Hushabye Mountain Music Player? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[niart17]

Hey guys, I figured if anybody would know this it would be someone here. My daughters and I were watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and they seemed to really like the scene of Hushabye Mountain. I would love to try to find a replica of the music player Dick Van Dyke sings to from that scene. I've tried to do searches here and just about everywhere else on the internet I could think of but had no luck finding ANY information at all on it. I can't even find still pics, only videos from youtube etc... with it in the scene. Has anybody here either made a replica of this or seen any or know any information about this prop? It's really very cool looking and would be a great gift for my girls.

Here is the scene I'm talking about with the music box about 8 seconds in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNCUuz4P3q8

Thanks in advance for any help,

Bill

 

[Jintosh]

Looks totally fabricated. One of a kind.

 

[joberg]

My first thought from the start; prop made specially for the movie

 

[dcarty]

One of my favorite movies from childhood that I am thankful to be able to share with my daughter too!

The bulk of Caractacus Pott's "inventions" were actually the creations of cartoonist/tinkerer Rowland Emmett and were hired from him for use in the film. Judging from the design I have little doubt that the music box is one of his or at least a custom made prop done in his style. Now, whether or not it actually played the song "Hushabye Mountain" or if that was overdubbed, which seems more likely, I do not know.

On one of the DVD/Blu-ray sets there is a supplement short film called "The Ditchling Tinkerer" which was made to be shown in theaters right before the movie started. It's a charming profile of Rowland Emmett and shows off his creations. I haven't seen it in ages so I don't recall if there are any shots of the music box or not (but now you have my curiosity peaked).

Best of luck to you on your quest!

Dave

 

[JANDERS10]

Best childhood cinema memory, sharing the dark with the kids onscreen, as if he was singing to me. Then the camera goes outside to a little orchestral version to the timing of the windmill sails on a perfect English summers eve. Cinema magic.

 

[niart17]

Thanks for the reply guys. I figured it would be a long shot that anybody reproduced it. Dave, thanks for the info on Rowland Emmett. At least now I have a lead to look into. If I find anything I'll let you guys know. If anyone else has ANY information on this prop or even better photos of it, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Stonemovies]

Did you ever come up with any further information, or make your own version of this prop niart17? I'm thinking about adding it to my project list.

 

[sapper36]

That prop used to be in the Madame Tussaud’s wax museum on st Pete beach with the dick can dyke figure

 

[Jintosh]

Here's some better pictures. The object on the right is a wine bottle with a brass wire spiked ring around it. The "speaker" on the left is an iridescent shell and a rolled up music sheet. I would wonder if the music sheet is random, or is the music to the song being played.

 

[Karstein]

Some props from the sage play are being sold, might be helpful or give some inspiration Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Stage Show Props.

 

[Jintosh]

The actual car is cool. It would cost more to ship to USA than the car.