Some observations:
- The story here is similar to The Wizard of Oz in that there is an element of fantasy to the timeline. It's also similar to Mary Poppins in that Dick Van Dyke has some slick and impressive dance moves.
- The songs were written by the Sherman brothers (Mary Poppins).
- The movie is loosely-based on Ian Fleming's book (Yes, it's the same Ian Fleming who created James Bond!), but the movie was written partly by Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
- Van Dyke's character, Caracticus Potts, may be the original "steam punk" gadget creator and dreamer.
- By the way, how about the coolest movie car ever!
- I can appreciate Van Dyke's love interest here, named Truly Scrumptious. I often thought that would be a great name for a girl (We teased people with the idea that we were considering this for our daughter's name - Truly Scrumptious Hoggatt has a nice ring to it, don't you think?).
- Talk about a positive attitude! Potts doesn't let anything stop him from loving and protecting his children - even the frighteningly eerie Child Catcher.
- Yes, there is a Child Catcher, and yes, he is a creepy, scary character, rivaling the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz.
- The infamous Benny Hill is in this one. He saves the day for all the children of Vulgaria and our heroes.
- Phil Collins played one of the Vulgarian children in this 1964 movie, but his scene was cut.
- Here is a tale of grit and growth mindset: even while others discourage his dreams, this man works relentlessly to make his contribution to society.
- Don't let bullies effect you! Potts and his family collaborate to defeat their bullies.
- Did somebody ask for creativity? Potts creates a massive vacuum cleaner, a Rube-Goldberg-style breakfast maker (copied in part in Back to the Future), and an automatic haircut machine (I've seen a couple of these gadgets in various Ripley's museums.)
- Potts figures out that he may need to modify his creation to make it fit the needs. He also finds out that along the way to meeting your goals, you sometimes discover new paths.
Every bursted bubble has a glory! Each abysmal failure makes a point! Every glowing path that goes astray, Shows you how to find a better way. So every time you stumble never grumble. Next time you'll bumble even less! For up from the ashes, up from the ashes, Grow the roses of success! Grow the roses, Grow the roses, Grow the roses of success (oh, yes!). Grow the roses, Those rosy roses, From the ashes of disaster Grow the roses of success! For every big mistake you make be grateful! That mistake you'll never make again! Every shiny dream that fades and dies, Generates the steam for two more tries! There's magic in the wake of a fiasco! (Correct!) It gives you that chance to second guess! (Oh, yes!) Then up from the ashes, Up from the ashes, Grow the roses of success! | Grow the roses, Grow the roses, Grow the roses of success. Grow the roses, Those rosy roses, From the ashes of disaster Grow the roses of success! Disaster didn't stymie Louis Pasteur! (No, sir.) Edison took years to see the light! (Right.) Alexander Graham knew failure well; He took a lot of knocks to ring that bell! So when it gets distressing it's a blessing! Onward and upward you must press! (Yes, yes!) Till up from the ashes, up from the ashes Grow the roses of success! Grow the ro-, grow the ro-, grow the roses, Grow the ro-, grow the ro-, grow the roses, Grow the roses of success. Grow the ro-, grow the ro-, grow the roses, Those rosy ro-, those rosy ro-, those rosy roses, From the ashes of disaster Grow the roses of success! from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang |