LIFE celebrates the 50th anniversary of the beloved family classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with a veritable chocolate river of stories and photos. The book features a collection of gorgeous behind-the-scenes photographs that reveal the merriment and mayhem of the original movie set. It also tells the improbable story of how Roald Dahl's book was ever filmed in the first place, and tracks how the movie went from being an opening-day dud to a staple of American childhood, as well as the inspiration for a Tim Burton–Johnny Depp remake and a popular Broadway musical. The issue includes tributes to star Gene Wilder and explains why he was the perfect Wonka, and shares what became of the movie's child stars. From Golden Tickets to Oompa Loompas to Everlasting Gobstoppers, LIFE captures everything that made Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory a work of pure imagination.
LIFE: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
LIFE Bookazines
How Gene Wilder Made Willy Wonka an Icon • The actor brought the perfect touch to the difficult task of portraying the candy impresario's joy and madness
A Journey Behind the Scenes • In never-before-published images from the magical movie set of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, photographer Steve Schapiro captured the wild ride that continued even after the cameras stopped rolling
Roald Dahl’s Creation of Pure Imagination • The author who dreamed up Willy Wonka—along with Matilda and Fantastic Mr. Fox and many others—was a character in his own right
The Dreamer of Wonka’s Dreamland • For Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and many other beloved children’s books, creating fantasy worlds was a means of coping with the tragedy in his own life
Making the Movie Come to Life • From finding the perfect cast to constructing a candy wonderland, the filming of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory proved to be an adventure of its own
Wonka’s Road to the Screen • The journey began with a daughter’s suggestion to an Emmy-winning documentarian and required resolving the contentious question of how to properly portray the Oompa-Loompas
Finding the Perfect Wonka • The actors who were considered for the movie’s title character included several Hollywood stars, but the producers favored a rising talent who showed an instinct for capturing the candyman’s soul
“Part of This World, Part of Another” • Gene Wilder’s notes to the designer of Willy Wonka’s signature outfit show the depth of detail that the actor brought to his vision for this unforgettable character
Meet the Cast: Golden Ticket Winners for Life • With the exception of Charlie, the children who toured Wonka’s factory met with unpleasant fates—but what happened to the actors (including those who played the Oompa-Loompas) when the movie became a pop culture treasure?
The Production: Creating the Dream Factory • The making of Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory required a masterpiece of set design and involved a mad scramble on a script that was at the last moment deemed unacceptable
The Reception: The Small Screen Helped Make the Movie Big • Despite a notable rave review, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was not an immediate blockbuster, and it took years—and many television airings—for it to be recognized as a classic
A Legacy That Is Everlasting • The story of Willy Wonka and his magical factory has continued to be retold and adapted, taking new form as an opera, a musical, and a major movie remake
Taking Wonka in a New Direction • Tim Burton and frequent collaborator Johnny Depp teamed up to reimagine Roald Dahl’s story—Willy has a mean dad! And a weird wig!—in this popular but divisive remake
The Opera: Elevating to High Art • In The Golden Ticket, the grandparents’ snoring...
