Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[PaulYukochan]

Does anyone else feel disturbed by remembering watching this as a child? I really didn't like this film, but i watched it every Christmas. DO you think the mass child hunting/kidnapping/slavery would get past the censors now?

[andy hughes]

I think the balance of the film is firmly in favour of the strong relationship between Caractacus Potts and his children, and that children even at an early age grasp the concept of good and evil as it is portrayed in this film. Good always wins, and the Child Catcher has no redeeming features (even physical!) at all, which helps to reinforce the fantasy aspect of the story, which small children are able to understand. There is an element of subjecting ourselves to unpleasant experiences that is in-built in us all - horror films and fairground rides have been exploiting this aspect of our psychology for years now, and I think you are an exception in not enjoying CCBB, although you continued to watch it, which does underline my point.

[simon_says]

The Child Catcher certainly had me hiding behind the sofa - and that was only last week!! Seriously, when I think about CCBB I only ever remember the child catcher, so, any psycho-analysts out there, what does that say about me?

[flirty41]

I agree with simon_says - all I remember from that *extremely* long film was the Child Catcher with his handsome good looks and winning personality and poor Benny HIll playing the petrified Toy Maker. And there was an 'interlude' halfway through the film - just as Chitty was just about to drive off the edge of the cliff - now that *was* a cliff-hanger! Hey, and did you know, the girl who played Jemima (who is obviously grown up now), recently nicked a pint off our own Tartanwizard! Not so sweet and innocent as she looked then!