The Wisdom of Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming the pen of 007 novels also wrote an equally well known book as a diversion although few realize he was the author. That book was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A fact I only realized while watching the movie with my seven year old daughter and Papa Alpha. From the kitchen I heard Dick Van Dyke address the female lead as Truly scrumptious. That caused me to poke my head around the corner and then search for the DVD case, wondering who in the hell had the nerve to name a girl Truly scrumptious in 1957. Sure enough Ian Fleming, not only did Fleming write it Benny Hill was a co star. (Cue Benny Hill theme music as I know its in your head now)While the names of 007's leads are notorious, you never hear a peep about Truly scrumptious, as she was cast, the virginal heiress of the scrumptious sweet company, excellent with kids decent looker, singer, always in white and mothering kids who's mother is never mentioned. The father, Dick Van Dyke is an absent minded knock about inventor with few prospects but loves his kids and keeps banging away at this idea or that in his home/workshop/windmill with no success. But Truly has faith in him and eventually he prevails. Amazing what the faith of a Truly scrumptious woman will do for a man eh?