- Whenever I see this wonderful film, I am reminded of the first love of my life, Andrea Bush. Her father was Warren Bush, a Producer in Hollywood, and because of this, she had met Gene Wilder on the set of "WILLY WONKA...". She spoke fondly of him, and would reminesce about his antics. Did you know that "flip" he does, when we first meet him, was the most difficult of the stunts, he was expected to perform?
- Two authors of note, Ian Fleming of "James Bond" fame, and Roald Dahl, a wonderful dark-story teller; were sitting on the veranda, one typically rainy British day, sipping Gin-Tonics and speaking generally about the state of Children's Literature. They made a wager between themselves, regarding their respective abilities to write such children's fare. The results of that bet were "CHITTY-CHITTY, BANG-BANG" by Fleming, and "CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY" by Mr. Dahl. Somewhere down the road, it was decided to change the title to "WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY". Pretty neat 'eh? By the way, Roald Dahl went on to write several more children's adventures.
- This film is a visual and intellectual delight. It is filled with "double-entendre", and "out-n-out" silliness! Anyone who tells you they didn't like this movie, should be sent to the "WONKA-VISION TV-Studio"! This is a film every bratty child should be forced to watch! There is a message here for nearly everyone. Wilder's performance is the best of his career. The children are perfect, particularly "Veruka Salt". When she and Daddy are found to be "bad eggs", I died. I can remember kids just like these. They're still around...And unfortunately, some of them are running the country! The "Oompa-Loompa's" get a little tiresome, but otherwise a good show!
- Wonka seems to straddle the road between salvation and damnation, throughout his "little guided tour". Whether whistling away the flawed progeny of equally flawed parents, like some mad, impish Pied Piper in Candyland, or explaining his eccentric mechanisms to awe-struck adults, he is the Mad Hatter, Mr. Scratch, and Castenada's Don Juan, all rolled into one smiling "WONKA-BAR". The nearly pathetic Charlie and his Grandfather, seem to be the only honest, and trustworthy characters in the film, but even they succomb to temptation. Fortunately, Wonka is an understanding God, and like JOB, Charlie's faith has been tested, and he has been proven worthy. Most importantly, Charlie and his Grandfather are human, and not paragons of virtue. It is their humanity that reminds us of our own flaws, and facets.
E-MAIL ME AT: THE WIZARD OF ODD
