Vulgaria
| Vulgaria | |
|---|---|
 Vulgaria, represented by Neuschwanstein Castle | |
| Chitty Chitty Bang Bang location | |
| Other name(s) | Barony of Vulgaria |
| Created by | Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes |
| Genre | Family film |
| Type | Barony |
| Notable locations | Vulgaria (capital) |
| Anthem | Vulgarian National Anthem |
| Language(s) | Vulgarian German |
Vulgaria is a fictional European barony visited by the Potts family and Truly Scrumptious in their flying car, in the 1968 children's film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the 2002 stage adaptation.
About Vulgaria
Vulgaria is a scenic, mountainous region similar to Austria, Switzerland or southern Germany. It is a remote and secluded country that is apparently not on any maps. Vulgaria's exact location in Europe is not known but it has a coast. The national language appears to be a form of English, with slight touches of Swedish and German included. The Baron and Baroness refer to each other as "Liebchen", and the words "Fräulein", "wunderbar" and "adieu" are heard. In addition, the Toymaker and several villagers can be seen wearing lederhosen.
It is a barony ruled by the horrible Bomburst couple, the Baron Bomburst and the Baroness Bomburst. They reside in their vast castle with thousands of servants and courtiers, all of whom are as cruel as they are, and they rule through fear and intimidation. Deep down, however, they are childish and flamboyant, and can also be considered stupid. The national symbols of Vulgaria are a black griffin and its flag which is a horizontal tricolor of black, white, and purple.
Neuschwanstein Castle was used to portray the Baron's castle in the film. The traditional Vulgarian folk dance is a mix of the waltz with the slapping of hands. All the noblewomen in Vulgaria wear purple and they have purple hair.
The name Vulgaria is possibly a parody of the real life country Bulgaria, a country in eastern Europe. Similar to the fictional Vulgaria, Bulgaria is a mountainous country and has a coast.
The story
As beautiful as Vulgaria seems at first, no children can be found playing in its streets and the citizens are distant and aloof. When Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious arrive in the country with the twins Jeremy and Jemima while trying to find their grandpa, they are puzzled as to why the grim-faced, desolate townspeople are horrified to see the children. Potts remarks upon this and Truly whispers to him that there is not a single child in sight.
Suddenly a fanfare sounds and the terrified citizens flee to their homes and lock themselves in. A friendly toymaker (Benny Hill) takes the family in and hides them. He explains that the children are in grave danger, as the land is ruled over by the cruel and merciless Baron Bomburst (Gert Frobe) and Baroness Bomburst (Anna Quayle). They hate children and have them captured and imprisoned by the inhuman Child Catcher (Robert Helpmann), although a handful of children are in hiding in the sewers beneath the streets. The citizens of Vulgaria live in constant fear of their rulers.
Eventually, the Potts family encourage the children to strike back at the Bombursts, and plan to do so at the Baron's birthday party. A huge battle takes place in the castle between the children, the Bombursts, their army and the Child Catcher. Despite their power the Bombursts are ultimately wiped out by the army of villagers who rise to put an end to them. The Bombursts try to escape through a secret exit, but land in a cage and are trapped by the children and exiled. Also, the Child Catcher, most of their guards and nobles are subdued in chains, nets and ropes. As a result, Vulgaria becomes free thanks to the Potts family.
Notes
The musical
- In the current stage musical the two Vulgarian spies had the following dialogue:
- Gordon: But can't I be Vulgar [A Vulgarian] AND be English?
- Boris: No! Then you would be American!
- In the musical, Vulgaria seems to be a dictatorship. In the film it is, strictly, merely the feudal estates attaching to the incumbent barony, Baron Bomburst. A baron is one of the lower ranks of nobility. However, the extent and nature of the Baron's authority, the apparent deference of his subjects to his whims, and the size and population of the estate comprising Vulgaria might perhaps more likely have been historically associated with a higher ranking title such as a margraviate, a duchy, or a Grand Duchy.