Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

A poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.

Director:

Mel Stuart

Writers:

Roald Dahl (screenplay), Roald Dahl (book)

Stars:

Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Wilder	...	Willy Wonka
Jack Albertson	...	Grandpa Joe
Peter Ostrum	...	Charlie
Roy Kinnear	...	Mr. Salt
Julie Dawn Cole	...	Veruca Salt
Leonard Stone	...	Mr. Beauregarde
Denise Nickerson	...	Violet Beauregarde
Nora Denney	...	Mrs. Teevee (as Dodo Denney)
Paris Themmen	...	Mike Teevee
Ursula Reit	...	Mrs. Gloop
Michael Bollner	...	Augustus Gloop
Diana Sowle	...	Mrs. Bucket
Aubrey Woods	...	Bill
David Battley	...	Mr. Turkentine
Günter Meisner	...	Mr. Slugworth (as Gunter Meisner)

Storyline

The world is astounded when Willy Wonka, for years a recluse in his factory, announces that five lucky people will be given a tour of the factory, shown all the secrets of his amazing candy, and one will win a lifetime supply of Wonka chocolate. Nobody wants the prize more than young Charlie, but as his family is so poor that buying even one bar of chocolate is a treat, buying enough bars to find one of the five golden tickets is unlikely in the extreme. But in movieland, magic can happen. Charlie, along with four somewhat odious other children, get the chance of a lifetime and a tour of the factory. Along the way, mild disasters befall each of the odious children, but can Charlie beat the odds and grab the brass ring?

---

Plot Keywords:

factory | chocolate | ticket | candy | golden ticket | 

---

Taglines:

Charlie is let loose in the chocolate factory and every kid's dream comes true.

---

Genres:

Family | Fantasy | Musical

---

Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA East Germany West Germany Belgium

Language:

English French German Italian

Release Date:

30 June 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Filming Locations:

Emmy-Noether-Straße, Munich, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$526,633, 4 September 2016

Gross USA:

$526,633

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$526,633

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolper Pictures Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 89 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in Munich, because it had a "storybook quality." They wanted somewhere that couldn't be identified as any time or place.

---

Goofs

After Willy Wonka shuts off the Everlasting Gobstopper machine, he goes to pick one off the conveyor belt to show to the guests. The conveyor belt pulls up briefly with the Gobstopper (at around 1h 09 mins), revealing it was previously stuck to the belt.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Bill: All right, all right, all right, what's it going to be? A Triple Cream Cup for Christopher. A Sizzler for June Marie. And listen!
[the children fall silent]
Bill: Wonka's got a new one today.
Children: What is it?
Bill: This is called a Scrumpdiddlyumptious Bar.

---

Crazy Credits

At the same time as the end credits are playing, the film shows the Wonkavator rising higher and higher.

---

Alternate Versions

The original theatrical version of this film was released by Paramount, but all television, video, and theatrical re-issue versions of the film are distributed by Warner Bros. As a result, the current version in circulation opens with a Warner Bros. logo. This happened as a result of Quaker's and Paramount's reaction to the film's poor initial box-office returns; Quaker bowed out early, and Paramount let their distribution rights expire. Since Wolper Productions had been acquired by Warners by that time, the rights reverted to them.

---

Connections

Spoofed in Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: Ami's Secret/Taffy Trouble/Dance A-Go-Go (2004)

---

Soundtracks

Wondrous Boat Ride
(uncredited)
Lyrics and Music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
Performed by Gene Wilder

User Reviews

Gene Wilder revealed...

Most excellent works in the arts are seen and enjoyed at a variety of "levels." That is true of this movie in general and of Gene Wilder in specific.

Wilder has been known in the circles of movie creators as a creative genius for many years. Here, his acting ability showcases that genius. To be sure, at the level of good fun for kids and Moms and Dads, he comes through. But writers must have loved his work. Watch for the "look" in his eyes. You will see "changes" in them as he speaks or as he listens to the kids. Those unheard, barely seen changes can be read many ways. And that is the genius. They put more into the lines than the words themselves.

Art should be clearly and quickly understood. It should also be the tool used to make us wonder a bit. Think a little. Or find meaning we didn't see at first look.

In this movie, Gene Wilder's almost imperceptible nuances speak volumes.