Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Diredtor: Mel Stuart
Cast: Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson
Memorable Line: "Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple."

Adapted from the book by Roald Dahl, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a movie that is both enjoyable and intriguing. The enjoyment comes from the psychedelic treatment of sets and costumes and the intrigue comes from Gene Wilder's unique interpretation of the character Willy Wonka.

Charlie (Ostrum) is a poor kid living a spare existence with his family when by good fortune, he purchases a Wonka bar. This Wonka bar is special because of a world wide contest in which in a selected few candy bars contain a special gold invitation and this invitation gets the possessor entrance to the secretive candy manufacturing plant ran by Willy Wonka. Charlie is the last child to find an invitation and off he goes with his Grandpa Joe (Albertson) to Wonka's factory. The collection of children is quite interesting ranging from a rich spoiled brat, to a glutenous child, to a boy who loves TV. All these children meet their just rewards throughout the movie. Charlie is put to the test by the temptations of all the glory of the candy in the factory. All the while, the gregarious and somewhat sinister Willy Wonka supervises the children and their families on the tour.

What makes this movie so intriguing for me is Gene Wilder's performance. Behind the quirky and friendly exterior of Wonka is a manic energy and a sense of menace, as if he has to protect what he has with all cost and will accept the most worthy into his trust. Ostrum portrays a real sense of innocence and wonder and Albertson is convincing as Grandpa Jones. The other children take on their character's exaggerated flaws with relish.

The sets of the movie were spectacular for their time, but may seem a bit dated into today's CGI world. The music and songs are quite memorable and my favorite is "Pure Imagination " along with morality songs by the Oompa-Loompas.

While not a perfect film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a film that can be enjoyed by multiple generations of the family for very different reasons.