Children are not stupid. Nothing seems to escape the attention of a small child. I make this observation because most children's films aren't very good; they are stupid and full of contempt for their audience. However, Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is one of the best films of its time. It has all the qualities a good film should have: it's emotional, mentally stimulating and appeals to the child within all of us. The film, directed by Mel Stuart in 1971, is a children's musical comedy adapted by David Seltzer from Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This film was financed by the Quaker Oats Company with the goal of providing high-quality family entertainment. This film stars Gene Wilder as Willie Wonka, the eccentric chocolate factory owner; Peter Ostrum as Charlie Bucket; Diana Sowle as Charlie's hard-working mother and Jack Albertson as Charlie's bedridden Grandpa Joe. The film, rated G by the MPAA, tells the story of how poor Charlie Bucket and four other spoiled rich kids win a tour of Willie Wonka's otherwise secret chocolate factory. Because of Charlie's honesty during the tour, at the end of the film, Willie Wonka gives Charlie his own factory and a lifetime supply of chocolate. The main message of the film is that greed leads to failure and honesty pays off. Based on its creative presentation, excellent cast performances, and originality, Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a great film for all ages. Charlie Bucket is a poor boy whose mother can barely earn enough money to feed Charlie and his bedridden grandparents. . One day Willie Wonka, a famous candy maker, launches a contest in which five lucky winners would win a lifetime supply of candy and a visit to his secret factory. T......middle of paper......pa Lumpa sings a song after every accident the children encounter. For example, after Agustus Gloop, the overweight, compulsive eater, falls into the river of chocolate, the Oompa Loompas sing a song about Agustus Gloop's overweight stature and greed. All these scenes make the characters' misadventures fun and magical. Overall the film is effective in its use of creative presentation and excellent cast, but above all it is original. As I said before, although this film was created for children, it is applicable to all ages due to its mentally stimulating qualities. Some people consider the film racist because the Oompa Loompas, the little orange individuals who help Willy Wonka run his factory, are depicted as exotic but simple, miserable, and unable to survive without Western intervention. This seems to represent the sad truth of some Eastern nations. Time to grab a candy bar!