Search

The Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Production Records consist of the production, promotion, correspondence, and other related material regarding the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Directed by Mel Stuart, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was produced by Wolper Pictures and financed by Quaker Oats. Quaker had been motivated by the intention to introduce a new candy bar and saw the film as a way to promote their newly imagined Wonka Bars. Paramount Pictures signed on as the distributor and this collection's creator and donator, Robert Newman acted as liaison between Wolper, Quaker and Paramount.

The Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Production Records are sorted into five series: Correspondence, Business and Financial, Production, Post-Production, and Promotion. Some of these series contain subseries, which will be elaborated upon in the respective Series level notes.

The "Correspondence" series consists of correspondence regarding general business affairs, any fan mail or letters sent about the movie, and correspondence to and about Roald Dahl. Any undated material is placed at the beginning of the subseries. Most correspondence in any series is in the format of telex, however there are also typewritten and handwritten letters included as well.

The "Business and Financial" series includes legal documents regarding the rights to the film, as well as the contractual agreements between various parties, especially Roald Dahl. This series also contains relevant financial documents such as invoices and budgets.

The "Production" series contains reports, schedules, and correspondence regarding the filming of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (dir. Mel Stuart, 1972).

The "Promotion" series mainly consists of correspondence throughout the film's production regarding potential promotion and publicity, including merchandising and Quaker Oats' "Wonka Bar" candy.