MovieChat Forums > Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) Discussion > How come the child catcher didn't have a...

How come the child catcher didn't have a catchy musical number?

posted 10 years ago by old-skool101
7 replies | jump to latest

Like the other characters in the movie.

Maybe he couldn't sing and dance.

It wasnt me, it was the other three. Hang them!

Maybe you haven't read Robert Helpmann's bio, he was very accomplished in theater and was a very good dancer. I don't know much about his singing voice but maybe they didn't want soften his character up with a musical number.

[–] wears-alan 10 years ago

Interesting.

It wasnt me, it was the other three. Hang them!

[–] movieperson113 9 years ago

I'm only guessing. But I think he was supposed to be scary and a hated character. So singing and dancing would have made him even a little bit likeable.

[–] laurence01 9 years ago

Exactly, it is also the reason why "My Name" was not used in Oliver

Let Zygons Be Zygons.

[–] velcronewsletter 9 years ago

sometimes it can make a character more comical and likeable. he needed to be as scary as possible

[–] greenbudgie 9 years ago

There aren't many good villain songs in musicals that I can think of. Sweeny Todd has a few. But I think the Child Catcher just has to look really mean. He is a formidable villain. Breaking into song perhaps just wouldn't have suited his character.