Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

[Jarodaka]

Ah, I didn't research enough to realize how little input Dahl had on the final, 1971 script. (I just saw that Dahl was given screenplay credit.)

As such, I'm torn. Burton really followed the book much more closely, but it lacks a certain charm that the '71 flick has. As a kids' book, it's a great read. A starving kid, Charlie, goes into this wonderous factory and, in the end, he gets the chocolate factory! The book itself really lacks any conflict, however. (Then again, it's candy, and candy doesn't have to have a point, right? It's just an object lesson in not being a self-absorbed brute. The 1971 movie made it into a test about Charlie's character. The Burton flick adds an internal conflict in Wonka centering around his dad. Combining the former's more interesting conflict with Wilder's Wonka performance and I have to give it the edge. Though, after consideration, a smaller edge than I originally thought.

[Rozzlyn]

Ah, I didn't research enough to realize how little input Dahl had on the final, 1971 script.  (I just saw that Dahl was given screenplay credit.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Technically, in the opening credits, he has book credit -- which is different from screenplay credit. A screenplay can be based on the book but written by a totally different person and actually have only core similarities to the book, but if the similarities are striking enough (and the book is still under copyright) legally book credit must be assigned to the rightful author of the original book.

The book itself really lacks any conflict, however. (Then again, it's candy, and candy doesn't have to have a point, right? It's just an object lesson in not being a self-absorbed brute.

Yes, that's precicely the point. There's no need for internal conflict when Charlie is already very obviously good and selfless and the others are obviously spoilt and greedy. Keep in mind, this is a children's book and children don't always need to think about internal conflict and true tests of character -- they often just want fantastical stories where the good characters get rewarded simply for being good and the bad characters get punished when their badness comes to bite them in the ass. Dahl also wrote quirky stories about misfitted children (Charlie Buckett was very poor, Matilda was very smart and the kid in the Witches was an orphan living with his grandmother whom the world regarded as "crazy" -- and these stories made other misfit children feel special long before Harry Potter came about. And unlike Potter, they weren't special because they had these magical powers that only other magical-powered people could know about, they were special simply because they were good-natued misfit children and, in one way or another, this made them better than everybody else. Ergo, any kind of "internal struggle" or "test of Charlie's character" is simply for adults to feel satisfied about and serve as a reflection of a time when people were willing to admit that "good" and "bad" aren't always such clean-cut, black-and-white terms. For children, though, it's not as important as Charlie knowing that all that really mattered was the fact alone that he was a good-natured misfit who some weirdo with a candy factory made "special" simply for being a good-natured misfit.

It's far from a profound story with gobs of complex life-lessons, but the world doesn't always need to be so serious OR complex. Sometimes nonsense makes the most sense of all -- and, ultimately, that was Dahl's true lesson in all of his books.

"Candy doesn't have to make sense; that's why's it's candy."

[Slept with ghost]

What was this nonsense that Johnny studied Marilyn Manson for the part? Hmmm... Have to see how much truth is in that.

I also heard he studied jack white

[Vater Araignee]

Technically, in the opening credits, he has book credit -- which is different from screenplay credit.  A screenplay can be based on the book but written by a totally different person and actually have only core similarities to the book, but if the similarities are striking enough (and the book is still under copyright) legally book credit must be assigned to the rightful author of the original book.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Allow me to point this out.

DAVID L. WOLPER Presents "WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY"

Starring GENE WILDER JACK ALBERTSON and Introducing PETER OSTRUM as "CHARLIE" with ROY KINNEAR

JULIE DAWN COLE LEONARD STONE DENISE NICKERSON DODO DENNEY PARIS THEMMEN

Screenplay by ROALD DAHL Based on His Book "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

And before you attempt to save face I do know that the screenplay and final treatment are two different things. I also know that by law they would have had to change over 50% of his screenplay or fire him and completely rewrite the thing in order to nullify his screenplay credit.

The 1971 HollyShit treatment of CatCF is one of the few I don't have a beef with.

Glad I didn't sully my eyes with Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[JaneDead]

ok so is the second movie not "about" charlie like the first one was? i didn't like that about the fist one. and i said i never read the book or saw the second one yet so i don't know...

[Jarodaka]

Nope, the second movie is not 'about' Charlie. So if that was bugging you about the first one, fear not, it's not in there. It does add some background to Willy Wonka, though.

[Brenda Starrr]

I also heard he studied jack white

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can totally see that.

[Jarodaka]

Technically, in the opening credits, he has book credit -- which is different from screenplay credit.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unless they changed the DVD from the theatrical release it sez right on my T.V. screen

Screenplay by

Roald Dahl

based on his book

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"

[Jarodaka]

What was this nonsense that Johnny studied Marilyn Manson for the part? Hmmm... Have to see how much truth is in that.

I also heard he studied jack white

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Haven't you seen the video for Dope Hat?!

Interesting:

Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Christopher Walken, Nicolas Cage and Michael Keaton were all considered for the role of Willy Wonka. Marilyn Manson also badly wanted the part.

Jim Carey and 'Adam Sandler' were also considered for Willy Wonka.

..c'mon Internet! Somebody's gotta make a Flash movie of CatCF with these guys playing Wonka...

I was in the jungle, searching for Oompaland, for 5 years with this cacao bean jammed up my ass.  And now, I pass this cacao bean to you, Charlie, as well as my choclate factory.  It's all yours!

[Jarodaka]

This is a purple velvet jacket! And for me it's a symbol of my individuality, and my belief... that candy doesn't need to have a point.

[Guest Megalicious]

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