Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Starring: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Julie Dawn Cole, Denise Nickerson, Paris Thememen, Roy Kinnear, Leonard Stone, Nora Denney, Ursula Reit, Michael Bollner, Diana Sowle, Gunter Meisner
Directed by: Mel Stuart
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Musical
1971

Times Seen:
Tim: 4

Summary: When master candy maker Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) announces that five golden tickets have been placed in various candy bars- and the finders of those tickets will get a behind-the-scenes tour of his mysterious chocolate factory (and a lifetime of free chocolate), young Charlie (Peter Ostrum) wishes desperately to be one of the five.

Review:

Tim: I am bit surprised that Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory didn't receive more acclaim when it was first released in 1971. It was nominated for only one Academy Award, that being Best Music and Original Song Score, and it did not win. This movie is a true classic, a timeless family movie that has held up remarkably well since its release. Nothing about this movie feels dated- it comes to life the same way today as it did back then.

It is not an exaggeration to say that this film is one of the most beloved movies ever made. It is so enjoyable, so memorable, and so fun that it is almost impossible not to get caught up in the story. From the saintly Charlie, to the host of snobby, self-centered, over-indulgent other children, to the Oompah-Loompahs, the catchy songs, the wonderfully imaginative world of the chocolate factory, and the larger-than-life persona of Willy Wonka, this is a landmark movie. Even though I went 10+ years of my life without watching this film, the movie's events were molded onto my brain, and I still remembered lines and visuals, long, long since I last watched it.

So much of this film's success depends on Gene Wilder. Wilder creates an unforgettable, mesmerizing performance of a brilliant man who seems to be a bit out of his senses. From the outstanding opening introduction (I love how Wilder was reponsible for the limping-cane-flip-roll scene), we understand that we cannot be certain of anything Wonka says or does- he has a hidden agenda- and that keeps up on our toes. I love Wilder's emotionless "Stop. Don't" When one of the naughty children do something that will damage their ability to continue. Wilder hits all the right notes- from his comedic timing, his ability to quote some of the greatest lines (His "We are the music makers. We are the dreamers of dreams" is iconic and perhaps my favorite line of the movie), to his singing- Wilder is the main reason this movie is so wonderful.

I also love the wacky, imaginative, beautiful world created inside the chocolate factory. We have rivers of chocolate, giant lollipops, massive gummy bears hanging from trees, drinks that can allow you to float, and a whole host of other outstanding sights and attractions that children will love, and will allow adults to feel like children again.

I firmly believe that Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is one of the all-time greats. It truly is a timeless movie. Director Mel Stuart creates an eternal movie that will delight audiences probably forever. I think that despite the beloved status of this film, it is still underrated. This is truly a classic.

*Update- Many years after watching this film for the last time, I rewatched it with my kids- 9 and 6 years-old. I'm in a different place since I last viewed the movie- older, (hopefully) wiser, and I've now read Roald Dahl's book and seen the prequel Wonka. I'm much more versed in this world. And, all I can say is that my feelings about this movie haven't changed. If anything, I love it even more. Without reading the book, I never knew how effective of an adaptation this film was. It takes all the best parts of the book, but it improves the story in multiple areas. It's one of the all-time great movies and one of the best movies for kids, period. I just love it so much.

I was a massive fan of Gene Wilder's pitch-perfect portrayal of chocolatier Willy Wonka, but until I read the book, I didn't quite understand the brilliance of his performance. Wonka is wonky in the book, but a bit flat of a character. Wilder's performance is filled with heart, humor, and just a bit of malice. It's a stunning performance- to take an average character on the page and transform him into one of the great characters on screen. I'm simply in awe of what Wilder did here. I also appreciated even more the entire cast- they were perfectly selected to bring these characters to life.

I loved the set design from the beginning, but was struck again by how beautifully it's all rendered. The recent prequel is full of CGI crap and it rarely looks real. To see the world of Wonka's factory depicted in reality gives the viewers an experience Hollywood rarely provides today. The movie is as beautiful as ever and our appreciation of it grows in the 2020s. I thought the Oompa Loompa's songs were so incredible, too. They were always so catchy, but reading the songs Dahl wrote in the book and hearing the music in Wonka, none of those get close to the melodic humor of the songs here. That's an area this movie vastly improves over the book.

As I watch this movie for the 4th time (at least), I was as delighted to see it as any other time. Great movies need always be great and I'm more convinced than ever of how transcendent this film is. It's one of my all-time favorite films. I recognized that several decades ago when I last watched the movie, and I recognize it today. This is a true classic.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, The Toy