Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Genres - Comedy, Fantasy, Music, Children's/Family, Musical  |   Sub-Genres - Coming-of-Age, Family-Oriented Adventure, Musical Fantasy  |   Release Date - Jun 30, 1971 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 98 min.  |   Countries - Germany, United Kingdom, United States  |   MPAA Rating - G
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Review by Lucia Bozzola

As dark and sweet as the titular confection, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) overcame a lackluster theatrical release to become an adored black comedy/musical and family classic. Scripted by Roald Dahl from his children's book (with an uncredited rewrite by David Seltzer), director Mel Stuart and set designer Harper Goff rendered the adventure a psychedelically colored trip through a candy factory that was equal parts children's paradise and creepy funhouse. Even as Gene Wilder's mysterious, purple-clad candy man Wonka extols the whimsical possibilities of "pure imagination," the orange-faced Oompa Loompas tunefully back up Wonka's message about the evils of parent-enabled gluttony, greed, and TV sloth. Though Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was greeted with audience indifference in 1971, Leslie Briscusse, Anthony Newley, and Walter Scharf's song score earned an Oscar nomination, and Sammy Davis Jr.'s version of "Candy Man" became a 1972 chart-topper. Given new life by TV and home video, legions of music makers and dreamers of the dreams have since succumbed to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's wicked charms, leading to a 25th anniversary theatrical re-release in 1996.