Sunday Evening

For the kids rented Yellow Submarine and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. For myself the last installment of The Matrix. The kids loved Yellow Submarine and watched it twice, but Chitty terrified them with the child catcher and all. They were so afraid I almost pulled the plug on the DVD.

As an FYI Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was an attempt by Ian Fleming to write a story for children. Think he did a good job. Roald Dahl, another rather interesting character, wrote the screenplay, and Gert Frobe (yes, Auric Goldfinger) played the evil baron. Albert Broccoli produced. The very young Phil Collins, later better known as a rock and roller, also made an appearance. The director, Ken Hughes, also did Casino Royale with Woody Allen, Peter Sellers and David Niven. Lots of talent.

Chitty was quite a blockbuster, complete with an intermission and exit music, just like Lawrence of Arabia had. If I remember correctly I saw it for the first time at Radio City Music Hall, complete with the Rockettes, the Hammond Organ and who knows what else in terms of extravagance. Looking at this film now it is quite stunning in execution and yet still rated G. And Dick Van Dyke was certainly as athletic and exuberant as any action hero today. The dance numbers have to be seen to be believed. There hasn't been much progress in cinema, has there?