Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971): Dir: Mel Stuart / Cast: Gene Wilder, Peter Ostrum, Jack Albertson, Julie Dawn Cole, Paris Themmen: Magical musical comedy about children, candy and what draws them together. Gene Wilder portrays the mysterious Willy Wonka whose chocolate factory concealed five gold tickets within billions of candy bars. Those lucky winners receive a tour of the factory. Peter Ostrum plays young and ambitious Charlie Bucket who has a great family life, particularly with Grandpa Joe, played by Jack Albertson. When all seems lost and hopeless Charlie ends up with the final ticket and offers Grandpa Joe to be his escort. The factory is an imaginary sight to one's mind. Rivers of chocolate, bubbles floating about, gummie bears hanging from trees. It is delicious until the rules are broken and that is where the lesson stems. Director Mel Stuart excites the imagination with this colorful presentation but perhaps it could be interpreted as a tad harsh. The four other children are naughty and are met with consequences when they disobey. One kid falls into the chocolate river. One girl chews forbidden gum and balloons up and turns blue. Julie Dawn Cole plays a demanding spoiled girl whose pursuit of a golden egg renders her a bad egg. Theme regards truth, heart and the sweet tooth of family and the generations to come. Score: 9 / 10
