1971
Directed by Mel Stuart
This is a movie I grew up with, despite being born around 20 years after it came out. I have seen it many times (although my mom would always fast forward through the tunnel scene, because it scared us, and Charlie's mom's solo, because my mom hated it). This movie is absolutely magical and everything a children's movie should be: smart, not too preachy, and accessible to adults.
Willy Wonka is an eccentric candy maker who hides five golden tickets in his chocolate bars. Whoever finds a tickets gets a lifelong supply of candy, a tour of his factory, and deep emotional scarring. Charlie Bucket finds one of the tickets and decides to take his grandpa, who is magically able to get out of bed as soon as there is something he wants to do. I sense a faker. Anyway, the children and their guests tour the factory. As soon as a child breaks the rules, they are disposed of in some horrific way and a song is sung about it.
Well, you can see just from the above picture that this film is absolutely gorgeous and impossible to watch without at least a bucket of candy at your side. We have not had a good musical in awhile, so I welcomed this movie with open arms.
Don't even talk to me about the remake; seriously, it is that bad.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
The chocolate river was made of real chocolate. Apparently, it spoiled really quickly and the smell was just awful.
Roald Dahl reportedly hated the movie.
One Oompa-Loompa was a female.
The actresses who played Veruca Salt and Violet Beauregarde had crushes on the actor who played Charlie Bucket.
I've Got A Golden Ticket:
