A new remastered HiDef version of the family musical classic “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” will be released on Blu-ray Nov. 9 by MGM Home Entertainment in a combo pack ($34.99).
The new edition features upgraded 7.1 DTS-HD master audio and new interactive games.
An original version of the film on DVD will accompany the new Blu-ray version.
The 2 1/2-hour movie blends the gadgetry from James Bond creator Ian Fleming, who wrote the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang novel, with the imaginative mind of children’s book author Roald Dahl, who co-wrote the screenplay, and songs by the famous Sherman Brothers, who are Oscar winners for their work in the similar “Mary Poppins,” which also starred Dick Van Dyke.
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” shares much more in common with James Bond, including villain Gert Frobe, who played “Goldfinger” four years earlier, an appearance by Desmond Llewelyn, who played “Q” in the James Bond movies, dialogue by Richard Maibum, who wrote many 007 films; production design by Ken Adam, who did the same on many James Bond productions, and 007 movie producer Albert R. Broccoli.
The new “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” Blu-ray features a new “Toot Sweet Symphony” melody maker and “Chitty Chitty’s Bang Bang Driving Game!,” as well the sing-along-version of the movie, a rembrance by Van Dyke, song demos from the Sherman Brothers and the featurette “A Fantasmagorical Motorcar.”
Other previously released featurettes include “The Ditchling Tinkerer,” “Dick Van Dyke Press Interview,” and “The Potts Children’s Featurette.”