Caractacus Pott Caractacus Pott Caractacus Potts is one of the main characters in Ian Fleming's novel "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang" and its film adaptation. The film version of the story makes several changes to Pott's character. In the original 1964 book, "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang: The Magical Car", Pott is a Royal Navy Commander and eccentric inventor who lives with his wife Mimsy and their twin eight-year-old children, Jeremy and Jemima, on their hilltop farm. The filmmakers, including screenwriter Roald Dahl, altered a good deal of the book's details when crafting the 1968 film musical version of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", in which Caractacus is portrayed by Dick
Robert Helpmann Days at Peking" (1963). After his return to Australia as co-director of The Australian Ballet, he continued to appear in films. Notable productions included one of his most recognized screen roles, the evil and sinister Child Catcher in the family classic "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968). His performance in the film was later rated by "Empire" magazine as among the 100 most frightening ever filmed. Another family film he starred in was "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (1972), in which he portrayed the Mad Hatter. And for The Australian Ballet he co-directed with Rudolf Nureyev the ballet-film "Don Quixote" (1973), in