FREE: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition) [VHS] (1968)

The listing, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition) [VHS] (1968) has ended.

This remastered, pan-and-scan 30th-anniversary edition of that kiddie-car caper is flawed but solid family fare. It retains a quaint charm while some of the songs--including the title tune--are quite hummable. A huge plus is Dick Van Dyke, who is extremely appealing as an eccentric inventor around the turn of the century. With nimble fingers and a unique way of looking at the world, he invents for his children a magic car that floats and flies. Or does he? The special effects are tame by today's standards, and the film is about 20 minutes too long--but its enthusiasm charms. The script was cowritten by Roald Dahl and based on the novel by Ian Fleming, best known for his James Bond adventures. --Rochelle O'Gorman

# Actors: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries, Benny Hill, Gert Fröbe
# Directors: Ken Hughes
# Writers: Ken Hughes, Ian Fleming, Richard Maibaum, Roald Dahl
# Producers: Albert R. Broccoli, Stanley Sopel
# Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, THX
# Rated: G (General Audience)
# Number of tapes: 1
# Studio: MGM Home Entertainment
# VHS Release Date: October 20, 1998
# Run Time: 144 minutes