Chitty Chitty Bang Bang/Oliver/Annie [DVD]

Description

Triple-bill of classic musicals. 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' (1968) is based on the children's book by Ian Fleming. When inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) acquires a run-down racing car and renovates it for his children, Jeremy and Jemima, he makes a few extra improvements. The car, christened Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, now has the ability to fly, and takes the Potts and their friend, Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes) on an exciting adventure. Arriving in the kingdom of wicked Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe), they find themselves pursued by the evil Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann), while the Baron, desperate to get his hands on the car, kidnaps Jeremy and Jemima's grandfather (Lionel Jeffries) by mistake. Based on the classic novel by Charles Dickens, 'Oliver!' (1968) follows the fortunes of the orphan boy Oliver Twist (Mark Lester). Suffering under the harsh regime at the workhouse run by Mr Bumble (Harry Secombe), Oliver manages to escape and, after meeting a friendly pickpocket known as the Artful Dodger (Jack Wild), joins a gang of street thieves operated by the disreputable Fagin (Ron Moody). Although happy with his new friends, Oliver takes a dislike to Fagin's violent and aggressive colleague, Bill Sykes (Oliver Reed). John Huston directs 'Annie' (1981), the big screen version of the Broadway musical based on the long-running comic strip 'Little Orphan Annie'. Annie (Aileen Quinn) lives a miserable life in an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett). A chance of escape and happiness comes Annie's way when she meets billionaire 'Daddy' Warbucks (Albert Finney), but Hannigan and her colleagues soon conspire to get Annie back.