Review 722: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

 

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a delight. A fantasy film that charms and wows 

Based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) is a poor paper boy who lives with his family and is particularly close with his bedridden grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson)   When Willy Wonka places 5 Golden Tickets in his bars of chocolate, five children (including Charlie) find them and are invited to tour his factory. The first four are pretty naughty and spoiled but Charlie.  

The story, like all good fantasy  Right from the films opening title sequence showcasing delicious looking chocolate being manufactured  The best film of its kind since The Wizard of Oz

Director Mel Stuart does a expert job  He understands that kids are not stupid and that this film will contain a lot of references The cinematography is gorgeous and captures the delightful strangeness of the titular factory helping to contrast with the normal world. The production design is outstanding, crafting each room in the Chocolate Factory with outlandish sets and  the film has a wonderful "Neverland" look to it so that it can't be pegged for anytime or place. It's a fantasy. The songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley are catchy, timeless and

At the centre of this visual feast is Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, Chocolate Maker extraordinaire. He's intriguingly kept off screen for the first hour or so of the film but when he  He has the ideas and ambition of a child but the mind and  of a diabolical mastermind. There's something wonderfully enigmatic about his demenour. You can't tell if he's lying or telling the truth but you know that he has everything planned out. It's clear that he has patience but only for the people and ideas that deserve it. Everything else turns into a blueberry. Gene brought a loveable quality to a character who is not intrisicaly loveable, is written in a fightening way. He's kind of a monsterous, boggyman, nightmareish character who was spinning magic  But he's also sauve and very kind when the screenplay requires it.

Jack Albertson is another standout playing Grandpa Joe. A 90-something year old man, yet he seems to become young again when he's around Charlie; all his tiredness falls away and he becomes as eager, energetic and excited as   He and Charlie are shown to have an incredibly strong bond over the course of the film. Joe has a stubborn streak to him  

Charlie's innocence and kindness to the test 

Out of all the kids who  Julie Dawn Cole's Veruca Salt is easily the MVP of the group. She positively  She is allowed to run wild and 

5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.