Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory is rated G:

Thirty plus years after its original release, Warner Brothers is once again treating families with the hugely popular sugar coated Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Based on Roald Dahl's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this musical confection proves that one does not necessarily outgrow a sweet tooth.

Our hero Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), comes from a home filled with love--but little else. While hard-working Mom (Diana Sowle) does laundry for a living, her scanty wage barely supports Charlie and his two sets of bed-ridden grandparents. Faced with having cabbage water for dinner yet again, all are astounded when the young boy brings home a loaf of bread. This perk is complements of his meager paper route.

Charlie's humble world is changed upon learning that a local candy-maker, Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder), is giving away a lifetime supply of chocolate and a tour of his mysterious factory, to five lucky children and their escorts. In order to qualify for passage into candy paradise, Charlie must find one of the winning golden tickets hidden in Wonka products scattered throughout the world. But his dream fades as other contenders, each with their own behavioral neurosis, use greater financial means and influence to gobble up the elusive tickets--until fate lends a hand.

Industrial espionage presents itself when an ominous stranger asks Charlie to smuggle an Everlasting Gobstopper (is there any other kind?). The reward: financial security and comfort for his family. With their character and honesty soon to be tested, Charlie, his Grandpa (Jack Albertson) and the rest of the contestants wonder if they have bitten off more than they can chew, as they embark on the incredible expedition where "just desserts" are on the menu.

Youngsters may temporarily come down from their sugar highs during some very brief nightmarish scenes on a boat ride, or feel some concern (despite Mr. Wonka's reassurances) when children's disobedience results in some bizarre consequences.

Yet the story serves up some powerful morals, so indulge your taste buds and have a second helping of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's timeless tantalizing tale.

Studio: 1971 Warner Bros..

The Oompa Loompas (little dwarf-like people who work in the chocolate factory) sing, “If the child is a spoiled brat who is to blame? The mother and the father.” Are parents always responsible for their children’s poor behavior?

Charlie pins all his hopes and dreams on finding a winning ticket. Realistically, what kind of odds do you think Charlie was up against? Although the story allows him to attain his desire, does longing for something increase your chances of success in a luck-of-the-draw situation?

In the film, the other winning children are portrayed as greedy or self-centered. Does Charlie’s wish for a ticket demonstrate that he also possesses some of these characteristics?

Pinocchio is another tale of hoping for your heart’s desire, while Road to El Dorado explores the theme of greed.

Willy Wonka on DVD offers some great enhancements—besides the fantastic color and Dolby Digital sound. Warner’s newest release of the film offers a behind-the-scenes featurette shot during the making of the movie, along with a longer documentary complete with comments from the Wonka kids as adults. (See if you can guess what Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie, is doing for a living today!) And if those aren’t enough Wonka treats, all the child actors gather together for the first time since the making of the movie to offer a full-length audio commentary while you view the movie. Throw in some sing-along-songs and a few black and white set photos, and you’ll have nearly everything a Wonka-nut could want.

(Audio tracks are available in 5.1 Dolby Digital for English, but only mono for French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Subtitles are provided in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.)