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The film tells the story of impoverished
Charlie Bucket, who wins a golden ticket to tour Wonka's
chocolate factory alongside the greedy Augustus Gloop,
gum-loving Violet Beauregarde, spoiled brat Veruca Salt and
television addict Mike Teevee.
Although he didn't continue in acting Peter Ostrum, who played
Charlie, said making the film, which celebrates its 50th
anniversary on June 30, was a great experience.
"I like to think that if you could only make one film, this was
the film to be in," he told Reuters, describing the cast as like
a family. "I've known these people for now 50 years, other than
my family ... I have never kept up with anybody other than these
people."
The 1971 movie was adapted from novelist Roald Dahl's dark
fantasy "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", a book that actor
Julie Dawn Cole, who portrayed Veruca Salt, had just read before
being cast.
"The amazing descriptions of the chocolate room, I remember
thinking, my goodness, how are they going to do this? I want to
be part of this really ... badly," she said.
"(Filming was) such a fun thing .... every week, there was a new
set that we were on, the inventing room, the golden goose room
... there was always a lot of excitement and magic ... it was
... bonkers."
Late actor Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka, was nominated
for a Golden Globe and the film's score was in the running for
an Oscar. But according to actor Paris Themmen, who played Mike
Teevee, the movie wasn't a huge success until it was shown
regularly on television.
"It grew to cult status ... to be something that 50 years on we
still want to talk about," he said
"You would think that it would have the greatest impact on my
life close to the event. But it's like a reverse curve. The
further away from it I get, it seems, the more it's impacting
me."
Cole agreed.
"It's really funny to see the global reach that it has," she
said. "I've been in really weird places ... on a beach in
Malaysia and somebody says: 'Were you Veruca Salt?' So, yeah,
it's ... had a great impact and still does."
The movie, which marks the anniversary with the release of a
newly restored 4K version, was re-visited in 2005 with Johnny
Depp in the lead role. A prequel, "Wonka" starring Timothee
Chalamet, is planned for 2023.
(Reporting by Sarah Mills; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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