Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Bill: The world tastes good ’cause the Candy Man thinks it should.


Although not a big box-office smash, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has become a classic of home entertainment on video and DVD. The film is a work of “Pure Imagination” (to borrow the name of the theme song sung by Gene Wilder) and features a child’s garden of candy delights, from chocolates to lollipops, and Scrumpdiddlyumptious Bars to Everlasting Gobstoppers.

Fun Facts:
The title of the film was changed from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was the name of Dahl’s book, to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory because the Quaker Oats Company, one of the original backers, wanted the movie to help advertise its new Wonka chocolate bar. The movie was remade in 2005 as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

One of the songs from the movie, “The Candy Man,” became a signature hit for Sammy Davis, Jr.

Released 1971
Directed by Mel Stuart
Screenplay by Roald Dahl and David Seltzer, based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley

Starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, Jack Albertson as Grandpa Joe, Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket, Roy Kinnear as Mr. Salt, Julie Dawn Cole as Veruca Salt, Leonard Stone as Mr. Beauregard, Denise Nickerson as Violet Beauregarde, Nora Denney as Mrs. Teevee, Paris Themmen as Mike Teevee, Ursula Reit as Mrs. Gloop, Michael Bollner as Augustus Gloop, Diana Sowle as Mrs. Bucket, Aubrey Woods as Bill, David Battley as Mr. Turkentine, Günter Meisner as Mr. Slugworth, Peter Capell as The Tinker, Werner Heyking as Mr. Jopeck, and Peter Stuart as Winkelmann