Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a children's book written by British author Roald Dahl and was published in 1964. It's the story of Charlie Bucket, a little boy with no money but a good heart who dreams of being able to buy candy just like any other child. Charlie wins one of the five "Golden Tickets" to visit the mysterious chocolate factory owned by Willy Wonka and run by his crew of mysterious Oompa Loompas. Charlie takes his Grandpa Joe as his guest and once behind the factory gates, he joins the other winners on a journey to discover that a kind heart is more valuable than a sweet tooth.
I read this book years ago while taking a Children's Literature course at university and then made sure my children got a chance to read it, along with seeing the 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder, retitled "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factor." The movie was remade in 2005 starring Johnny Depp, but I must say I prefer the original. I loved the music in the movie as it really brought it alive.
So just who or what are Oompa Loompas? Well, they come from Loompaland, which is a region of Loompa, a small isolated island in the Pacific Ocean. They were preyed upon by the Whangdoodles, Hornswogglers, and Snozzwangers so Willy Wonka invited them to work at his factory to get away from their predators. They tend to speak in rhyme and are mischievous, love practical jokes and singing. As each bad child makes his or her exit, they sing moralising songs accompanied by a drum beat. To me, they just make the story! The music in the 1971 and the 2005 movie versions are different, but I love the earlier movie's music better. Scroll down to get a taste of it - can't figure out why it won't sit right below here, but it's worth a listen.Our thanks to creator/producer/director/hostess Denise Nesbitt and her team of Oompa Loompas for keeping the fun Ongoing.
20 comments:
Well, I sort of very vaguely remember something about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but I didn't see the movie or read the book, probably because I didn't have children, although I do have lots of nieces and nephews.
Anyway, Oompa Loompa certainly makes use of the letter O, in an Orange sort of way.
Kay, Alberta
I loved the original movie! The updated one, not so much! I especially loved the Oompa Loompas!
Oh yes - a great book. I remember the very first version I read the lovely white smooth pages and the detail of the illustrations. Awesome.
Great post for the O Day! Terrific book and a fun movie! Hope your week is going well! Enjoy!
Sylvia
A famous man and a famous novel - not to mention films. A worth O
PS Did you know that his parents were Norwegian? Hence his name.
I preferred the older version as well, mostly because it was a bit less stylised and not so moralising at the end.
I do need to read the book one day though, I love children's books.
I have to admit that I have never read the book or saw either of the movies, I will have to watch the movie next time it appears on TV. Maybe TCM will show the old version in the next month or two, if so, I will be sure to watch it.
Wonderful book! I have read it to a classroom full of third graders and they LOVED it. :)
I may have to watch this again - thanks for the reminder! Good post!
No one has ever called me an Oompa Loompa before! I'm flattered - I think...
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been in and our of my life for years, - saw snatches of it on TV a couple of weeks ago. Our children all love it.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been in and our of my life for years, - saw snatches of it on TV a couple of weeks ago. Our children all love it.
Leslie, I loved the book but never saw either movie - it's going on the list! The Children's Literature course sounds like a winner - I shelve juvenile books at our library. A course like yours would make the job so much more interesting. Plus, I'd get good ideas for "the Elliot" (my first grandchild).
Oh, yes, they sure do make the story...we all love singing the oompa-loompa song :)
~A Vermont Girl
I love that movie. It was so creative. - Margy
I loved both movie versions, I'll admit. What a great choice for the O's! I always marvel at the variety of words our group comes up with.
awesome,
watched the movie,
what an entertaining o post.
Oh I loved this post and the Oompa Loompas. My kids did too. thanks for sharing this.
I did have a wonderful time visiting with Wanda. I just posted a tiny bit about our visit if you want to go back to my blog. Sue of photowannabe
What a fun choice for O. Love it! And yes, the original movie was by far the superior of the two.
What a great choice for the week! Loved the book and the original movie!
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