Adaptations
Charlie and the chocolate Roald Dahl (1964) 1. Willie Wonka & The
factory Chocolate factory
(Stuart 1971)
2. Charlie and the
chocolate factory
(2005)
3. Wonka (2023)
Questions
1. Do you consider Charlie and the Chocolate Factory children’s literature?
Yes, Readership: written for children (as we see them today)? Ony by children?
Adults too? Why? Textual qualities: tone, child focalizer, round child character,
taking childs pov seriously Product: marketed for kids? Origin: told by individual
adult to child? Aim: fusion of education & entertainment
2. Comment on accents or imagology: to what extent do you consider this version dated?
-the ‘’use’’ of Lilliputians might not be accepted anymore in this day and age
-The Oompa-loompas have a colonial origin, which can still be read in to the original text.
3. Is the chocolate factory to be preferred over the outside world?
The chocolate factory is the physical embodiment of the difference between poverty and
wealth. Charlie's poverty-stricken home stands in the shadow of the behemoth
chocolate factory, which is filled with untold riches. So in Charlies case; yes. Not a care in
the world.
Book
- Background: British imperialism, activism and the civil right movement
- First edition: 1964 novel. Racist depictions, white saviour, defence for slavery, later
publications. ‘’ I found them in the very deepest and darkest part of the African
jungle where no white man had ever been before’’. Wild, black and pygm were
used in relation to the Oompa Loompas
- 1964/7: illustrations racism, Dahl changed these in the 70s edition.
- Willy wonka on foreground eventhough Charlie is in the title (not in the Gene
Wilder version)
- Dahl: 5 siblings, grown up with mother & grandfather. Lived close to a sweetshop
- Nadia Cohen on Dahl: ‘’there were reservations of vulgar portions of the book. The
world of books has his own sets of rules, Dahl broke them by for example Wonka’s
indifference of the children’s gruesome ends.’’
- Augustus Gloop: gluttony, Veruca Salt: greed, Violet Beauregarde: pride, Micheal
Tevee: wrath (Cultivation theory)
- Charlie as a morality fable (Schultz): Charlie, the hood child wins the prize by being
himself, while the bad children meet terrible ends
- Lots of morals thought: obedience, respect, be a good parent, listen to stories, keep
hope, colonialism = benevolent dictatorship, suspend judgement, be kind,
imagination, don’t: overreact, chew gum, be greedy, watch too much telly, be a
smart-arse, mainly male authority.
- Foreshadowing: Mike Teavee, in talking about his excessive television watching, says that
he wants to be on television. In doing so he foreshadows his own demise at the hands of
television.
1971 (Stuart)
, - Imagology: German accent for example
- Augustus Gloop isn’t German in the book: why make him German?
- Filmed in Germany: cheaper, making the place not as recognizable and therefore
mythical for his foreseen audience.
- based on 1964 version of the book.
- Power dynamic Oompa Loompas; flute (like a pet), bowing down to talk to the
oompa-loompas. Charlie needs to take care of the oompa Loompas as well (they
can’t take care of themselves). ‘’it’s all nonsense, all of it’’ (what the Oompa
Loompas are saying). Orange skin.
- The teacher: 2? I cant figure out 2?, shows his idiocy and incapability.
- ‘’Slugworth’’: does seem to resemble the grim reaper in some scenes, making him
scary (adding to the horror effect). ‘’nobody ever comes in and nobody ever comes
out’’. Is out for the everlasting gobsnagger.
- The group has to sign a contract: for possible harm
2005 (De Wilde)
- Oompa Loompas: Native American languages tho (mocking them) and the clothing is
inspired by native peoples clothing in the introduction scene in the movie. The oompa
Loompas bow or make a sign when taking an order.
- Voice-over: Oompa Loompa is the voice-over.
- improvisation or preparation?: Charlie asks why Augustus name was already in the song?
Not only the children are sung to, the parents too (Veruca’s dad is referred to as ‘’the guilty
one’’)
- No logic allowed: ‘’i was never short because i remember putting a hat on my head. You
could never reach’’ – WW, Micheal Tevee has to stop ‘’mumbling’’ according to WW as
well. Micheal says some smart things, but for Wonka it does not make sense.
- Cinematic devices: flashback to WW youth (he is the son of Wilbur Wonka, a dentist-
irony).
Breaking the fourthwall: ‘’sorry I was having a flashback’’- WW
Inner world Wonka: ‘Its stupid, candy is a waste of time’- B in Willy Wonkas fathers voice
- Learning curve: ‘I want a glass elevator’- Ver, ‘the only thing you get today is a bath’-VerFa
- Wonka’s aversion to parents and the family story: can’t even get the word out of his
mouth. Therefore WW does not want C to bring his family, so C rejects. ‘Things are going to
get much better’- GMG, and they did (voice-over) MrB got a better job, GPJ wasn’t tired
anymore. WW at psychiatric chair: i don’t get it. WW can’t make good candy anymore
because he doesn’t feel good. WW asks C what makes him feel good, ‘my family he says’.
WW reunites with his father who is noticeably proud of his son.
- The family has agency at the end of the movie: family dinner. Charlies imagination is used.
2023
- Wonka can’t read.
- Palimpsest; musical.
- Oompa Loompas: Only one Oompa Loompa, also has a name, Lofty. His name is not
used a lot; mostly little one or plays on that. Lofy isn’t uplifted as well but grumpy.
Doesn’t narrate; Wonka does. Agency of lofty; he rescues Wonka (but it is self-
centered)- Lofty gets a choice in the end.
- ’from the director of’’ (2023): palimpsests (recognizing things)
-
, Comparing book and films
Fidelity;
- Americanization; rags to riches. All American boy portrayed. Clean slate, so you can
project yourself on him
- Shrink scene: 1971 version has an compilation over the absurdity of the tickets
which includes a shrink scene, 2005 references this with WW being the one in the
chair .
Infidelity:
- 1971: there’s a lot of scenes added (classroom, Slugworth- also Mr. Bucket isn’t
alive). Modern changes; Oompa Loompas are from Oompa Loompa land, but they
are Lilliputians.
- 2005: most close to the book (but with scenes added of Wonka’s background- strict father,
his father (and home) abandoning him). Oompa Loompas are the same actor (; oompa
Loompas are interchangeable?)
- 2023: Cumulation of other movie (easter eggs). Wonka switches his speech to
draw lines to the Gene Wilder and Depp version as well. Wonka also gets his
chocolate when it is his birthday.
- Pure imagination: 1971 fairly at the beginning, 2023 at the end with different lyrics
(different meaning: 1971 is escapism, 2023: follow your dreams)
- Grandpa Joe and Charlie break the rules in the book and 2005: Grandpa Joe is the
instigator.
- Probability calculation: in the book and the 1971 it is a scientist, but his computer
malfunctions (a letter comes out that says ‘’I wont tell, that would be cheating’’.
The book version is quite cruel with a gold detector and people getting stuck to it.
The 2005 version lets Mike do it, which makes him extra smart.
- Changing the dates: in the 1971 version it is 1 October instead of February. Maybe
has to do with filming location and time, to make it more believable.
- Announcing the contest: 1971; in the classroom (maybe to leave a bigger emphasis
on the kids, on Charlie. 2005 on street, in a pamphlet. In the book it is in the paper
at home .
Endings
- Novel: elevator in house, Charlie has agency. Charlie and his family finally get what
they want. Charlie is the focus of the scene.
- 1971: elevator in the sky, Wonka has agency (guides the scene). Wonka is the one
schooling Charlie, ‘’remember what happened to the man that got everything he
wanted’’. He gives the ‘’burden’’ of his factory to Charlie (freedom)- Wonka is
getting what he want and is the middle of this scene. Changing the focus of the
narrative. Big stars (like Gene Wilder and Depp) makes the focus shift.
- 2005: house in factory, family dynamic guides the scene. Narrator is the Oompa
Loompa that does the voice-over. Charlie and Wonka both learn. Middle ground in
focus.
