Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - A Movie Review

If we find the golden ticket we’ll get to go to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory!

Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 film. Willy Wonka, a famous chocolatier hides five golden tickets in five of his chocolate bars. The five lucky winners are gifted with a tour through his chocolate factory. During the tour, the group comes across delicious treats and more.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is forever a classic. This film was one of my favorites as a kid. I’ll always remember watching it in fourth grade where we had sweet snacks to nourish. A delectable watch from start to finish, this film is a character study and divulges audiences into imagination.

The cast of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory treasured every minute of working on this film. As the eccentric chocolatier, Gene Wilder did a tremendous job. His ‘Pure Imagination’ song is signature. Wilder made up most of his character's quirks along with the famous somersault he does in his introduction.

In his first and only film role, Peter Ostrum brought out Charlie’s wit and enthusiasm. Growing up differently from the other kids, Charlie is happy with the life that he has. I adored his unending love for his family. His luck changes, Charlie is willing to make a difference.

I know most audiences have had mixed feelings regarding Grandpa Joe, but for me, Jack Albertson sold his performance. ‘I’ve Got a Golden Ticket’ is forever my favorite song from this film. I always look forward to watching it and sometimes I play it on Youtube.

An entertaining ensemble of child actors filled the roles of the kids who get a tour of the factory. Julie Dawn Cole, Michael Bolner, Paris Therman, and the late Denise Nickerson were terrific as the loud, ungrateful, and spoiled kids. Willy Wonka is an important story about child growth.

It’s also a good lesson for parents. Let’s not forget about the actors who played the parents of the kids. We all have different upbringings, but we have to treat children as kids and not spoil them or get too carried away with their hobbies. Childhood is an important time to grow, learn, and find your interests.

You cannot watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory without a piece of candy. The story moves at a suitable pace as we explore the chocolate factory. Except, I felt like the film loses its flow near the end when they are exploring rooms that are not based around chocolate.

A plethora of stories lives on in the legacy of the making of this film. Mel Stuart studied the interactions among each character along with the moral. He included many spontaneous moments such as when everyone first entered the Chocolate Room.

The design team was put to good work creating an assortment of creative and delicious rooms. I wanted so badly to jump through my TV screen so I could eat all the delectable treats. The chocolate river was made entirely from 150,000 gallons of water and real chocolate.

Filmmakers achieved many tricks to conquer the magic of the story. Except, not all audiences enjoyed the film. Roald Dahl, the author of the story detested the finished project and refused to watch it for the remainder of his life. It’s still a fun film for all families to enjoy.

I always have a big smile on my face whenever I watch this film. If you have yet to see Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory make sure that you have a piece of chocolate to munch on.