Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory (Clam) [VHS]

Amazon.com essential video:
Having proven itself as a favorite film of children around the world, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is every bit as entertaining now as it was when originally released in 1971. There's a timeless appeal to Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, which was playfully preserved in this charming musical, from the colorful carnival-like splendor of its production design to the infectious melody of the "Oompah-Loompah" songs that punctuate the story. Who can forget those diminutive Oompah-Loompah workers who recite rhyming parental warnings ("Oompah-Loompah, doopity do...") whenever some mischievous child has disobeyed Willy Wonka's orders to remain orderly? Oh, but we're getting ahead of ourselves ... it's really the story of the impoverished Charlie Bucket, who, along with four other kids and their parental guests, wins a coveted golden ticket to enter the fantastic realm of Wonka's mysterious confectionery. After the other kids have proven themselves to be irresponsible brats, it's Charlie who impresses Wonka and wins a reward beyond his wildest dreams. But before that, the tour of Wonka's factory provides a dazzling parade of delights, and with Gene Wilder giving a brilliant performance as the eccentric candyman, Wonka gains an edge of menace and madness that nicely counterbalances the movie's sentimental sweetness. It's that willingness to risk a darker tone--to show that even a wonderland like Wonka's can be a weird and dangerous place if you're a bad kid--that makes this an enduring family classic. --Jeff Shannon

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - In Which Goodness Prevails
When I first saw this movie on VHS in the late '80s, I was shocked. A '70s movie with a GOOD message?? I couldn't believe it. The message: kids - be honest and be trustworthy and don't be obnoxious; parents - don't spoil your kids or they'll quickly turn out to be brats.

Wow, no wonder liberal film critics like Leonard Maltin trashed this film. It was not the normal message being delivered in movies, which usually mocks the good and glorifies the bad. That's what makes this story refreshing, ... Read More
Rating: - not content
I placed the order and it took me 1 month excactly to receive the merchandise. To top it off it did not work I tried my 3dvd players at home as well as other relative's dvd players and the movie ne4ver played. I'm really disapointed especialloy after been my first online purchase. I really want to rate it a a 0 in cutomer satisfaction.
Rating: - don't buy
i think the dvd was a pirated and that was the reason it was so cheap, it didn't work in any of my 4 dvd players.but amazon gave me my money back pretty quickly without asking questions.
Rating: - excellent service
I ordered the dvd Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for my daughter.I received this item in less time then what I expected to arrive.This was excellent service.This movie is great.
Rating: - This version (June 25, 2005) is screwed up as the other widescreen version
I've seen all the anamorphic widescreen versions of this precious classic, and WB's latest attempt to try to fool us with another widescreen release the same as that of the 30th anniversary edition (images cut off top and bottom), has only proven to consumers that the people at Warner Brothers are the fools. It's the pan & scan version, but with the image further stretched top and bottom. This is cutting off even more of the original 4:3 image, then letting your TV or projector do the vertical squeeze to ... Read More