The Bittersweet Details Behind Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory is one of the most beloved tales of our time, a story adored by children and adults alike. But everyone’s favorite chocolate factory is actually hiding some pretty dark secrets. Both the 1964 Roald Dahl novel and the popular films based on his book aren’t as happy or whimsical as they appeared to be. These bittersweet details behind Charlie And The Chocolate Factory are strange enough to leave even Mr. Wonka himself in awe!
1. The NAACP had objections to the book
Oompa Loompas are iconic characters in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its first film adaptation, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. But did you know their famous orange skin and green hair only came about because of protests by the NAACP? Yes, the anti-discrimination organization objected to the Oompa Loompas being based on African Pygmies in Roald Dahl’s 1964 book. When it came to making the movie, producers were pushed to change their skin color from black to orange to stop charges of racism being leveled.
2. Roald Dahl’s tragedies
English author Roald Dahl wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory over four years, and they were the toughest of his entire life. First, in 1960, his young son Theo was struck by a taxi whilst in a baby carriage. He developed a fluid buildup on his brain and needed several operations and major care. But worse was to come, as during Theo’s recovery Dahl’s daughter Olivia contracted measles, which became serious and led to her death. Dahl was devastated, and “lost his mind” according to his wife, actress Patricia Neal. During those difficult years, he poured himself into writing the famous children’s book.
3. The original movie flopped
When we think of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, almost all of us immediately think “classic” or “masterpiece.” Although this rings true today, the film was actually shunned by audiences when it came out in 1971, making a paltry $4 million at the box office. Yes, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory was essentially a box office flop, and it didn’t gain any popular traction until it started featuring semi-regularly on TV schedules.
4. Gene wasn’t Wild-er about the 2005 film
In 2005, a remake of the 1971 movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory hit cinemas around the globe. This big-budget re-creation of the Roald Dahl story took the original title of the book. It was directed by Tim Burton, and starred Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. But the film had some detractors, none less than the original Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder. The now-deceased comedian and actor reportedly refused to watch it, lamenting the CGI used to create the sets and voicing his dislike of Burton as a filmmaker. Ouch!
