Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Review Date: March 26th, 2022

This is my 3rd review. But I’m starting to get to the hang of this Universe website builder thing now. I have quickly managed to use certain features within the builder, along with some additional discoveries along the way. But without further ado, let’s get down to the review with Pure Imagination. lol

WARNING: SPOILERS!!

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 American musical fantasy film, based on the popular children’s book by Roald Dahl known as Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. It’s about a young boy named Charlie Bucket who, after unexpectedly finding a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, visits Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, along with 4 other kids from around the world.

Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) & his family are very poor. But 1 day, Wonka (Gene Wilder) announces via Television that he has hidden 5 Golden Tickets in chocolate Wonka bars. Finders of the tickets will receive a tour of the factory, along with a lifetime supply of chocolate, causing him (Charlie Bucket) to have hope. Shortly after, 4/5 children have found their tickets now.

1. Augustus Gloop (Michael Böllner), an obese boy who says that eating is his hobby.

2. Violet Beauregarde (Denise Nickerson), a young girl who seems to hold a Guinness World Record of chewing gum the longest. She even sticks it in her ear when she’s having her meals, & stuff.

3. Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole), a spoiled young girl who always gets what she wants. Her favorite phrase is “I WANT IT NOW!”.

And finally…

4. Mike Teevee (Paris Themmen), a young boy who develops an addiction to Television.

Now there’s only 1 ticket left, & someone has to find the last 1.

Moments later, Charlie Bucket surprisingly receives the 5th & final Golden Ticket as he opens up a Wonka candy bar that he purchased, despite some trouble with a counterfeiter. Then, he returns home, gives Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson) the Wonka candy bar, & talks to him about the ticket that he got. He (Charlie Bucket) chooses him (Grandpa Joe) to be his chaperone for the tour of the factory. But when they arrive, Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, & the other 4 children meet Willy Wonka. My Dad really loves Gene Wilder’s version of Willy Wonka though.

Then, he gives them a tour which has full-blown Pure Imagination in it though.

During the tour, they encounter a lot of shenanigans such as…

1. Augustus Gloop getting sucked up by a pipe, while tasting the Chocolate River.

2. The boat ride with a tunnel full of terrifying imagery.

3. Violet Beauregarde turning into a massive blueberry. 🫐

4. Charlie Bucket & Grandpa Joe experiment with Fizzy Lifting Drinks in a room against Wonka’s orders.

5. Veruca Salt falls down a chute in a room with Geese that Lay Golden Eggs.

6. Mike Teevee gets shrunk into the size of an ant in a very white room. 🐜

After all of those shenanigans, Willy Wonka angrily tells both Charlie Bucket & Grandpa Joe that they had violated the contract when they stole the Fizzy Lifting Drinks, thereby forfeiting their prize. Not long after, Charlie Bucket gives Willy Wonka an Everlasting Gobstopper, which makes him happy, & he (Willy Wonka) declares him (Charlie Bucket) the winner. Then, Slugworth (Günter Meisner) arrives, & he (Willy Wonka) informs Charlie that Slugworth is actually his employee named Mr. Wilkinson. But the offer to buy the gobstopper was a morality test for ticket winners, & only Charlie had passed it.

Charlie Bucket, Grandpa Joe, & Willy Wonka hop onto the Wonkavator (a glass elevator with multiple directions), & they blast out of the factory like a rocket. 🚀 During their flight, Wonka tells him (Charlie Bucket) that when he retires, the chocolate factory will be passed down to the entire Bucket family.

The End

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) has been 1 of my favorite musicals back when I was a kid. I used to watch the film on VHS a very long time ago. I love everything about this movie, & my favorite part of the movie is the Pure Imagination song.

OVERALL: 10/10

End of Review