Oops; above post is actually referring to Chapter 14.
Anyway; onward!
Chapter 15:
The chocolate room; there are snippets of dialogue that I think were more closely observed in WCF, but I think CCF is closer on the intricate details of what is to be found in this room, as well as the dialogue specifically relating to them. Again though, Wonka is far more animated and excitable (and thus, conspicuously closer to Wilder’s performance than Depp’s).
Chapter 16:
The Oompa-Loompas
Neither movie portrays the Oompa-Loompas appearance (physical appearance, as well as manner of dress) as the book describes it, but WCF strays from several important details in this chapter; notably, the precise nature of the predicament in which Wonka found the Oompa-Loompas (i.e. being forced to eat disgusting mashed caterpillars, all the while craving cacao beans) and the associated background of this story element; true, WCF does tell more or less the same story, but in a much simplified form.
Wonka is fairly passive in this chapter, so neither movie can be described as portraying his character better or worse than the other.
Chapter 17:
Augustus falls in the river and is sucked up; the two movies were incredibly similar on this scene, at least to begin (although they both, as mentioned earlier, omit Mr Gloop entirely). CCF is again closer on a few more of the details and precise dialogue. Wonka’s mock nonchalance in WCF is not in the book and after Augustus is sucked up the pipe, the dialogue (more accurately rendered in CCF) does not inherently suggest either version of the Wonka character more than the other.
The lengthy Oompa-Loompa song in the book is just nothing at all like the trite little ditty in WCF; I’m going to assume it was fairly well-reproduced in CCF, but I cannot say for sure, as the words were not properly audible.
Chapter 18:
The party go for a ride on Mr Wonka’s boat; there’s no doubt about it, the boat itself and the crew of Oompa-Loompas appear in CCF pretty much exactly as described - a viking-style boat powered by many oars (as opposed to the paddle boat depicted in WCF). Details and dialogue are closer in CCF, although still mostly preserved (or recognisable) in WCF. The store rooms that they pass in the boat are depicted in CCF (although not appearing anything like the way the book describes them); in WCF, IIRC these storerooms are not encountered in WCF until after they have left the boat. The Wonka character himself seems a bit closer to Wilder’s manic joker than Depp’s version.
CCF’s boat is bubble-gum pink and “good enough to eat,” too, unlike the blue steamer of WCF.
WCF gets some credit for the rare instance of including some of Dahl’s verse (although they added some unnecessary bits about the fires of hell and grisly reapers and whatnot, to match the f-d uppedness of the Psych-out PCP inserts and inexplicable poultry decapitations.)
They definitely lose points when the included verse is “There’s no knowing where they’re rowing, or which way the river’s flowing, not a speck of light is showing, so the danger must be growing, for the rowers keep on rowing, and they’re certainly not showing any signs that they are slowing,” and there is a conspicuous absence of any rowers rowing. :smack:
Indeed; I couldn’t recall whether that verse appeared in CCF; I’m struggling to remember anything specific about Depp’s limp performance.
Trying to be objective here, but on balance (and at this halfway stage of reading the book), I’d say that CCF is ‘closer to the book’ in respect of dialogue and visual details, but falls down badly on its representation of Wonka himself (arguably the aspect of the movie which they should have been most careful to get right).
WCF portrays the character of Wonka more faithfully, but does not seem to attempt to remain particularly faithful to details of plot or dialogue - some of the poor visual elements could be excused by the limited technology of the day, of course.
There’s nothing else for it but to direct my own movie version of the story and get the whole thing right.
:: nods :: I’d say that WCF follows the spirit of the chapter while CCF follows the letter of the chapter. The only thing I really liked in the CCF boat ride was how they remembered to have Wonka give Charlie and Grampa Joe some chocolate because they look starved. But it didn’t really have soul.
I don’t know if I’d say CCF wins because of accuracy; WCF scores major points by capturing the feel of Wonka and the chapter.
Thanks for the info Mangetout I’m really enjoying reading your descriptions. I read the book for the first time in 1970 when I was in grade school (I’m guessing the year. I was in 5th grade)
Love, love, loved Gene Wilder in the role and have avoided seeing the new version because I’m not sure how I’d like Depp.
I do have a question though:
Back when I first read the book I remembered the Oompa Loompas being described as pygmy like and depicted pictorally as small, african looking people in loin cloths. That seems to have changed. Does anyone else remember this or have I just killed those brain cells over the years?
In my edition of the book, the Oompa-Loompas are described as funny little men, no larger then medium-sized dolls/no higher than knee-height, with long hair. The males wear animal skins and the females wear leaves. The individual that Wonka summons to instruct regarding the search for Augustus in the fudge room, is described as knee-height, having beautiful white teeth, rosy-white skin and golden-brown hair.
The illustrations (by Quentin Blake), show skinny little bug-eyed humanoids of more or less regular proportions, with very spiky hair.
Chapter 19:
The inventing room - CCF again gets more of the fiddly details - including the hair toffee - IIRC omitted entirely from WCF. WCF gets the closer to Wonka’s manic antics.
Chapter 20:
The gum machine. Not much to choose between the two; any discrepancies between the description of the machine and its appearance in either movie can wither be attributed to technical limitations or artistic license. Dialogue and action equal too.
Chapter 21:
Good-bye Violet.
Beginning at the end; it’s interesting that CCF chose to have the Oompa-Loompas rolling violet back and forth while they sung, because it’s not like that in the book - they roll her out with minimal fuss and the song is heard drifting back in from outside. I suppose CCF could have coincidentally come to the same creative decisions as WCF on this, but it looks more like this element was simply copied from the earlier movie. Everything else very similar; both movies get the dialogue and action incredibly close; CCF is closer to the precise description of the manner of Violet’s colour change, but again, this could be put down to technical limitations in WCF. Wonka does in fact go monosyllabic for a short while once Violet starts chewing the gum, but the book portrays him as a little more animated than the faux-detachment Wilder brings to the character at this point.
WCF does not preserve the song.
Chapter 22:
Along the Corridor
Charlie keeps showing concern for the kids who suffer mishaps; this is better reflected in CCF than WCF, I think.
Wonka calling Mike Teavee a ‘mumbler’ is repeated a few times in these chapters; this again is accurately rendered in CCF but more or less absent in WCF (I think in WCF he tells one kid, who is already shouting, to speak a little louder, but I don’t think it’s Mike). Wonka is far more energetic, animated and talkative than Depp in this chapter.
They pass various rooms with fantastical signs on the doors; I can’t recall which of the movies gets exactly which and how many of these right, but the lickable wallpaper in WCF is right there in the book, word for word (including snozzberries, which was sure was going to be a movie script embellishment). Wonka’s introduction to the room with the fizzy lifting drinks is also reproduced verbatim in WCF, but then of course, WCF strays into that regrettable subplot where Charlie and GJ steal the drinks.
Chapter 23:
Square sweets that look round - entirely absent from both movies (unless I fell asleep and missed it in CCF) - brief mention of butterscotch and butterginfrom this chapter appears in WCF, but moved to an earlier point in the inventing room.
Chapter 24:
Veruca in the nut room.
CCF gets this entire chapter almost spot on; save for a few tiny details of description (red squirrels around a table, not grey ones around the inside of a circular shelf), and the fact that, as mentioned earlier Mrs salt is present. Oompa Loompa song in this scene was memorable and I think CCF probablky stuck quite close to it.
WCF keeps most of the plot and dialogue, but oh dear… the squirrels are replaced with golden-egg-laying geese. I can only imagine this was done to overcome the technical limitations of trying to produce a realistic scene with 100 squirrels.