WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971) *** "Now see heah, Wonker..." For those who insist that a film's true value cannot be determined on fewer than five viewings, this one sustains the standard, and Roy Kinnears's brilliant delivery of the line above is probably my favourite moment. Roald Dahl messes with the plot of his book in ways that work well on screen, and Gene Wilder is possessed by the gentle glee and madness that any child would hope for, and expect, from a chocolate tycoon. The grandparents in bed work even better as a sight gag, and the boat trip is positively psychedelic. It can be argued that the Oompa-Loompas strike you more as pets than people, a consideration confused by some chocolate concern's decision to put out little candies called Oompa-Loompas at the time, but their songs are silly enough that you don't dread them at all (at least on the first four viewings). Mel Stuart keeps the plot running along amidst sets worthy of "Batman." What more could a kid ask for than that? Fine performance by Peter Ostrum (as Charlie) was his first and last. Unimpressed by show biz, I hear that he's now a very fine veterinarian.
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