Dahl’s very first book for children was entitled The Gremlins-- A Royal Air Force Story. It was published by Walt Disney, who intended to base an animated cartoon on it, but it was never finished. (My WAG is that making military training films took up too much of the studio’s resources. Others say the reasons were political.) Fewer than 5,000 copies of this book were printed; a mint-condition copy is worth at least $1200. You can read the entire book online beginning here.
At Warner Brothers, Robert Clampett heard about it and made two gremlin cartoons of his own, one that starred Bugs Bunny with one gremlin; the other cartoon featured Hitler against a whole horde of “Gremlins from the Kremlin” (the gremlins all had Russian accents and they were caricatures of the animation staff). I’m guessing the WB cartoons did not violate any copyright laws because pilots had attributed any mechanical faults to the mythical creatures long before Dahl wrote his story.
As for the 1984 movie directed by Joe Dante, it’s nothing like Dahl’s book at all.
In my opinion, having to listen to Aubrey Woods sing “The Candy Man” entitles the victims to all the candy they can eae and carry home. Plus subsidized psychotherapy for life, or until the trauma has been worked through.
Miss Ellie killing Jock with a leg of lamb? I can’t see it!
LOL…anyhoo, I remember reading that story in 10th grade…hehehehe…
Anyhoo, btw, who ever said Tommy was the tv addict-HELLO!!!
THERE WAS NO TOMMY! IT WAS MIKE TEEVEE!!!
ARGH!!!
Wonka kicks ass! I mean, come ON! The guy makes likable wallpaper and has a river full of chocolate. THAT makes him a genius. Hell, if I ever got rich, I’d make a chocolate river in my house too!
OK, I gotta disagree once again about people who claim that Wonka doesn’t pay the Oompa-Loompas. READ THE BOOK! He pays them in cacao beans! Fer crying out loud, why won’t you people pay attention? You know what happens to little boys and girls who don’t pay attention, right?
Even though Wonka’s factory is brightly colored and full of candy, it’s obvious that it is a hub of despair. The Oompa Loompas scurry around like ants. Do you really think they care about cocoa beans? No way. They’re slaves, that’s all. If they tried to escape it would probably trigger all sorts of nasty fatal traps made out of candy.
Wonka himself hardly even tries to hide his contempt for other humans. He sees children as filthy creatures who will do anything for a taste of sweet, sweet candy. He sees adults as filthy creatures who will do anything for a taste of sweet, sweet money. And he himself thrives on the hopelessness and pain of others. He seems to have planned his whole factory layout with these sinister “tours” in mind. Chutes that go straight to the furnace? Delicious chocolate rapids? A fan right near the flying soda? Come on.
In the end he bequeaths his factory to Charlie and his grandfather in hopes of turning them into twisted creatures like himself, to carry on his dark legacy.
Although none of that explains the whole glass elevator thing. I can’t remember what happened after that anyway. Something about buttons and knids and grandpa shrinking into a tot. And the president. I don’t think it made much sense in conjunction with the first book.
I absolutely adored Charlie and the Chocolate Factopry (the book) for my entire childhood and right on up to now. But I hate the movie. I never did, and still don’t, see Willy Wonka as sadistic or mean or even creepy. I think he’s delightful. He gives obnoxious children their just des(s)erts, and rewards a good child with an entire magical candy factpry! Oh, the dreams I had about that place! I giggled my whole way through that book, and when I was in 4th grade, read it alound to my little brother, who giggled through it so hard he cried. It was GREAT.
Roald Dahl’s other children’s stories are also immensely creative and entertaining. The BFG and Matilda are other favorites of mine. Part of what I really enjoy about his stories is that his villians are so very villiany, and you can relate to his heroes, who are always a little off-beat, so well. His adult stories are just as wonderful, though often frightening. He’s one of the coolest authors around, in my book.