Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Promoted as a family musical by Paramount Pictures, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is more of a black comedy, perversely faithful to the spirit of Roald Dahl's original book -Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) stages a contest by hiding ...more

As dark and sweet as the titular confection, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) overcame a lackluster theatrical release to become an adored black comedy/musical and family classic. Scripted by Roald Dahl from his children's book (with an uncredited rewrite by David Seltzer), director Mel Stuart and set designer Harper Goff rendered the adventure a psychedelically colored trip through a candy factory that was equal parts children's paradise and creepy funhouse. Even as Gene Wilder's ...more