Children's Book to Feature Film # 2- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was written in 1964 by Roald Dahl. This story is about a young boy by the name of Charlie Bucket from a poor family and how he became the luckiest boy in the entire world. Willy Wonka opened the largest chocolate factory in the world. He decided to allow 5 children to visit his secret factory. To be able to enter the children would have to find one of the five golden tickets hidden beneath the wrapping paper of Wonka bars. Charlie found a Wonka bar and won tickets and visit the factory. Once in the factory, all of the other four children made greedy mistakes and ended up in trouble at the factory. Charlie was the last one left and had won the prize. Wonka offered the factory to Charlie. He told Charlie he could live there with his family and when he was old enough he would be able to take over and run the factory.

In 1971, Roald Dahl's story was made into a feature film. There were some small differences in the film. The film was not a musical but did have six musical numbers where were not included in the book. Also, in the film Charlie's father did not appear and was assumed dead, and the children were accompanied by only one parent throughout the factory. In addition, the personalities of the children were dramatized and explained in much more detail than in the book. Besides these small changes and additions the film was very similar to the book. This film is solid and is one I would definitely share with my students to make comparisons to the book.

In 2005, Tim Burton released another film version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This film was different in that it greatly expanded Willy Wonka's personal backstory and the descriptions of the personalities of the other four children. It has a more futuristic, up to date, and imaginary feel and setting.