Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Mel Stuart, 1971)
I thought I'd already reviewed this film, but I guess not, so apologies for being half a year late and not remembering all that I wanted to say.
Having almost always heard this movie spoken of in glowing terms, I'd always pictured it as a huge, very polished production that out-Disneyned Disney. It was completely shocking, therefore, to learn what an independent production it was — and one financed by the Quaker Oats Company at that! I still haven't come fully to grips with that disconnect between my preconceptions and the reality; and it almost certainly impacted my viewing. Despite some (perhaps inevitable) amateurish moments, however, I think that the movie's ramshackle origins eventually work in its favor, lending it a charm that a major studio production likely would have lacked. (I'm picturing the
Dr. Doolittle version of Dahl's book and shivering.)
I'm actually not much of a fan of the source material (nor of the Tim Burton film adaptation), but I'm happy to report that I did actually enjoy this film. A lot of the credit there — as everyone seems to agree — belongs to Gene Wilder. I don't think he gives a perfect performance, but he repeatedly elevates some otherwise ordinary moments with the smallest nuance of voice, look, or gesture, and whenever he's at the center of things, the result is rather delightful. I still have some problems with the story, but there are enough other good elements here to make up for that.
How was Wonka never mentioned in
this thread?
Grade: B-
pixote