Book vs. Movie Comparison: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Among the number of Roald Dahl’s books that I have read, I find Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to be one of the most enjoyable. The tale is about a young boy named Charlie who wins a chance to tour a mysterious candy factory and his adventures inside the factory. Charlie, his grandfather, and four other children accompanied by their parents tour the factory and witness a number of wondrous sights and sounds. Escorted by the candy maker, Mr. Willy Wonka, the children embark upon a journey through the whimsical candy factory. The actions of Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike Teavee cause them to get into amusing predicaments.. These children are forced to separate from the group in order to face the consequences of their impetuous decisions and misbehaviors As a result, Charlie is only the child left by the end of the tour and he is presented ownership of the factory by Mr. Wonka.

Tim Burton’s adaptation of this story is very faithful to the book. All of the characters and events that are portrayed in the book are present throughout the film. A few differences do exist, however, between the movie and the book. One major divergence is a subplot that involves Willy Wonka’s father. This character is not a part of the original story. His presence in the film explains Wonka’s eccentricities. The end of the film also differs from the book’s ending due to the resolution of issues between Willy Wonka and his father. An additional small alteration is the interest of Mike Teavee. This child is obsessed with television in the book but is an addict to videogames in the movie.

Another difference that exists is the depiction of Willy Wonka. Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Willy Wonka deviates from the rendering of the character in the book. Wonka’s personality in the novel is very happy-go-lucky and merry. Depp’s portrayal, in contrast, causes the character to appear jaded, childish, and sometimes mean. The added story of Wonka’s childhood helps to explain why the character’s personality is different in the film that in the novel. I understand the reasoning for the differences between the two depictions and enjoy both them equally.

I love both the film and book versions of this story. Roald Dahl’s tale is a fun story that is enjoyable each and every time that I read it. The author continues to be one of my favorite children’s authors. I always love to read about the zany characters and occurrences that are present in the world of Willy Wonka. Tim Burton’s film is a wonderful representation of Dahl’s world. Being a longtime Tim Burton fan, this film is one of my favorites. I truly enjoy the performances, images, and music that make up this entertaining film. I appreciate the additional background information in the film and think that it is a wonderful supplement to the original tale.

I would highly recommend both works.

Dahl, R. (1964). Charlie and the chocolate factory. New York: Bantam.