Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:24:05 PM Wikipedia source
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 American musical fantasy film directed by Mel Stuart from a screenplay by Roald Dahl, based on his 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It stars Gene Wilder as chocolatier Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of a poor child named Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) who, upon finding a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, wins the chance to visit Willy Wonka's chocolate factory along with four other children from around the world. Filming took place in Munich from August to November 1970. Dahl was credited with writing the film's screenplay; however, David Seltzer was brought in to do an uncredited rewrite. Against Dahl's wishes, changes were made to the story, and other decisions made by the director led Dahl to disown the film. The musical numbers were written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley while Walter Scharf arranged and conducted the orchestral score. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was released in the United States on June 30, 1971, by Paramount Pictures. While the film received positive reviews from critics, it was not a major financial success, earning just $4 million by the end of its original run. It received a nomination for Best Original Score at the 44th Academy Awards and Wilder was nominated for Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical at the 29th Golden Globe Awards. The film also introduced the song "The Candy Man", which went on to be recorded by Sammy Davis Jr. and become a popular hit. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory has since become highly popular through television airings and home video sales. In 2014, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Infobox
Directed by
Mel Stuart
Screenplay by
mw- Roald Dahl David Seltzer (uncredited)
Based on
Charlie and the Chocolate Factoryby Roald Dahl
Produced by
Stan Margulies David L. Wolper
Starring
Gene Wilder Jack Albertson Peter Ostrum Roy Kinnear Denise Nickerson Leonard Stone Julie Dawn Cole Paris Themmen Dodo Denney
Cinematography
Arthur Ibbetson
Edited by
David Saxon
Music by
Leslie Bricusse Anthony Newley
Productioncompanies
Wolper PicturesThe Quaker Oats Company
Distributed by
Paramount Pictures[a]
Release date
June 30, 1971 (1971-06-30)
Running time
100 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$4 million
Tables
· Legacy › Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Music: Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score
Nominee(s)
Adapted by Walter Scharf; Song Score by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Nominee(s)
Gene Wilder
Result
Nominated
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Preservation Board
Award
National Film Preservation Board
Category
National Film Registry
Nominee(s)
Inducted
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Won
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Category
Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release
Nominee(s)
The 40th Anniversary Collectors Edition
Result
Nominated
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref(s). |
| Academy Awards | Best Music: Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score | Adapted by Walter Scharf; Song Score by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Gene Wilder | Nominated | |
| National Film Preservation Board | National Film Registry | Inducted | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Motion Picture | Won | ||
| Saturn Awards | Best DVD or Blu-ray Special Edition Release | The 40th Anniversary Collectors Edition | Nominated | |
References
- Features dialogue by Peter Capell
- Features dialogue by Denise Nickerson and Gene Wilder
- Features dialogue by Jack Albertson and Peter Ostrum
- Features dialogue by Gene Wilder, Paris Themmen, and Dodo Denney
- Features dialogue by Gene Wilder
- Warner Bros. Pictures acquired the film rights in 1977.
- The production was costing the studio $30,000 an hour.
- Cleese, Idle, and Palin were later considered for the same role in Tim Burton's version.
- Stuart confirmed Astaire's interest was a "long-standing myth", and believed the source of this detail was the film's co
- Being "a handful" was Themmen's recollection of this remark.
- catalog.afi.comhttps://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/54174
- British Board of Film Classificationhttps://archive.today/20160512174049/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/willy-wonka-and-chocolate-factory-1970
- British Film Institutehttps://web.archive.org/web/20160927171837/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bae2bb4
- The-numbers.comhttp://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Willy-Wonka-and-the-Chocolate-Factory#tab=summary
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=willywonkaandthechocolatefactory.htm
- Looperhttps://www.looper.com/815567/the-only-actors-still-alive-from-the-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-cast/
- "How a Chicago company made Gene Wilder's most beloved movie role possible"https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-rosenthal-gene-wilder-willy-wonka-0831-biz-20160830-column.html
- Pure Imagination: The Story ofhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401736/
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/06/29/willy-wonka-chocolate-factory-anniversary/
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryhttps://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/16517/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory#notes
- BBC Newshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4660873.stm
- Tuscaloosa Newshttps://eu.tuscaloosanews.com/story/entertainment/2021/03/18/mark-hughes-cobb-writers-wrangle-translations-interpretations/4700633001/
- NPRhttps://www.npr.org/transcripts/102163130
- Gene Wilder: Funny and Sadhttps://books.google.com/books?id=UBHMDwAAQBAJ
- ScreenRanthttps://screenrant.com/gene-wilder-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-trivia-facts/
- Yahoo! Movieshttps://uk.movies.yahoo.com/why-roald-dahl-hated-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-120115179.html
- Yahoo! Entertainmenthttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bp/gene-wilder-willy-wonka-demands-revealed-190914915.html
- news.lettersofnote.comhttps://news.lettersofnote.com/p/part-of-this-world-part-of-another
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5809-2005Mar27.html
- Den of Geekhttps://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-challenges-of-the-original-animated-version-of-the-bfg/
- Groovy Historyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20211104195032/https://groovyhistory.com/willy-wonka-chocolate-factory-stories-facts
- news.com.auhttps://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/the-rock-reveals-tim-burton-wanted-him-to-play-willy-wonka/news-story/70ccd8fb708696e4981dbf6452afc896
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/2013/01/the-lost-roles-of-peter-sellers.html
- British Film Institutehttps://www.bfi.org.uk/features/search-perfect-willy-wonka
- Stuart & Young 2002, p. 28.
- Heavyhttps://heavy.com/entertainment/2016/08/gene-wilder-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factor-dead-cause-of-death-pure-imagination-cast/
- ABC Newshttps://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/willy-wonka-chocolate-factory-turns-45-stars-stories/story?id=40254630
- Legacy.comhttps://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/gene-wilder-the-real-willy-wonka/
- Vanity Fairhttps://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/08/gene-wilder-dead
- Heavy.comhttp://heavy.com/news/2013/06/jean-stapleton-dies-all-in-the-family-dead-died/
- KBKL Newshttp://kool1079.com/five-things-you-should-know-about-jean-stapleton/
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryhttp://geektyrant.com/news/25-fun-facts-about-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hollywood-flashback-willy-wonka-movie-50-anniversary-1234975026/
- Groovy Historyhttps://groovyhistory.com/oompa-loompas-the-original-ones
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-nottinghamshire-20721709
- "Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (What's left of it) in Munich, Germany (Google Maps)"https://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/willy-wonkas-chocolate-factory-whats-left-of-it/view/google/
- Stuart & Young 2002, p. 73-93.
- DangerousMindshttps://dangerousminds.net/comments/meet_harper_goff_the_legendary_set_designer_behind_willy_wonkas_chocolate_f
- Failure Magazinehttps://web.archive.org/web/20180928035033/http://failuremag.com/article/wonka-vision
- The Cinemaholichttps://thecinemaholic.com/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-filming-locations/
- reelstreets.comhttps://www.reelstreets.com/films/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory/
- The Movie Districthttps://web.archive.org/web/20210917222137/http://www.themoviedistrict.com/willy-wonka-the-chocolate-factory-1971/
- "Willy Wonka 40 Years & Harper Goff"https://vimeo.com/439802522
- Stuart & Young 2002, p. 59.
- People Magazinehttps://people.com/celebrity/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-trivia-and-facts/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-kids-interview-peter-ostrum/
- Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2fb32e/i_am_paris_themmen_i_played_mike_teevee_in_the/ck7ksil
- Stuart & Young 2002, p. 58.
- BuzzFeedhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/andyneuenschwander/19-fascinating-behind-the-scenes-facts-about-willy-wonka-and
- /Filmhttps://www.slashfilm.com/652147/horror-movie-scenes-that-scared-actors-in-real-life/
- Stuart & Young 2002, p. 19–20.
- Stuart & Young 2002, p. 85–ff.
- Popdosehttps://popdose.com/blu-ray-review-willy-wonka-the-chocolate-factory/
- "The Willy Wonka Kids Remember Gene Wilder; Where Are They Now?"https://www.inquisitr.com/3466024/the-willy-wonka-kids-remember-gene-wilder-where-are-they-now/
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryhttp://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1971/0WWCF.php
- The Numbershttps://m.the-numbers.com/market/1971/top-grossing-movies
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6aQVEBET_Y
- Press and Sun-Bulletinhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/53582088/
- "Raiders, NBC 0–2 in N.Y.; First Heidi, Now Willy Wonka". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1975. p. C2.
- "4 Movies Shake Up Week's Nielsen List". Los Angeles Times. November 26, 1975. p. 15.
- "TV Guide Listings". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1976. p. 10.
- Pre-Certification Videohttp://www.pre-cert.co.uk/display.php?vId=UK10743
- vhscollector.comhttps://vhscollector.com/movie/willy-wonka-chocolate-factory
- DaDon'shttps://dadons.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=1627
- Willy Wonka & the chocolate factoryhttps://search.worldcat.org/oclc/35901483
- vhscollector.comhttps://vhscollector.com/movie/willy-wonka-chocolate-factory-25th-anniversary-edition
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryhttp://www.dvdmg.com/willywonkase.shtml
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryhttp://www.dvdmg.com/willywonka.shtml
- IGNhttp://dvd.ign.com/articles/794/794613p1.html
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryhttps://search.worldcat.org/oclc/779635712
- DVDActive.comhttp://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory.html
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factoryhttps://collider.com/willy-wonka-chocolate-factory-blu-ray-review/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-4k-blu-ray-release-date-details/
- HighDefDiscNewshttps://highdefdiscnews.com/2021/06/24/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review/
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttp://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-1971
- Champlin, Charles (July 28, 1971). "'Wonka' Fare for Families". Los Angeles Times. Part IV, p. 1, 10.
- Variety
- The New York Times
- Siskel, Gene (July 18, 1971). "There's Gold in Willy Wonka Chocolate Bars". Archived May 18, 2022, at the Wayback Machinhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/89037888/gene-siskel-movie-reviewwilly-wonka/
- The Monthly Film Bulletin
- "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/willy_wonka_and_the_chocolate_factory/
- Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryhttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/willy-wonka-the-chocolate-factory
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-15-ca-58749-story.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-27-fi-6307-story.html
- Biographyhttps://www.biography.com/news/willy-wonka-cast-where-are-they-now
- www.filmsite.orghttps://www.filmsite.org/cultfilmsew.html
- www.filmsite.orghttps://www.filmsite.org/scariestscenes21.html
- "The Wonka You Didn't Know"https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/3161-the-wonka-you-didnt-know/
- Stuart & Young 2002, p. 113.
- Library of Congresshttps://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/
- Library of Congresshttps://www.loc.gov/item/prn-14-210/new-films-added-to-national-registry/2014-12-17/
- oscars.orghttp://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1972
- People Magazinehttps://people.com/celebrity/gene-wilder-was-robbed-of-an-oscar-for-willy-wonka-the-chocolate-factory/
- HFPAhttps://www.goldenglobes.com/film/willy-wonka-chocolate-factory
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2014/film/awards/big-lebowski-willy-wonka-among-national-film-registrys-25-selections-1201380203/
- Online Film & Television Associationhttp://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-productions/
- Saturn Awards.orghttps://web.archive.org/web/20080914184217/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html
- Discogshttps://www.discogs.com/release/1576961-Leslie-Bricusse-and-Anthony-Newley-Willy-Wonka-The-Chocolate-Factory
- Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001
- Discogshttps://www.discogs.com/release/12791119-Leslie-Bricusse-And-Anthony-Newley-Willy-Wonka-The-Chocolate-Factory-Special-25th-Anniversary-Editio
- Discogshttps://www.discogs.com/release/8165176-Leslie-Bricusse-and-Anthony-Newley-Willy-Wonka-The-Chocolate-Factory
- ScreenRanthttps://screenrant.com/willy-wonka-tv-parodies-the-office/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/2018/12/snl-answers-unasked-question-about-willy-wonka-grandparents.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-10-17/bowen-yang-snl-oompa-loompa-timothee-chalamet-wonka
- TVGuidehttps://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/dexters-laboratory/episodes-season-2/1000137978/
- Den of Geekhttps://www.denofgeek.com/tv/american-dad-season-16-episode-5-review-jeff-and-the-dank-ass-weed-factory/
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/7525539/best-movie-music-videos-kanye-west-fade
- "Ranking Marilyn Manson's Music Videos!"https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3344860/worst-best-music-videos-marilyn-manson/10/
- Kerrang!https://www.kerrang.com/features/a-mind-bogglingly-deep-dive-into-alien-ant-farms-movies-video/
- Mashablehttps://mashable.com/2016/08/29/gene-wilder-meme/
- Looperhttps://www.looper.com/362966/the-two-willy-wonka-props-that-sold-for-more-than-100k-on-pawn-stars/
- Gizmodo Australiahttps://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/07/my-mad-descent-into-the-hellish-void-that-is-tom-and-jerry-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory/
- ScreenRanthttps://screenrant.com/tom-jerry-willy-wonka-movie-franchise-worst/
- Timehttps://time.com/6358273/wonka-roald-dahl-oompa-loompas/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-12-15/wonka-debuts-new-version-pure-imagination-timothee-chalamet