How many of you have seen a great movie in a theatre and 45 years later you get to see it again…in a theatre? I recently had that privilege through the wonderful people at Fathom Events in honor of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’s forty-fifth anniversary. I first saw it in 1971 when I was a mere sprout. At that time, no one I knew had ever heard of the movie (or the book for that matter) and I had no idea what to expect. I was thoroughly enchanted and have been a fan ever since. Wow, what a movie! Gene Wilder brings Willie Wonka to glorious, whimsical life with a single gleam in his eye or a hilarious one-liner. The five children who are lucky enough to find the sought after Golden Tickets are perfectly cast. This group is thinned out one by one as a result of their ill-mannered behavior, each to a well-deserved fate. The Oompa Loompas and their well-timed singing is still catchy and informative. At the heart of the movie, though, is Charlie Bucket himself, played with such innocent simplicity and depth by Peter Ostrum. I felt for him every time he didn’t get that ticket, and when he finally did, I wanted to cheer!! I admit, I had tears in my eyes when Mr. Wonka says to Charlie, “Don’t forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he wished for, he lived happily ever after.” If the only version of this story you have seen is the Johnny Depp version, I feel sorry for you. Please do yourself a favor and find a copy of this movie. To quote Mr.Wonka for the last time, “If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it,” as you are immersed and mesmerized by this sublime movie classic.
Retro Review – Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
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I’ll never forget a book talk for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that my school librarian gave my class when I was in 6th grade, with the pleasure of finding it on the bookshelf, just to devour it! Talk about a cool kick-start to reading! Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of watching this with my daughters and then grandson over the years. It’s definitely the best version! Thanks for bringing back such wonderful memories!
Terry, you are welcome! If you ever get a chance to see it on the big screen, in a theatre, I highly recommend it. I had a lot of fun noticing little details that I had missed watching it on a DVD or on T.V.