Truly Scrumptious (song) facts for kids
"Truly Scrumptious" is a famous song from the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was also used in the stage musical that came out later. The song was written by the talented Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman. It's all about the main girl character in the story, who is named Truly.
The music for "Truly Scrumptious" is first heard when Truly, played by Sally Ann Howes in the movie, drives her car up to the Potts family's windmill. Later, the song is sung to her by Adrian Hall and Heather Ripley. They play Jeremy and Jemima, the twin children of Caractacus Potts, who is played by Dick Van Dyke. Truly then sings the second part of the song back to them. This happens during a beach scene in the middle of the movie. It's a moment when the characters start to feel close to each other.
The Song's Return
This song appears again later in the story. It is sung at the same time as another song called "Doll on a Music Box". When "Truly Scrumptious" is sung a second time, Caractacus sings it. Truly sings "Doll on a Music Box" at the same time. This shows how she feels a bit distant from her emotions in "real life." The tune of "Doll on a Music Box" is choppy, while "Truly Scrumptious" has a smooth, flowing tune.
A Story Within a Story
This part of the movie is actually a story that Caractacus is telling to Truly and his children. In the song, Caractacus pretends to be a floppy rag doll. This doll is too flexible and can't stand up for himself. Truly pretends to be a fancy, stiff doll. This doll is too rigid and doesn't show much feeling.
During the song, the rag doll tries to get close to the stiff doll twice. Both times, the stiff doll pushes him away. This is like what happened earlier in the "real life" story. Caractacus's first two meetings with Truly also didn't go well. First, in his workshop, and then when he accidentally drove her car off the road.
The rag doll keeps trying. Then, he sees himself in a mirror and realizes he looks silly. Truly gently pushes him towards the mirror to get his attention. He then gets back into character. The rag doll tries to be polite to the doll and is about to kiss her hand. But she pulls her hand away just in time. The stiff doll's rigidness wins. It's only at the very end of the movie that Caractacus and Truly truly understand each other.
