Question for adults and adults with children: opinion of film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

I'm gonna let you guys in on a secret, not to be a secret any longer:

I want to write a "making of" book about the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The book would be similar in scope to the book Pure Imagination about the movie Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It would give all the background of the real race car, Ian Fleming's book, the screenplay by Roald Dahl, the conversion into a musical, etc. etc. etc.

I've been a lifelong fan of the move ever since early childhood. I have fond memories of watching the movie all afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday. Google searches reveal blogs and bulletin boards where fans my age and younger still rave about the movie. I've seen mentions that say it's a "perrenial childhood favorite."

Yet there's no book about it.

So, since I'm unemployed, I thought I would start the preliminaries into seeing what I need to do to write this book. I'll have to have cooperation from MGM. I'll need access to their files, publicity photos, and anything else they may have on hand concerning the movie. I'll have to interview anyone associated with the movie who is still alive.

I started with a phone call to MGM's legal department. Someone from the office actually called me back last night. Blew me away. She said "everyone does love the film" and that a book like my proposed book would be interesting. She explained that I had to talk with the Film/Literary Rights department, which she gave me the person's name and number plus referral. I'll call that person today.

However, I need to present a strong case to this person that a book like this is needed for the movie's fans, and that it would also benefit MGM. I believe the book would boost sales of the DVD. And it would garner interest in the touring musical. The musical, btw, is currently touring in the United States. I hope to see it this May.

And there's even talk of a modern remake!

In presenting my case to the MGM person I have to convince her that modern audiences still love this movie and would be interested in the book.

So my question for you all is this: do you and your children dislike/like/love the movie and why? Do you think you would want to read a "making of" book?

I have spoken to people who say they like the film, but maybe this small poll will help make my case aside from saying that I've seen lots of talk around the web from people who like the movie.

If there's enough interest in the original film to garner a touring musical and remake, then there should be a book, I think. And I'm just the guy to write it, since no one else has.

Once I have written support from MGM saying that yes, they will grant me access to their files and cooperate with me on this book, THEN I will write a proposal to get an agent to sell the book. THEN I will write it.

I've made the call to the person in Business Affairs and left a message with the secretary.

Now I'm waiting for the Return Call.

Sigh. Nervous.

HoraceJames said:

(he hasn't forgiven us for Mary Poppins yet.)

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Mary Poppins. <shudders> I still can't watch that movie.

Thanks for all the replies. I guess it's safe to say that the majority of people you meet like the movie as adults, most kids like or love it, and very few dislike it.

I know what you guys mean about the child catcher. I've been surfing bbs and things on the web and really, nobody likes that guy. I've decided that for a sidebar in the book, I want to have a psychologist write a short essay about what makes the child catcher so terrifying. And maybe a sociologist write an essay about why eliminating children from a society, read Vulgaria, is such a bad idea. It actually spells the end to that society!

That entire sequence, about the king trying to "bump off" his wife is in the song "Chu-chi Face" which as I recall as a kid was one of the cut scenes when they broadcast it on television! I never saw the sequence until we bought the tape years later.

I will be the first to admit that I don't enjoy every second of the film. I always fast forward through the slower, sappier numbers like Truly's song when she's in the park. That whole part drags the movie to a screeching halt. But I always like Me Ol' Bamboo and most everything else.

Overall, when you think about it, it's a strange movie, what with an aerodynamically-impossible car and a bizarre kingdom, two weird spies and a grandpa who probably should be taken out of public. But it's a lot of fun.

The original book bears little resemblance to the movie. Ian Fleming wrote it as a spy book for kids with a magical car, hence the license plate GEN-II, meaning Genie. I've always wondered how the car became magical in the first place.