Some guys like short legs on a women, some guys like long legs on a women, me?......I prefer somethi...
Some guys like short legs on a women, some guys like long legs on a women, me?......I prefer something in between ;-)
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Last week my daughter came back from a shopping trip with her mum, clutched in her chocolate stained hands was a copy of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
She was eager to watch the film I had raved about to her for long enough, but first things first, her mum told her she still had her homework to do, her tea to eat and if she was good, if she was really, really good, then she could watch it.
I willed her to be good, I really did! But she’s her father’s daughter and alas it only took two minutes for her to breach her good behaviour bond. “Awww please can I watch it” I wailed, “Not until Zara behaves and does her homework” my wife replied.
A quick run through her reading book with her, whispered answers on her maths homework, and we were set.
Released in 1971 Willy Wonka was written by Roald Dahl (both the book, Charlie and the chocolate factory, and the screenplay), it introduced us to Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket and starred Gene Wilder (one of my heros of comedy) as Willy Wonka and Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe.
Charlie lives with his mother and grandparents in a hovel, money is not so much tight as non existent, both sets of grandparents are confined to a huge bed in the middle
of the room and his father is long dead. This is the kind of poor we associate with mediaeval times, not the seventies, but Willy Wonka is the ultimate children’s fairy tale so poor has to be really poor, how else can we believe that dreams can come true?
From the window of the wash-house that Charlie’s mother works in he can see the chimney of the chocolate factory, he has often wondered what lies behind the factory gates. His Grandpa Joe told him the story of how Willy Wonky closed the factory years ago because some of his workers had started stealing his ideas and recipes, they handed his secrets over to his arch rival Slugworths and so he sacked them all and closed the factory down. A few years later people started to notice smoke coming from the chimney, soon the factory was in full production again but this time there was no workforce coming and going through the gates, no one ever went into the factory and only Wonka’s new chocolate bars and sweets came out! Wonka himself was never seen but his chocolate was the best you could buy.
The fun really starts when we hear that Willy Wonka has hidden five golden tickets in his wonka bars, the five lucky finders of the tickets will win a day in the factory and a lifetime’s supply of chocolate. Charlie dreams of finding a ticket but being so poor he doesn’t hold out much hope of being one of the lucky ones. Grandpa Joe upsets Charlie’s mum by insisting that he has as much chance as anyone and if that he deserves to find a ticket because he wants one more than anyone else in the world.
The film is essentially filmed in two distinct parts.
The first part of the film is really funny, sad, and full of hope. The set pieces when everyone on the planet is seeking one of the tickets are all great. We are introduces to all the winners as they are interviewed by the media and each one is more horrible than the last, Julie Dawn Cole has a great part in the film, she plays the part of Verruca Salt, a horribly spoiled little brat who’s peanut factory owning father has his entire workforce opening cases of wonka bars to satisfy his daughters need for a ticket. Roy Kinnear and Pat Coombs are great as Verruca’s parents. The other three winners (apart from Charlie) are, Leonard Stone and Denise Nickerson as Sam and Violet Beauregarde (Father and daughter), Nora Denny as Mrs Teevee and Paris Themmen as her son Mike, Ursula Reit as Mrs Gloop and Michael Bollner as her son Augustus, they all play their parts just right, especially Paris Themmen as Mike Teevee.
The second part of the film is filmed entirely inside the amazing chocolate factory, inside is a wonderland of edible trees, rivers of chocolate, weird and wacky inventions and surprises around every corner.
Before they entered the factory each winner was approached by Slugworth and asked to steal an everlasting gob stopper for him, he offered lots of money and seemed to find everyone agreeable to his dirty deed.
If I didn’t know better I would have swore that Gene Wilder and Roald Dahl had got together for a drug induced conference before filming began, how else can we explain Oompa Loompa’s and Wilders majestic performance as Wonky Wonka?
I am often berated for giving away too much plot and stuff when I try to review a film, so I will try not to make the same mistake again (If it’s not already too late).
My own opinion on this film is that it is *the* perfect children’s comedy musical, not only that it's a brilliant film for Dads to watch with their kids too, some of the humour can fly over smaller children’s heads, like the Ransom scene in the first half or the Super Computer scene with Tim Brooke Taylor.
Jack Albertson and Gene Wilder are on top form in their respective roles and Peter Ostrum is a joy as Charlie, he captures the essence of Charlie’s goodness effortlessly.
There are great songs all through the film, written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and the direction by Mel Stewart is spot on.
Produced by Stan Margulies and David L. Wolper the film runs for approx 90 mins of sheer bliss.
My wife bought this for £2.99 in a bargain bin at Woolies.
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Good review but its in the wrong place. It should be under http://dvd.ciao.co.uk/willy_wonka_and_the_chocolate_factory_wide_screen__34817
TeenyB 14.07.2003 23:31
I loved this film as a child to, and that child in me has to see it everytime its repeated on TV!! My hubbie has promised to take me to Cadbury's World when our son is a little older and I have visions of it being like Wonka's in the film! Oh how I'm setting myself up for a fall!! Thanks for bringing back the memories - great descriptive Op. Tina xx
LindaL 02.07.2003 00:57
This film always scared me witless. I still can't watch it, even though my kids love it.
Who better to bring Roald Dahl's adored children's story to life than the mastermind ... more
behind inventive films like EDWARD SCISSORHANDS and BEETLEJUICE? From Tim Burton's opening shot against Danny Elfman's eerie score this CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTO...
This is a new edition of the famous Dahl story of Charlie Bucket and his Golden Ticket ... more
and Willy Wonka and his amazing chocolate factory. It features a great new Quentin Blake cover as well as a whole new exciting end section about Roald Dahl and his ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Brilliant and imaginative special effects, talented cast and gallons of chocolate Disadvantages: A little too long, quite scary in places and irratating oompa loompas!
Jun 23rd, 2003
very helpful by (100%):
