Differences between Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory-Book- and Movie

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Book vs. Film Adaptations

Roald Dahl's 1964 children's book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has been adapted for film multiple times. The two most notable cinematic versions are the 1971 musical Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, directed by Mel Stuart, and Tim Burton's 2005 film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. While both films follow the basic premise of the novel, they feature significant differences in characterization, plot details, and overall tone.

The 2005 film is in many ways more faithful to the source material, though it also takes liberties, particularly with Willy Wonka's character. A significant addition in this version is a backstory for Wonka that explores his difficult relationship with his father, a dentist. This subplot is not present in the book. The 1971 film deviates from the book in a number of ways, including changing the title to place more emphasis on Willy Wonka. It also introduces a subplot involving Wonka's rival, Arthur Slugworth, who tempts the children with a reward for stealing an Everlasting Gobstopper. This element is not in the novel, where Slugworth is only mentioned as a rival candy maker.

Comparison Table

Category	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964 Book)	Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971 Film)	Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 Film)
Willy Wonka's Character	Eccentric and energetic, but with a mysterious and sometimes stern demeanor.	Sarcastic, witty, and theatrical, with a volatile temper.	Socially awkward with a detailed backstory about his dentist father.
Charlie's Father	Present; he works at a toothpaste factory before losing his job.	Absent; he is said to have passed away before the events of the film.	Present; his role in the toothpaste factory and subsequent job loss is included.
The Oompa-Loompas	Described as small people from Loompaland with long hair and rosy-white skin in revised editions.	Depicted with orange skin and green hair.	All played by a single actor, Deep Roy, and their songs use Dahl's original lyrics.
Fates of the Children	All children survive but are permanently altered by their experiences (e.g., Mike Teavee is stretched ten feet tall).	The children's final fates are not shown, but Wonka assures they will be "restored to their normal, terrible old selves".	The children are shown leaving the factory, visibly changed by their ordeals.
Key Plot Elements	The tour is a straightforward test of character.	A subplot is added where a man posing as Slugworth tests the children's integrity.	A backstory for Wonka is a central element, focusing on his relationship with his father.
The Ending	Wonka and Charlie's family fly out of the factory in the Great Glass Elevator.	Charlie passes Wonka's final test by returning the Everlasting Gobstopper, inheriting the factory.	Charlie initially declines the factory to stay with his family, leading Wonka to reconcile with his own father. The Buckets then move into the factory.

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Charlie-and-the-Chocolate-Factory-Book- and Movie

One of the most significant changes in the 2005 adaptation is the creation of a backstory for Willy Wonka, portraying his father as a strict dentist who forbade him from eating candy. This narrative element is entirely absent from the book and the 1971 film. The 1971 movie introduces its own unique subplot with the character of Arthur Slugworth, who is presented as a rival trying to steal Wonka's secrets. In the film, a man claiming to be Slugworth offers the children a reward for an Everlasting Gobstopper, serving as a moral test for the children. In the novel, Charlie's good behavior is what ultimately leads to him inheriting the factory, without the added element of the Slugworth test.

The portrayals of the Oompa-Loompas also differ across the versions. In Dahl's revised text, they are described as having "golden-brown hair" and "rosy-white" skin. The 1971 film made the memorable choice to depict them with orange skin and green hair. The 2005 film took a different approach by having actor Deep Roy play every Oompa-Loompa and set Dahl's original song lyrics to new music in various genres.

The endings of both films diverge from the book and from each other. The novel concludes with Charlie, Grandpa Joe, and Willy Wonka flying out of the factory in the Great Glass Elevator to pick up the rest of the Bucket family. In the 1971 film, the story concludes after Charlie passes Wonka's final moral test. The 2005 version adds a conflict where Wonka initially tells Charlie he must leave his family behind. Charlie refuses the offer, which eventually leads Wonka to confront and reconcile with his estranged father, after which Charlie and his entire family move into the factory.