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Wonka Bars...Oompa-Loompas...The Candy Man...The Gobstopper Machine...A Chocolate River...The Fizzy Lifting Room...Lickable Wallpaper... Revisit the magical world of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" in this behind-the-scenes look at one of the most popular films of all time!Ever since Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was released over thirty years ago, millions of viewers have fallen in love with this unforgettable movie based on the classic novel by Roald Dahl. Now from the film's director Mel Stuart, comes Pure Imagination, the first book ever written on the blockbuster picture that won over kids and adults alike, making it the legacy that it is today. From how Willy Wonka went from the page to the screen--Stuart's twelve-year-old daughter asked him to make a movie of her favorite book--to each step that was involved, beginning with the pre-production stage, the development of the set design to shooting and editing Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, here is a full, insider account of all you've ever wanted to know about the film. Filled with over one hundred lavish photographs of the production, most of which have never been seen, Pure Imagination is the ultimate companion piece for lovers of the film. Stuart's engaging, light-hearted manner comes alive on every page as he shares colorful anecdotes, interviews, and fascinating trivia, such as the untold story of why the Oompa-Loompas have orange faces and green hair, and little-known facts, including how Gene Wilder was chosen to play the part of Willy Wonka. He describes how the film became a huge hit, and why it still captures the imaginations of audiences today.A dazzling, visual retrospective celebrating the magic of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Pure Imagination is sure to be a collector's item and will make the perfect gift for anyone-whether they are fans of this timeless film, or have just discovered it for the first time.

Great book for a Wonka fan., 2007-09-01
I bought this book as a gift for my cousin's birthday. He's not a huge Willy Wonka fan persay but we have fond memories of watching the movie together when we were younger and we like to randomly quote lines from the movie. What a perfect gift idea this would be, I thought. So I bought it online, not knowing what the pages inside looked like. And I was thrilled when I finally received it!

The first thing I must point out is the great pictures. They're high quality and are probably the best parts of the book. There are pictures from the actual movie which are wonderful but my favorite pictures are the behind the scenes pictures. It's neat to see the characters when the camera isn't rolling. There are also a couple of sketches of different scenes (including the "Pure Imagination" scene).

The book is also filled with stories and facts that the average Willy Wonka fan might not know. The book is seperated into chapters so if you're not into, say, how the movie was put together and edited, you can skip right over that part. Being able to see how certain scenes were created and how they casted the movie and where the actors are now (one of the most intriguing sections) makes this book a rather interesting read.

If you know someone who loves Willy Wonka, this would make an excellent gift. I highly recommend it.

Magic movie but not book, 2006-11-10
After reading this book I learned Mel stuart deserves a alot of credit, and rightly so, for bringing to the movie that timeless magical quality that after decades, I never get tired of. However, Mel leaves out to much behind the scenes, personal accounts, stories, general info. esp. as it pertains to the rest of the cast for this to be an enjoyable read.

However, if you love the movie as much as I did, you will still want to buy this book at least to get Mel's take on the making of the movie.