Review #131: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Cast
Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka), Jack Albertson (Grandpa Joe), Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), Roy Kinnear (Henry Salt), Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt), Leonard Stone (Sam Beauregarde), Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde), Dodo Denney (Mrs. Teevee), Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), Ursula Reit (Mrs. Gloop), Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop), and Diana Sowle (Mrs. Bucket) Directed by Mel Stuart.
Review
41 years, and it is a grand classic, pure and simple. This was based on the 1964 novel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. However, Dahl apparently did not like this film for its focus on Wonka and not Charlie (hence the title). However, this film is still good. Look, no matter what happens, we're going to care more for Wonka then Charlie (even in the 2005 version, especially given Depp's performance in it...). Speaking of that, Wilder does great in this film. First time you see him, and he impresses you. The rest do fine. The sense of wonder is here, with all the machines and candy (with weird looking chocolate non-withstanding). It does have its scariness to a 10 with the carousel scene. While the movie does not follow the book much, it entices you anyway with a sense of fun.
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
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