”The suspense is terrible... I hope it'll last.” Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (Music From The Original Soundtrack Of The Paramount Picture) [Special 25th Anniversary Edition] - Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley The first adaptation of Roald Dahl’s popular book was released in theaters fifty years ago today. For the most part I actually prefer Tim Burton’s take on the novel over this adaptation, which I don‘t dislike at all. I’ll admit not really being into musicals probably played a factor into why I could never get into this movie when I was a child. I finally watched it a few weeks after I saw Burton’s version back in ‘05‘. I believe Burton improved on a lot of aspects over the original. Wilder is easily the highlight of the original and is introduced forty minutes into the movie. I also find the Oompa Loompa songs, which feel too repetitive, to be inferior to Elfman’s Oompa Loompa songs, which has more variety and even uses the lyrics from Roald Dahl’s poems for the problematic kids in the book. The best song, which is probably the most iconic of the movie, on the album is “Pure Imagination” performed the late Gene Wilder. I also appreciate the way the “Pure Imagination” melody was utilized in the score. With all that said I still enjoyed the album.
If you haven't seen the film, I can see it seeming sort of "by the numbers" in a long line of "romantic" Barry scores from the period, but I still think it's a passionate, gorgeous effort, and I'd love to have an expanded release of the film tracks.
Well, it seems that your wish is about to come true, Mr. Jack.
