This week marks the 50th anniversary of the original “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” which starred the late Gene Wilder and an ensemble of then-unknown children.
Wilder brought Willy Wonka to life in a film based on the children’s novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Five lucky kids who find golden tickets in their chocolate bars win a much coveted special tour of the candy factory.
According to ABC7, Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie Bucket, thinks repeat viewers will get something new and fresh out of watching the film again.
“That’s one of the joys of seeing this film. Every time you see it, you see something new,” said Ostrum. “A child can see it. They’ll see something. A teenager will see it, they’ll see something. And people our age will see it and they see something completely different.”
It’s possible that you might say that about the 50th anniversary edition of the film since it’s in 4K Ultra HD. Paris Themmen, who played Mike Teavee, explains. “They’ve improved the HD quality of the resolution and the color and the sound. And, really, what they were going for was an experience closest to what you would have seen if you were actually there on the day,” said Themmen.
It’s still a beloved classic film half a century later.
However, Julie Dawn Cole, who played Veruca Salt, revealed that it wasn’t always like this.
“Willy Wonka, as you know, childhood stuff and ‘Willy Wonka’ didn’t do very well at the box office at the time so it kind of came and went and was forgotten,” said Cole. “And I always told my friends and my family, here I made some 20, 30, 50 years ago the film of ‘Willy Wonka’ and it was great fun, and it’s very famous in U.S. And they say, “Fine, it’s not famous in Germany at all!” laughed Michael Bollner, who played Augustus Gloop.
The three main boys in the film never acted again. But the experience has been pure joy for decades. “I’m driving around town in a blue Tesla with a Mike Teavee license plate. So, L.A., if you see me, feel free to honk and say hi!” said Themmen.
This 50th anniversary edition is now available to own.