How to Adapt Roald Dahl to the Silver Screen
Posted on August 19, 2005
The Des Moines Register talks to John August about the daunting process of adapting Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the big screen. It was a dream job for August: he adored the book as a child, and wrote to Dahl, who replied with a postcard the screenwriter still has.
When the film got permission to move forward, August asked Burton if he should watch the 1971 adaptation starring Gene Wilder. Absolutely not, Burton told him. In hindsight, it was a good move, August says now. Otherwise the first movie would have influenced the screenplay for this summer's version, he said.If you haven't seen it yet, by all means do. It's weirdly wonderful. And much funnier than one might think from the previews. Children laugh at the slapstick, but there is plenty for adults to enjoy. Burton's skewering of the parents who allow their spoiled rotten children to simply run wild is especially inspired.After the first draft of the screenplay was turned in - after just four weeks - August did watch the 1971 movie. "It was bizarre to see the same source material done so differently," he says. August says his challenges involved keeping the songs from the book but shortening them. He also saw Wonka as somewhat like Howard Hughes - a genius with poor social skills. "With Wonka what was important is the question of how did this guy get to be so successful," August says. "What happens when a genius locks himself in a factory for 20 years?"