MEL STUART

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBB.5.

USA, 1971.  Wolper Pictures Ltd..  Screenplay by Roald Dahl, based on his book Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.  Cinematography by Arthur Ibbetson.  Produced by Stan Margulies, David L. Wolper.  Music by Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley.  Production Design by Harper Goff.  Costume Design by Helen Colvig.  Film Editing by David Saxon.  

Roald Dahl’s most popular novel arrives on the silver screen with lots of fun in store for everyone. In need of someone to leave his beloved chocolate factory to, Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) decides to hold a contest and let the winner be the heir to his fortune. He puts a certain number of golden tickets in the wrappings of his ever-popular chocolate bars, and whoever gets a ticket is invited to a tour of the factory where the contest will be held. A poor little boy named Charlie ends up being one of the contenders, and when he and his grandfather (Jack Albertson) arrive at the factory they find themselves in for some of the most delightful treats they’ve ever seen. One by one the other children go missing in mysterious accidents and it soon begins to dawn upon our hero that he might end up the winner. But will he? You find out, it’s fun for kids and the kids inside the rest of us, even if the song score is a bit outdated.

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Actor-Musical/Comedy (Gene Wilder)