DON�T JUST GO TO GRANDMA�S THIS THANKSGIVING, JOURNEY TO DISTANT LANDS IN A FLYING CAR WITH ABC FAMILY�S PRESENTATION OF �CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG�
Burbank, CA (November 7, 2006) � Thanksgiving time is full of pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce and spending time with family. And this Thanksgiving ABC Family is giving families a chance to relax and digest together while watching the classic film CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, Thursday, Nov. 23 (8:00 � 11:00 PM ET/PT). The beloved 1968 classic MGM film, featuring the Academy Award� nominated title song and starring Dick Van Dyke, spins a fantastical tale about a dreamer and the story he weaves for his children.
Once a great European racing car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang had better days but has now found itself in an English junk yard ready to be scrapped when two children, Jemima and Jeremy, convince their inventor (and fantastic story teller) father Caractacus Potts (Van Dyke) to purchase it for their use. After a major overhaul, Caractacus turns Chitty into a magical car that could not only sail the seas, but could also fly, or so Caractacus says. While on an afternoon picnic the children spot a boat off the coast, to which Caractacus spins a tale about an evil man named Baron Bomburst from the land of Vulgaria who sees Chitty and wants it for himself. Thus begins a fun tale of adventure punctuated by rich musical numbers, as Caractacus, the children and the lovely Miss Turly Scrumptious must save Grandpa, Chitty and the inhabitants of Vulgaria from the dark reign of Baron Bomburst.
CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG was directed by Ken Hughes (�Casino Royale�) and produced by Albert R. Broccoli (�Goldfinger�), choreographed by Dee Dee Wood (�Mary Poppins�) with original music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (�Mary Poppins�). Based on the novel by Ian Fleming (James Bond books), the film was written by Roald Dahl (�Charlie and the Chocolate Factory�) and Ken Hughes.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Fun Film Facts
Nothing will dazzle your siblings, friends or future in-laws like trivia about this classic film. How many of them could know that it was the creator of suave, sophisticated James Bond who also came up with the eccentric Caractacus Potts?
� Did you know that in 1961 writer Ian Fleming took a break from compose the tales of England�s greatest spy (James Bond) to take a crack at a children�s book? That book was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
� The name of the book and film came from the sound the car makes when its engine ticked over.
� It was a truly international production shot in England, the south of France, Bavaria, and the foot of the Alps on the Bavarian-Austrian border.
� Chitty Chitty Bang Bang took 28 weeks to film.
� The film made musical history by including 22 flutes in the 85-piece orchestra for the arrangement of �Toots Sweets,� which was achieved by borrowing every flautist from every symphony in London.
� Actor Dick Van Dyke is the only American actor in the cast. It was also Van Dyke�s first film produced outside of America.
� In the novel version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the character of Caractacus is married. The character of Truly Scrumptious was added for the film.
� Lionel Jeffries, who portrays Grandpa Potts, is actually four years younger than Dick Van Dyke. With the use of special make-up Jeffries had to aged up to look the part of Grandpa.
� During the filming of the musical number �Toot Sweets� Van Dyke ripped a leg muscle which put him on the sidelines for six weeks.
� For the movie, production used four different Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs. One to float in the water, one for all of the driving scenes, one for the flying scenes and a miniature one to be used for special effects.
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