# Why is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang so long **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070 "2011-05-16T05:41:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/1 "2011-05-16T05:41:52Z")
I have never been able to make it through the entire Vulgaria story in one sitting. It could be shorter I think. I liked all of the movie before that and liked all those song numbers, but there weren’t any good ones in the second half I thought (at least not worth watching the whole thing for). I liked Mary Poppins a lot more and its diversion in the sidewalk drawing was good and short (not that I say that the Vulgaria story had to be quite that short, but it could have been trimmed) who agrees? who thinks I am completely wrong? Also is it Gert Frobe’s (Fröbe?) real voice or dubbed like in Goldfinger? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/2 "2011-05-16T06:18:05Z")
To answer this question, a little film history background is necessary. In 1964, Disney released the hugely successful **Mary Poppins**. The following year, 20th Century Fox, released the even-more successful **The Sound of Music**. Hoping to duplicate the mega-grosses these two movies generated, Hollywood produced a number of big-budgeted family-friendly musicals that ran longer than two hours. Unfortunately, most of these films turned out to be tedious bombs that almost drove several studios to near-bankrupcty and crippled the once-healthy genre of the movie musical. **Chitty Chitty Bang Bang** –along with the Rex Harrison verison of\*\* Dr. Doolittle, \*\*Star, and **Hello Dolly** –was one of these movies. They all operated under the (mistaken) belief that longer is better and that audiences would feel cheated if the film’s length was under 2.5 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/3 "2011-05-16T06:49:04Z")
So, what songs would you cut from any of these movies? Unless, this is hijacking the thread, but I think the OP’s question has been answered admirably by **NPD**. _Mary Poppins_? Definitely the Uncle Albert scene. Adds nothing, and is just annoying, like most of Ed Wynn’s schtick. _Chitty Chitty Bang Bang_? I never liked _Up from the Ashes_. It comes so late in the film that it’s just annoying filler, as opposed to _Me Old Bamboo_ which is filler, but comes earlier in the film so it’s not as annoying. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/4 "2011-05-16T07:00:34Z")
I like the Uncle Albert scene and find those types of jokes hilarious. I would cut Go To Sleep and The Bird Lady Song (but also I don’t understand what is the point of the Bird Lady besides just having something for Michael to spend his money on) but anyway I never thought Mary Poppins was too long even though I don’t like those particular scenes edit: and yes I know that Mr, Banks is supposed to look beyond the edge of his nose to see the bird lady, but I still feel like I am missing something ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/5 "2011-05-16T11:34:23Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > To answer this question, a little film history background is necessary. > > In 1964, Disney released the hugely successful **Mary Poppins**. The following year, 20th Century Fox, released the even-more successful **The Sound of Music**. Hoping to duplicate the mega-grosses these two movies generated, Hollywood produced a number of big-budgeted family-friendly musicals that ran longer than two hours. Unfortunately, most of these films turned out to be tedious bombs that almost drove several studios to near-bankrupcty and crippled the once-healthy genre of the movie musical. **Chitty Chitty Bang Bang** –along with the Rex Harrison verison of\*\* Dr. Doolittle, \*\*Star, and **Hello Dolly** –was one of these movies. They all operated under the (mistaken) belief that longer is better and that audiences would feel cheated if the film’s length was under 2.5 hours. I’d like to add Disney’s own follow-up to _Mary poppins_ in that list. _Bedknobs and Broomsticks_ is intolerably long. They had David Tomlinson back, the Sherman Brothers doing the songs, and many Disney regulars, but – it-- just ---- goes – on – and – ON! If they’d cut it to half the length or so it would’ve been much better. I agree about _Chitty Chitty Bang Bang_ being way too long as well. The Sherman Brothers jumped the Disney Ship, and they had Dick Van Dyke, and the movie still wasn’t a major success. Have a look at the book it came from – it’s practically a pamphlet! This movie is the very definition of 'padded". ---
**Author:** ![boozilu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@boozilu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boozilu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/6 "2011-05-16T13:17:15Z")
I despise the Bird Lady – I’m with PSXer there. I always thought that CCBB could be split into two movies – I don’t really mind either the wrap-around story or the Vulgaria – I just think both together makes for a dis-jointed and way-too-long movie. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/7 "2011-05-16T13:54:00Z")
People… people don’t like the Bird Lady in Mary Poppins? One of the loveliest songs in the movie? I am disappointed in humanity. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/8 "2011-05-16T13:59:17Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > People… people don’t like the Bird Lady in Mary Poppins? One of the loveliest songs in the movie? I am disappointed in humanity. Lovely song, yes, but it brings the flow of the film to a screeching halt. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/9 "2011-05-16T14:02:29Z")
Nothing to add to the question that hasn’t been answered, but. . . Lionel Jeffries (Grandpa Potts) was six months younger than his Dick van Dyke, who played his son. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/10 "2011-05-16T14:10:38Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Lovely song, yes, but it brings the flow of the film to a screeching halt. Or it’s a nice change of tone and gives the movie depth. I wouldn’t cut anything from Mary Poppins. I don’t think it would have had the staying power that it has if it had been action, action, action. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/11 "2011-05-16T14:16:29Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Unfortunately, most of these films turned out to be tedious bombs that almost drove several studios to near-bankrupcty and crippled the once-healthy genre of the movie musical. Wondered what happened to it. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/12 "2011-05-16T14:55:22Z")
I think I’ve been confusing/combining Chitty Chitty and Mary Poppins all these years. Although I enjoy and appreciate the movies, I’ve never made it through either one of them, always fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/13 "2011-05-16T15:41:21Z")
I love Mary Poppins, and I love the first half of chitty chitty bang bang. I have never seen the Sound of Music, but I think i might like it. gotta see it some day. I made a whole topic about this before, but another song I hate that slows down the movie to a halt is “Cheer Up Charlie” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". That is the only part of any movie that I fast-forward through. I don’t like the Mary Poppins songs I mentioned earlier, but nevertheless I watch them everytime I’m watching the movie. Also I fast forwarded through “The Morning Report” on the new Lion King DVD, but that isn’t a part of the original movie ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/14 "2011-05-16T16:14:07Z")
This thread reminded me of the Bag of Weed parody on Family Guy. I went to go look for it to get a listen and I found this little gem. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/15 "2011-05-16T16:17:23Z")
I really don’t care for either movie. I used to like Mary Poppins, but then I ruined it for myself by reading the books. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/16 "2011-05-16T16:38:04Z")
I only read one of the books, but it had multiple stories in it. They were very different from the movie, to the point that I really had trouble associating the two. Sort of like the difference between “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Who Censored Roger Rabbit.” Did you dislike the books or did you think that they were better than the movie? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/17 "2011-05-16T17:05:52Z")
Never read either book ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/18 "2011-05-16T17:07:10Z")
I kinda wish they _had_ made _Chitty Chitty Bang Bang_ into two movies. They might have been able to start a whole franchise instead of wasting everybody’s time with ever-more Bond films. Stupid cold war penis-measuring flicks, those were (except for _Casino Royale_, which totally rocked). ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/19 "2011-05-16T17:08:36Z")
Off-topic, [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) ruins _Mary Poppins_ for any future viewing in a recent Photoshop [contest](http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_197_the-unhappy-aftermath-classic-movie-happy-endings_p21/#1). Don’t click that link if you want to keep enjoying the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070/20 "2011-05-16T18:03:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I’d like to add Disney’s own follow-up to _Mary poppins_ in that list. _Bedknobs and Broomsticks_ is intolerably long. They had David Tomlinson back, the Sherman Brothers doing the songs, and many Disney regulars, but – it-- just ---- goes – on – and – ON! If they’d cut it to half the length or so it would’ve been much better. I’m not sure you could call _Bedknobs & Broomsticks_ a “follow-up” to _Mary Poppins_, as it came out 7 years later. But for what it’s worth, I absolutely adored _Bedknobs_ as an 8-year-old; I think I was right smack in the target demographic when it came out. IMDb has the original running time at 117 minutes, which doesn’t seem overly long. A 1980 re-release was apparently cut to 99 minutes… But, the 1996 25th anniversary video was padded out to 139 minutes. Maybe this is the one you saw; I could definitely imagine that bordering on intolerable. I was all of 13 months old when \*Mary Poppins \*came out, and home video wasn’t a thing yet, so I think I kind of missed the boat on that one. Yes, I’ve seen it, and I appreciate it, but I don’t recall it as a fond childhood memory like I do _B & B_. As for _Chitty Chitty Bang Bang_, I think I saw it in its original theatrical release – I do remember Dick Van Dyke and the titular flying jalopy, but being 5 years old at the time, I can’t recall whether I got bored or not. And I don’t believe I’ve revisited _CCBB_ since then. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-so-long/582070.md?page=2)