Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

About this Broadcast

Eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts rescues an old car from the scrapheap, only to discover it has magical, gravity-defying powers. Meanwhile, Baron Bomburst, the blundering ruler of Vulgaria, will do anything to get his greedy hands on it. Children's musical adventure, based on the book by Ian Fleming, starring Dick Van Dyke, Lionel Jeffries, Sally Ann Howes, Gert Frobe, Benny Hill and James Robertson Justice

1968 HD subtitles 16x9 audio-description

Adventure Family Fantasy Literary Adaptation Movie/Drama Music/Ballet/Dance Musical

Cast & Crew

Dick Van Dyke (Actor) .. Caractacus Potts

Lionel Jeffries (Actor) .. Grandpa Potts

Sally Ann Howes (Actor) .. Truly Scrumptious

Gert Frobe (Actor) .. Baron Bomburst

Benny Hill (Actor) .. Toy-maker

James Robertson Justice (Actor) .. Lord Scrumptious

Anna Quayle (Actor) .. Baroness Bomburst

Robert Helpmann (Actor) .. Child Catcher

Heather Ripley (Actor) .. Jemima

Ken Hughes (Director)

More Information

Did You Know..

Dick Van Dyke (Actor) .. Caractacus Potts

Born: December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri

Best Known For: Mary Poppins.

Early-life: Richard Wayne Van Dyke was born on December 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri, but was raised in Danville, Illinois. He became interested in show business at an early age after watching Laurel and Hardy movies at his local cinema. Stan Laurel was his hero, and they later became friends. He acted in amateur productions in his teens but, after entering the US Air Force during the Second World War, he ditched plans to become a performer, toyed with the idea of being a minister, then set up an advertising agency.

Career: After his business failed, Van Dyke was a radio announcer for a local station and performed comedy routines. His popularity led to him being signed by CBS. After making his TV acting debut in The Phil Silvers Show, he hosted several long-forgotten game shows before hitting the big time with Broadway hits The Girls Against the Boys and Bye Bye Birdie. That led to The Dick Van Dyke Show, which was a smash hit and ran for five years. Among his other famous projects are Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Van Dyke and Company, and Diagnosis Murder. He continues to act.

Quote: "I never wanted to be an actor and to this day I don't. I can't get a handle on it. An actor wants to become someone else. I am a song-and-dance man and I enjoy being myself, which is all I can do."

Trivia: He overcame alcoholism in the 1970s and was a heavy smoker for 50 years.