ago

thanks for the heads up about Costa Mesa production. I was initially excited to see it but reviews have changed my mind. I would like to see Mary Poppins however.

[–] GabzGirl 15 years ago

Um...I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang yesterday afternoon at Theatre Royal in Plymouth, the last performance. And they TOTALLY kept the Lovely Lonely Man song! Obviously it was shorter, and it was sneaked into the scene in the toyshop in Vulgaria. But it was still lovely, and I'm VERY happy they didn't cut it out as I love that song too. I also enjoyed the whole musical overall. It was very good and in some ways better than the movie even!

I never thought Chitty Chitty Bang Bang dragged on when I was younger. Maybe that's because I'm so fond of it though. I like Mary Poppins, but that one definitely dragged on at some points, to me.

[–] mikwalen 15 years ago

Yes, Cliff, I agree that cutting LLM in the show was a bad move. I bought the cast album with Michael all in 2002 when the show first appeared in London, but before I actually saw the show. What a disappointment!! Later, when they moved the show to Broadway (where I admit I saw it several times), they dropped the song again – even though they tweaked the show a bit. I completely agree with your assessment that the addition of LLM and HUSHABYE elevates the show / movie into something that the adults can relate to. If I ever had the chance to meet Mr. Sherman, I would tell him that LLM is one of the loveliest pieces of music that he and his brother ever wrote and that I wished that it was included in the stage score.

And in reply to GabzGirl – I, too, never thought that the movie “dragged” when I was a 5 year old, seeing it in the movies. Even as a little one, I loved LLM and HUSHABYE.
I’d love to know how the production that you saw in Plymouth managed to work in LLM! I wonder if they needed special permission.

"Samantha! You picked a lemon in the garden of love!"

[–] photoenthusiast 15 years ago

As an adult, which I guess most of us here are, I enjoy the sentiment of LOVELY LONELY MAN, and it is a beautiful, thoughtful moment in an otherwise mostly slapstick movie. However, as a child I found it boring, mainly because it takes so long to get to the action, and then the movie comes to a complete halt at that point. Conversely, I've always loved HUSHABYE MOUNTAIN - both the first and the second versions, and wouldn't cut either one. I would have pared down the spy schtick, as it is a bit overdone (and I felt that way as child AND adult). Interestingly enough, I didn't much care for ME OL' BAMBOO when I was a kid, but I love it today. The only song I find dull both then and now is POSH. (POSH is much better done in the new musical, in my opinion).

On a related note, I also just saw the stage adaptation in Costa Mesa, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I already had the cast recording, and read several reviews ahead of time, so I was prepared for the changes. It doesn't bother me too much about losing LOVELY LONELY MAN, although Truly doesn't get a solo number, except for the first part of DOLL ON A MUSIC BOX. I did not particularly like the ACT ENGLISH number, which was given to the Spies. It was difficult to make out the lyrics, considering they were using heavy 'Vulgarian' accents and/or a parody of what vulgarians considered to be British accents. And TEAMWORK was fine where it was in the second act, but I didn't think it needed to be incorporated into the opening scene.

If all that makes it sound like a disappointment, it was actually a splendid production overall. The live orchestra and singing was genuinely exciting, not to mention the spectacular flying car! I took my 9 year old nephew, who enjoyed every minute. (He actually still sings TEAMWORK, of all things). You just have to accept that the intended audience is indeed children and families. We must remember that even the movie had it's share of detractors back in 1968.

So back to the original post, I agree the movie could use SOME cutting, not much, but mainly in the comedy with the spies, and perhaps the whole POSH scene.

"Well now, that's too bad! You must come from a dreadful family...."

[–] dcsh123 15 years ago

One thing to remember, (or learn, depending on your age) is that this movie was made during the days of Intermissions. In the theaters, it had an intermission, as did Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Doctor Doolittle, etc. Many movies during that time period, actually. Especially movie musicals. So while it's long by today's standards, at the time the intermission helped break it up.

In fact, I distinctly remember when, as a child, I came to the realization that they weren't putting in intermissions anymore.... Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I was probably around 10 when I saw that, and remember being mad that I hadn't gotten a drink or candy before the movie, because I thought I would get it at intermission, and there was none.

[–] mikwalen 15 years ago

Very true! I remember seeing Chitty when I was five, when it came to the neighborhood theaters after it finished its "road show" engagements. In the neighborhood theaters, they didn't include the intermission. The movie just zipped along.

However, I *do* recall seeing FIDDLER ON THE ROOF in its road-show engagemennt in NYC at the Rivoli Theater. There definitely was an intermission.

I think it was so much nicer then...the films were classy and it was like going to the theater.

"Samantha! You picked a lemon in the garden of love!"

[–] mahoma2 15 years ago

The last two posters must be about the same age as I am!!!

I remember seing 'The Sound of Music' on a military base in Munich about 1968 (a few years after its originl release..I know) when I was 6 years old....and for some reason I will always remember its intermission following Maria's putting the card (goodbye note) on a small table near the grand door....the music builds and she leaves...(you know, to go back to the abby). That is the last 'Intermission' (and really the only one) I remember.

In 1969, when we returned to the states and I was 7, My mother, father and I went to a double feature at the drive-in: 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and 'Romeo and Juliet'. I was supposed to fall asleep in the back seat of the 'station wagon' after 'Chitty' but Olivia Hussy's (Juliet) crying woke be up and I kept peeking...the love scenes were a little racy, I guess..but pretty tame today!

Oh, and leave all the great classic songs where they belong. I remember on tv in the late 70s, 80s and 90s, how they always Would cut 'Lonly Man'...and it always bugged me. But then the looooonnnggg introduction with all the car-race scenes bored me a bit when I was younger...but I like it now.

Thanks God for the great family movies like 'Chitty', 'Poppins' Wonka', 'Oliver!' and the likes.

Some scenes could be a bit frightening, but I always felt 'Clean' after viewing...unlike, say, anything from 'Family Guy' (who just used 'The Ole Bamboo' song from 'Chitty' to promote 'Pot Leagalization' ?!?!?!

[–] robble-1 14 years ago

Gotta say I always forward through Lovely Lonely Man. Sorry.

But I always loved Me Ole Bamboo and Posh and Roses of Success. Those are fun songs. Although I guess Posh and Roses don't really forward the story line much, but still lots of fun to belt out in the shower! X-D

"I see the people from the big jet plane. The woman looks Teutonic. She drinks a vodka tonic ... "

[–] shandy8 14 years ago

I agree that this movie is too long, but I wouldn't change it (certainly not remove "The Roses of Success"). Big musical films of that era were traditionally overblown. "Mary Poppins", for example is a long movie whose third act seems to be for the parents of the little ones who have fallen asleep.

I have always loved "1776" and was thrilled when the laserdisc was released years ago with added scenes.

"Chitty..." is overly long, and it would have been better had it been 'streamlined'; however, it is what it is. I would love it if 'lost footage' were ever to be discovered.

[–] cliffcarson-1 14 years ago

Oh I disagree. The LOVELY LONELY MAN number is the LOVE song of the picture. It's a beautiful melody and Sally Ann Howes is gorgeous to look at. That number also elevates the film to a more classier status.

I do think your comment about it being considered a great kids film, but not a great musical. It still remains the most expensive Children's musical ever produced;

me
http://www.cliffcarson.com