Child Catcher’s carriage joins Beaulieu’s Chitty exhibition
Oct 21, 2018
The original Child Catcher carriage from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be on display for the first time in the UK at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu to celebrate the golden anniversary of the film. The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years exhibition opens on October 20th.
Only two of the four carriages built for filming have survived and this ‘hero’ carriage, on loan from the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum in Germany, was used for all of the key scenes. Standing alongside will be the Child Catcher’s costume, as seen in the film.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years will tell the story of Chitty and feature an original screen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Humber 8hp driven by Truly Scrumptious.
Coggins’ Garage will be recreated in the museum to house the film’s inventive machines created by Rowland Emett, including the Humbug Major Sweet Machine, Clockwork Lullabye, Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper and Hot Air Rocking Chair.
A full-size replica of Grandpa Potts’ hut has been built using the 50-year-old technical drawings from the archive of EON Productions. The actual Spy Phone prop used in the film will also be on show, together with Sally Anne Howes’ life-size music box doll dress.
A timeline wall will chart the Chitty story from its beginnings – as James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s inspirational book about the magical flying car – to Cubby Broccoli’s unique interpretation on film. Fleming was inspired by the real-life exploits of racing driver Count Louis Zborowski who designed and built four aero-engined racing cars that were named Chitty Bang Bang because of the sound they made while standing idle. The exhaust and leather bonnet strap from the Count’s original Mercedes Chitty will be on display as part of his legacy.
The cloud-shaped wall will also feature first edition copies of Fleming’s book which he wrote for his son Caspar and was published posthumously in 1964, alongside producer Cubby Broccoli’s programme from the Royal World Premiere of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film in 1968. Weird and wonderful Chitty memorabilia includes signatures of the star-studded cast, pedal and Corgi cars, comics, computer games, pop-up books and even lunch boxes made to celebrate the children’s favourite film.
Never exhibited before original film concept art by Sir Ken Adam, storyboard watercolour artwork by Robert Laing and technical drawings by Peter Lamont will be on display, along with the solid silver Chitty model bought for producer Cubby Broccoli by his wife Dana.
Outside in the grounds, visitors to Beaulieu can see a stunning Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reconstruction being driven around the attraction.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years can be seen as part of the general admission to Beaulieu, which includes entrance to the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu family home of Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the grounds and gardens. To buy tickets in advance online or for more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.
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