When it comes to children’s authors, few are more beloved than the late Roald Dahl. Along with classics like The BFG and The Witches, the British author wrote one of the most popular children’s books of all time: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Fans in the 1970s were thrilled when it was announced that the book was going to be adapted to film. Gene Wilder signed on to play Willy Wonka on the condition that he would be allowed to improvise his lines — something that left his castmates feeling confused on more than one occasion.
While the film was overall a commercial and critical success, there was one important person who was dissatisfied with the final result: Roald Dahl himself. Despite serving as a screenwriter, Dahl never liked the famous film.
Keep reading to find out why Roald Dahl disapproved of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
‘Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory’
Roald Dahl’s popular 1964 children’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was adapted to film in 1971. The film version, renamed Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starred Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket.
The plot follows Charlie, who is from a poor family, winning a ticket to visit Willy Wonka’s magnificent chocolate factory with four other children. And when he gets there, he stumbles across several surprises.
Though the film received mostly positive reviews and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Score, it also attracted some backlash.
According to Insider, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) condemned the film in pre-production because the book originally depicted the Oompa Loompas as African Pygmies. So the Oompa Loompas appeared with orange skin in the film and the title was changed from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
How Did Roald Dahl Feel About The Film Adaptation Of His Book?
Roald Dahl himself served as a screenwriter on the film, however the script was reportedly changed against his consent. Insider reports that the legendary author, who passed away in 1990, was ultimately disappointed with the final product.
Roald Dahl’s Issue With Gene Wilder
Roald Dahl’s main gripe with the film seemed to be in the casting of Gene Wilder, who he believed was miscast as Willy Wonka.
It was reported that Dahl thought Wilder was “pretentious” and insufficiently “gay [in the context of being jovial] and bouncy”. The author would have preferred the actors Spike Milligan or Peter Sellers to be cast instead.
Dahl’s friend, Donald Sturrock, told Yahoo that the author found Gene Wilder to be “too soft.”
“I think he felt Wonka was a very British eccentric,” Sturrock explained. “His voice is very light and he’s got that rather cherubic, sweet face. I think [Dahl] felt … there was something wrong with [Wonka’s] soul in the movie—it just wasn’t how he imagined the lines being spoken."
Other Problems That Roald Dahl Had With The Film
Sturrock also revealed that Dahl was unhappy with the changes that were made to the script without his consent. He also didn’t like the movie’s director, Mel Stuart, or the film’s musical numbers.
While Dahl was not satisfied with the film, he did sort of come around in the end. “Roald eventually came to tolerate the film, acknowledging that were 'many good things' in it," Sturrock said. "But he never liked it."
How Much Was Roald Dahl Paid To Work On The Film?
According to Insider, the successful author was paid $300,000 to write the original draft of the script of the film.
However, elements of his script were later changed against his wishes, and he ended up disowning the role.
The World’s Reaction To ‘Charlie And The Chocolate Factory’
In 2005, a remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was made, this time bearing the original title of the novel. Johnny Depp was cast as Willy Wonka, while the film also starred Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Bucket, and AnnaSophia Robb as Violet Beauregarde. Tim Burton, a frequent collaborator of Depp’s, directed the film.
Interestingly, Jim Carrey was almost cast as Willy Wonka!
Fans of the story naturally compared the remake to the original film starring Gene Wilder, leading to arguments about which adaptation was better. Criticism of the 2005 film claimed that Depp’s Wonka was a little too quirky and actually displayed serial killer tendencies.
The setting was also confusing for some, as the cast seemed to be mostly British—except Johnny Depp—but used American terms, like candy and dollars.
At the same time, some fans felt that the original adaptation lacked depth as there was no insight into Willy Wonka’s background or what led him to become a candy maker.
Ultimately, plenty of people were unhappy with both film versions, even if the original story became a beloved classic.