MovieChat Forums > Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Discussion > Why would Roahl Dahl hate this movie?

Why would Roahl Dahl hate this movie?

posted 7 years ago by [deleted]
14 replies | jump to latest

I mean it turned out to be a pure classic and extremely popular.

It's soooo much better than the Johnny Depp version.

Several reason:

-Part of the script was rewritten because Dahl couldnt meet the deadline
-Too much change was made to the story
-Too much emphasis on Willy Wonka and not enough on Charlie
-Gene Wilder playing Willy Wonka instead of Spike Milligan

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Well obviously the movies are not going to be as detailed as books. Every books that was made into a movie shows less emphasis on certain characters to move the movie plot along.

[–] strntz (10798) 6 years ago

I haven't read the book, but one thing I've always had trouble reconciling in this version was why Charlie was a tool just like every other kid.

Augustus falls into the choco-river , nearly drowns, and sucked up in the intake tube. Violet takes the gum against Willy's direction not to and turns blue. Veruca demands a golden goose and while pitching a fit, gets disposed of down the chute. Mike disobeys Willy and uses the teleporter machine miniaturizing himself in the process. But, while Charlie and Grandpa steal the fizzy lifting drinks and are heading for disaster in the ventilation fans, they manage to escape the result of their disobedience unlike the others.

The only difference between Charlie's disobedience and the other kid's is that Charlie managed to avoid the disaster.

The Depp version eliminates this contradiction.

[–] Sandman81 (1501) 6 years ago

2 differences with Charlies disobedience versus the others.

1) Charlie was still able to continue on the tour without missing anything. None of the others were able to do so, due to physical harm they caused themselves, or just being transported to parts of the factory that were far away and difficult to get back from.

2) Charlie was able to redeem himself by giving back the everlasting gobstopper. This showed Wonka that he could trust Charlie with all his secrets, even after Wonka had given reason to betray him, and with Grampa Joe telling he should sell it. Now this might be in part due to Charlies good fortune of #1, but none the less he was probably the only kid who would do that. We know Veruca had no intention of keeping it for herself, and Mike mentioned something about Slugworth to his Mom. Have to believe Violets Dad would have made her sell it to Slugworth and who knows with Augustus?

[–] strntz (10798) 6 years ago

But it still doesn't dismiss the odd fact that Charlie did indeed disobey an adult (which was Willy's big boner). It didn't seem weird to you when Charlie actually took a drink?

It was by pure happenstance that Charlie did manage to get away with it. If the chimney wasn't as high, he could have been killed or maimed.

There's no doubt Charlie was the best of the kids, but handing over the ELGS'r to Willy doesn't totally absolve him of what he did. It just makes no sense from a story standpoint that Charlie would swipe the drinks. Clearly, the script was modified for Charlie to provide Willy with an excuse to throw him out without the prize and set up the repentant scene at the end.

Just clumsy writing to me.

Not a deal breaker by any means as this is a minor quibble in the grand scope of the project, but it was an unnecessary plot device that was out of character for Charlie.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

Charlie and his crooked Granpa still stole the fizzy lifting drink.
As for him redeeming himself, were the other kids given that opportunity?
The whole thing was a fucking fix from the off!

[–] Sandman81 (1501) 6 years ago

No the other kids were not given the opportunity to redeem themselves, but I think everyone would agree that none of them would have done what Charlie did, especially after the way Wonka treated them.

In the end, it was Wonka's business. He can give it to whoever he wants. Wonka made the rules, and he was judge, jury, and executioner. If he decided that it was more important to have a kid who would protect his secrets, but may swipe a bottle of fizzy lifting drink, then that's his choice.

Of course it was all a set up so Wonka could pass the factory on to Charlie. Charlie was his choice even before he put out the Golden Tickets, but that's a whole another topic.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

(No the other kids were not given the opportunity to redeem themselves, but I think everyone would agree that none of them would have done what Charlie did, especially after the way Wonka treated them.)
But they still never got the opportunity.
(In the end, it was Wonka's business. He can give it to whoever he wants. Wonka made the rules, and he was judge, jury, and executioner. If he decided that it was more important to have a kid who would protect his secrets, but may swipe a bottle of fizzy lifting drink, then that's his choice.)
Of course it's his choice, but that still doesn't make Charlie any better than the other kids. Furthermore, he found that money in the street and spent it. That could have been some other poor urchins money for bread and cabbages. Where was his conscience then? I'll tell you where it was, it was urging him to stuff his face with chocolate.
(Of course it was all a set up so Wonka could pass the factory on to Charlie. Charlie was his choice even before he put out the Golden Tickets, but that's a whole another topic.)

True. But then why bother with a competition

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

If you're going to bother with a competition at all, why limit the contestants to five little kids?

I know, I know,it's meant to be a modern fable for kids, and not a rational discussion of how to keep a multinational corporation viable over the long term.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

So you don't get some twat like Granpa Joe running the show. Mind that's what probably happened in the end anyways.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

Of course if a real-life eccentric billionaire left his company to some kid from a dirt-poor family, what would happen in the end is that once the eccentric billionaire passed the CFO would run the company, and he'd take care to introduce the kid to strip clubs and nose candy when the jumped-up little pest got in his way. Or he'd just arrange an "accident" at the chocolate factory, which everyone would believe because Wonka Inc. has the worst safety record in the entire world.

But it's not reality, it's a modern fable for kids about being "good".

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

It's my belief that Granpa Joe became the CFO and did exactly what you propose.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

So THAT'S why he spent 20 years lying in bed being waited on hand and foot even though he could walk all along! He was pure evil!

[–] wearsalan (5554) 6 years ago

Yes.... and a lazy bastard.