Movies - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

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	Movies - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

This article is about the 1971 film adaptation. :For the 1964 children's book, see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. :For the 2005 film adaptation, see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) is a musical film based on the 1964 children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Norwegian-Welsh author Roald Dahl. It was directed by Mel Stuart and stars Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket.

While the film was not a commercial success at the time of its release, it has since grown into a cult classic with both children and with adults. Some find the film's dated look and special effects to be unintentionally campy, though Wilder's acting is usually singled out for praise. A second film adaptation of the children's book, titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
, was released in 2005. It was directed by Tim Burton and stars Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka and Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket. Both Burton and Dahl have publically expressed their dislike for this original film adaptation.

Plot overview

Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) is a poor boy living with his mother and four grandparents, none of whom have been out of bed in twenty years. Charlie is bravely struggling to support his family when he hears that the famous recluse Mr. Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) has placed "Golden Tickets" into five of his Wonka Bars. The finders of these special items will be given a full tour of Wonka's famous candy factory – the inner workings of which are a tightly kept secret – and a lifetime supply of chocolate.

Charlie wants to win more than anyone, and encouraged by Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson), foolishly spends his money on a single bar of chocolate, which turns out to be ticket-less. He is heartbroken when the news reports that all five tickets have been found. The next day, as he's walking through town, he finds some money in the gutter. He goes into a drugstore and buys a bar of Wonka chocolate, which he promptly wolfs down. Just as he's about to leave, he decides to buy another one for his Grandpa Joe.

Once he steps outside, however, he hears that the fifth ticket finder had forged a ticket, and the fifth one is still out there. And Charlie, in arguably the film's most memorable scene, opens the bar of chocolate in his hand, and finds the final ticket.Before he gets home, Charlie is approached by a man claiming to be Arthur Slugworth (Günter Meisner), a rival candy-maker, who offers a big sum of money in exchange for a sample of Wonka's latest creation, the Everlasting Gobstopper.

Upon arrival at the Chocolate Factory, the ticket holders are made to wait until Wonka comes to the gate. Wonka approaches them with his face obscured by the brim of his hat, and he walks like an old man. At the last moment, Wonka does a forwards somersault and lands on his feet, demonstrating his youthful prowess. (Wilder would later explain that he added this feat himself to ensure that the audience would never completely trust his character in the movie.)

Upon entering the Chocolate Factory, reality is checked at the door, as Wonka's abode is a psychedelic wonderland full of chocolate rivers, giant edible mushrooms, lick-able wallpapers and sanctimonious orange midgets (the Oompa Loompas). Each child is given their own Gobstopper; a candy that can be licked forever without ever dissolving away or losing flavour. As the tour progresses, the four other children reveal themselves to be gluttonous, greedy, spoiled and ill-behaved; traits that backfire, bringing bizarre disasters down upon their heads. One by one, the small tour is reduced in number, until only Charlie Bucket and Grandpa Joe remain.

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