Truly Scrumptious
Encyclopedia
Truly Scrumptious is a fictional character in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
, based on the children's novel of the same name by Ian Fleming
.
She does not appear in the book. In the film the character is portrayed by singer/actress Sally Ann Howes
.
(played by Dick Van Dyke
). She does not appear in the original book, in which Caractacus is married to Mimsie Pott (the surname used in the book). The filmmakers felt that a romantic relationship would serve the film better than the marriage relationship in the book, and so Caractacus was portrayed as a widower.
Truly's name is very much the opposite of the usual Fleming female character names, being innocent and rather treacly, although still a pun. Her full name is also the title of "Truly Scrumptious
", one of the two love songs from the film.
The character of Truly's father, Lord Scrumptious (spelled "Skrumshus" in the book), of the Scrumptious Sweet Company, is present in both the book and the film.
A running gag
is Truly running her car off the road in the movie. The registration plate of Truly's motor car was CUB 1.
. Having felt somewhat isolated on movie sets as a child actress, Howes wanted to make certain that Ripley and Hall were completely at ease and comfortable on set.
In the film, Truly sings the Sherman Brothers
' song "Lovely Lonely Man
" about Caractacus Potts. When the songwriters demonstrated the song for producer Cubby Broccoli he reportedly commented that the song was the most beautiful he'd ever heard. Ironically, it was the only song from the original motion picture which wasn't included in the original stage production, although it does feature in the latest UK tour.
Approximate Dates given where available
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (film)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a 1968 musical film with a script by Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes, and songs by the Sherman Brothers, loosely based on Ian Fleming's novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car. It starred Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts and Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious. The...
, based on the children's novel of the same name by Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
.
She does not appear in the book. In the film the character is portrayed by singer/actress Sally Ann Howes
Sally Ann Howes
Sally Ann Howes is a British actress and singer, who currently holds dual British-American citizenship. Her career on stage, screen and television has spanned over six decades...
.
In the film
Truly is the daughter of a wealthy sweet factory owner, Lord Scrumptious. She develops a romantic relationship with the widower Caractacus PottsCaractacus Potts
Caractacus Potts is one of the main characters in the family film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He is an eccentric inventor who lives with his twin eight-year-old children, Jeremy & Jemima, and Grandpa Potts, on the Potts' hilltop farm...
(played by Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Dyke
Richard Wayne "Dick" Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer with a career spanning six decades. He is the older brother of Jerry Van Dyke, and father of Barry Van Dyke...
). She does not appear in the original book, in which Caractacus is married to Mimsie Pott (the surname used in the book). The filmmakers felt that a romantic relationship would serve the film better than the marriage relationship in the book, and so Caractacus was portrayed as a widower.
Truly's name is very much the opposite of the usual Fleming female character names, being innocent and rather treacly, although still a pun. Her full name is also the title of "Truly Scrumptious
Truly Scrumptious (song)
"Truly Scrumptious" is a song performed in the 2002/2005 stage musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as well as the original, 1968 motion picture. The song was written by Robert B. Sherman & Richard M. Sherman. It is about the lead female character, Truly....
", one of the two love songs from the film.
The character of Truly's father, Lord Scrumptious (spelled "Skrumshus" in the book), of the Scrumptious Sweet Company, is present in both the book and the film.
A running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
is Truly running her car off the road in the movie. The registration plate of Truly's motor car was CUB 1.
Behind the scenes
During the shooting of the film, Howes developed a very close friendship with Heather Ripley and Adrian Hall, who played the children of Caractacus PottsCaractacus Potts
Caractacus Potts is one of the main characters in the family film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He is an eccentric inventor who lives with his twin eight-year-old children, Jeremy & Jemima, and Grandpa Potts, on the Potts' hilltop farm...
. Having felt somewhat isolated on movie sets as a child actress, Howes wanted to make certain that Ripley and Hall were completely at ease and comfortable on set.
In the film, Truly sings the Sherman Brothers
Sherman Brothers
The Sherman Brothers are an American songwriting duo that specialize in musical films, made up of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman ....
' song "Lovely Lonely Man
Lovely Lonely Man
"Lovely Lonely Man" is a song from the 1968 musical film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was written by Richard & Robert Sherman and sung by Sally Ann Howes as "Truly Scrumptious"...
" about Caractacus Potts. When the songwriters demonstrated the song for producer Cubby Broccoli he reportedly commented that the song was the most beautiful he'd ever heard. Ironically, it was the only song from the original motion picture which wasn't included in the original stage production, although it does feature in the latest UK tour.
Stage productions
Various actresses have now played Truly Scrumptious in stage productions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. These include the following in the order they have played the character.Approximate Dates given where available
- Emma WilliamsEmma Williams (actress)Emma Williams is a British actress. After, going to North Halifax Grammar School and studying at the Stage84 stage school in Idle, West Yorkshire, she has had a successful career in TV, film and on stage....
- Originated the role in London (2002-2003) - Caroline SheenCaroline SheenCaroline Sheen is a Welsh actress who has played various roles on stage in the West End and at other venues across London and the UK. She recently played the role of Mary Poppins on the First National Tour of America...
(2003-2004) - Scarlett StrallenScarlett StrallenScarlett Strallen is a British stage actress who made her Broadway debut on 9 October 2008 at the New Amsterdam Theatre playing the title role of Mary Poppins...
(2004-2005) - Jo GibbJo GibbJo Gibb is a Scottish theatre actress best known for her role of Rumpleteazer in the Cats video and as Pearl the Observation Car in Starlight Express...
- Closed out the London Production (2005) - Erin DillyErin DillyErin Dilly is an American actress. She is most noted for her portrayal of Truly Scrumptious in the 2005 musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award.Dilly was raised in...
- Originated the role on Broadway and closed out the Production (2005) - Marissa Dunlop - Originated the role in the National UK Tour (2005-2007)
- Rachel Stanley - Closed out the National UK Tour (2008)
- Kelly McCormickKelly McCormickKelly Anne McCormick is a retired female diver from the United States. She twice competed for her native country at the Summer Olympics, winning a silver and a bronze medal in the Women's 3m Springboard event.McCormick also claimed gold in the same event at the 1987 Pan American Games...
in the national tour in LA.