Summary
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryis the classic first film in the beloved franchise, and the “Pure Imagination” scene is a reminder of one major drawback with the 2023 movie. The 2023 musical filmWonkais meant to be a prequel to the classic movie, exploring the origins of Willy Wonka’s chocolate empire. WhileWonkawas a hit upon its release, it wasn’t nearly as good asWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, with the 1971 movie’s original charm being thanks to one element that was absent from the prequel.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryis defined by Gene Wilder’s legendary performance as the titular chocolate maker, with every other iteration of Willy Wonka attempting to live up to his standard. AlthoughGene Wilder has appeared in all kinds of beloved classics, the role of Willy Wonka is often most associated with him. Although Gene Wilder’s performance is the soul ofWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, it is far from the only thing that made it great, with the remake and prequel missing some key elements.
Willy Wonka’s “Pure Imagination” Scene Was Actually The First Time The Child Actors Saw The Factory
They Captured Real Awe
The documentaryRemembering Gene Wilderhas been released on Netflix, with the popular film looking back on the titular actor’s life and career through archival footage and interviews discussing Wilder. Although many fans ofWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factoryalready know this fact, the documentary features an interview in which Charlie actor Peter Ostrum talks about howthe “Pure Imagination” scene was the first time that he and the other kids saw the chocolate river room.
Because of the kids only seeing the room when the cameras were rolling, their reaction to the beauty of the chocolate factory was genuine. This added an extra layer of wonder to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, capturing their initial awe rather than a performance in which they had to pretend to be mesmerized by the candy decorations.
The 30 Best Willy Wonka Quotes Ever
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a classic, and packed with perfect quotes and one-liners. Here are Willy Wonka’s best quotes ever.
Wonka’s CGI Chocolate Store Takes Away From The Real Magic Of The Elaborate Sets
This Is A Problem With Tim Burton’s Version Too
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’s chocolate river room was an incredibly elaborate set, something that is missing fromWonka.Wonkaheavily uses CGI, and while some of the elements of the locations were real, many weren’t. This caused the wonder of these sets to be missing from the prequel, as the actors (and by proxy, the audience) aren’t as amazed as they were with the original’s practical sets.
The same can also be said forTim Burton’sCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryremake, which also used CGI and other filmmaking tricks. Again, many aspects of the film were real, but the heavy use of CGI takes away the beautiful, handcrafted feel of the originalWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Cast
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 film featuring Gene Wilder as the reclusive candy maker Willy Wonka. The plot follows young Charlie Bucket’s quest for a golden ticket, granting him a tour of Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory with a lifetime supply of sweets as the ultimate prize.
