On 30 June 1971, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory went into wide release in the United States. But it did have its premiere two days earlier in Chicago.

It’s an odd little film. I like it but there are things that bother me. Two of them bothered me as a child. The first is that Charlie strikes me as too much of a Nazi Youth. I know this is largely based on the fact that I grew up watching Nazi documentaries. And it isn’t as though I didn’t feel for the kid. But I didn’t understand why he didn’t just lie in class. I certainly would have.

The other thing is a more reasonable problem: I didn’t understand why giving the Everlasting Gobstopper back was the key to the puzzle. He also stole Fizzy Lifting Drink, which ain’t coming back! The scene feels forced — like they needed one bit of drama to end the film but couldn’t be bothered to think of anything good.

Both of those problems were well addressed in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). And with the addition of a dentistry subplot, I do prefer it. But the original is a lot of fun. Gene Wilder is better than Johnny Depp (Dead Man) if only because he comes off as a bit twisted but not totally insane.

And the 2005 feature doesn’t have anything as great as the tunnel scene, which scarred a generation of children! (My generation!)

Of course, it isn’t just that scene. The whole movie (The whole book!) is very dark. And I do think it’s fine for kids. As long as you aren’t showing anything really disturbing (like dead bodies), I think it’s fine — no worse than Brothers Grimm!

So if not for yourself, will you at least think of the children?! You can enjoy what is sure to be an excellent print of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory on MAX. But there is also a free copy on OK. And as Tom Peterson liked to say, “Free is a very good price!”

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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory poster via Wikipedia under Fair Use.