Review of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) by Charley C — 07 Dec 2012

Charlie Bucket: Mr. Wonka, they won't really be burned in the furnace, will they?

Willy Wonka: Well, I think that furnace is only lit every other day, so they have a good sporting chance, haven't they?

A poor lad wins the chance of a life time to tour the most eccentric and wonderful Sweet factory in the world.

Gene Wilder: Willy Wonka.

Jack Albertson: Grandpa Joe.

Peter Ostrum: Charlie.

"Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" is another one of those films of the late-1960s and early-1970s that killed the Hollywood musical.

The film is long, tedious, and disjointed in too many areas to be a success unless were all spoon fed block heads of course. Gene Wilder stars as the titled character and he invites five kids to visit his famous factory after they find lucky tickets in their candy bars. Sounds great, yes.

Of course all the kids, but one, are total brats and the film tries to convey messages on how to rear children to be outstanding adults, being sadly diluted.

That is about it for the start of a sorry screenplay. The direction is poor also. This is a good-looking film though as the production values are extremely high it's flat between the lines.

Jack Albertson is priceless. He almost makes the film succeed all by himself, but not quite enough sadly.

''There's no earthly way of knowing Which direction we are going There's no knowing where we're rowing Or which way the river's flowing.''.

I will tell you what avid readers...I do not know where this film is going, the bin or the inferno, this line sums it up.

This rubbish makes me wish that the damn 70s was banished from existence with it's disgusting style and gaudish tacky fashion.

Oompa Loompa's(yuck!), Willy Wonka(camp!) and Charlie(wimpish!) look like freaky apparitions out of a 70s horror show.

Everyone may love this but I hate it, it's an insult to the book and thank god they remade it! Poor poor Roald Dahl hated it too, I wish he could have seen the remake...