"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" released 1968

A favorite children's movie for numerous generations, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opened in theaters across the US December 18, 1968. It starred Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howe, and Benny Hill.  Although it opened to mostly critical success, it suffered at the box office (10th most popular movie of 1968), it lost United Artists $8M due to its high production costs. The main song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.

It was based on a book written by Sir Ian Fleming, who created super-spy James Bond. 

Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, born 1908

Ian Fleming, the man who gave us Agent 007 James Bond, was born May 28, 1908.  He published his first Bond novel, Casino Royale, in 1952 but wouldn't live to see it come to the big screen.  He passed away one month before it premiered.

Despite all that secret spy stuff, he also wrote "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", just about everyone's favorite magical car story.

Here is an interview with Fleming shortly before he passed away.