This week sees the release of Fantastic Mr. Fox in the US, an adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl children’s story. Wes Anderson directs. Best known for adult themed, quirky comedy dramas, there is a question over whether he has been able to craft a movie with his unique style of humour that also appeals to a younger audience.
Whilst past Dahl adaptations like Matilda and James and the Giant Peach have been firmly aimed at children, it has been proved that his stories can be made to appeal to both young and old. The brilliant Gene Wilder stars, as we look at 1971’s Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Willy Wonka opens with Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum). The youngest member of a truly working-class family, Charlie lives with his hard-working mother, and two sets of bedridden grandparents. The definition of paupers, they all struggle to exist on little more than cabbage water, with a simple loaf of bread considered a luxury item. Big hearted Charlie works a paper route after school, to contribute what little he can towards his families meagre existence. It’s an ordinary day at school for Charlie when word comes in that Mr Willy Wonka is opening the doors of his factory for one day only. The world famous chocolatier has been a recluse for many years, since a fallout with now rival Slugworth. No-one ever goes in or out of Wonka’s factory, and it’s a mystery how he manages to produce vast volumes of wonderful chocolate.
The whole world goes Wonka mad, as literally millions of bars of chocolate are bought up, everyone hoping to find one of just five lucky golden tickets that entitles the bearer entry to a confectionary paradise. Charlie is no exception, and dares to dream that he has a chance as good as anyone’s, despite not being able to afford more than a couple of bars of Wonka’s favourites. Four lucky children find tickets, could Charlie possibly be number five?
Willy Wonka is almost a game of two halves. Charlie’s under privileged existence, and his dreams of sampling just some of the luxuries others
Then Gene Wilder turns up, and the story is turned on it’s head. What starts off as a story of childhood innocence becomes a cutting look at what is wrong with the ‘youth of today’. Gene Wilder’s song, and the beautifully realised confectionary garden replete with chocolate waterfall are awe inspiring, a children’s fantasy land brought to splendid technicolor life. But despite the brightly coloured scenery, the tale takes a decidedly dark turn. Augustus Gloop’s gluttony, Violet Beauregarde’s passion for gum are their downfall, the greedy and spoilt Veruca Salt and square eyed Mike Teevee also get their just desserts.
Firmly a product of a more innocent time, Willy Wonka is none the less still
There are some good performances here. Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket is almost TOO sickly sweet, and most of the children and parents are passable.
A touching children’s story with wonderfully written songs, and a darkly comic undertone make Willy Wonka an amazing movie, with much for all ages to enjoy. If Anderson’s Mr. Fox turns out half as good as this, it’ll be well worth watching.
Fantastic Mr. Fox is on general release in the UK now, and opens in the US this Friday 13th November.
Could this be Gene Wilder's most self-indulgent performance? I think the fact that they were contractually obligated to change the title of the film from Charlie & The Chocolate Factory to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory would be good indication.
Have you ever wondered exactly where this movie actually takes place? I mean, it looks by all rational consideration to be an English town of some kind… maybe Wessex? That's a British town, right? The accents are everywhere, giving the film an placeless/timeless quality.
This is undoubtedly a classic, and head and shoulders above Tim Burton's version… even if Burton's does cover the glass elevator and is more self aware of some of the story's absurditities… like pre-written songs for misbehaving children. If he knew they were wankers, why invite them in the first place? Just to mess with them?
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by HeyUGuys Movie News, Barry Steele. Barry Steele said: RT @heyuguysblog Review: Did you ever see… Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory : HeyUGuys http://bit.ly/35mtjy […]
[…] Review: Did you ever see… Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory … […]
This is still my favorite Wonka flick. Even without the CGI and glossy effects of the modern version, the candy/chocolate still made me salivate!
give peace a chance “grey’s anatomy ” review…
Mike Judge was one of my favourite creators when I was a teen. I remember seeing Beavis and Butthead Do America in the cinemas, months before the TV show had hit Australia. I loved those degenerate teenagers, who were a mix of pure id and pure stupidit…
You know, I didn't actually pull that fact out of my ass, I heard it from someone who was in a position to be taken serious. Now that I do some of my own research however, I find that you are totally correct – the name was chanhed for reasons of wartime propaganda… To think I've spent all this time resenting Gene Wilder for being a jerk…
They were obligated to change the title because Charlie stood for a racist slang for Vietnamese. This film came out right in the midst of the Vietnam war, that had nothing to do with Gene Wilder.
Self-indulgent? Playing an eccentric, candy obsessed factory owner would be enough to tempt anyone to indulge. He looks like he's having a ball in this film.
My God – do you people really associate “Charlie” with racist slang still? Where the heck is your head. Get educated and 'Sorry Charlie” (another) to all the Charlies out there.
Dear Mr. Wilder,
You are dearly missed by me (yes a fan). I would love love love to see you in more movies or TV! You are awesome and no current Actor/ess holds a torch to your genius!
I love Wilder's performance in this; a bit of both gentle compassion and an almost devilish sense of schadenfreude, when it comes to the bad children.
If they ever made an American version of “Doctor Who,” Wilder surely should have played him.