Exactly one week ago, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition released and in celebration, Hollywood the Write Way got the opportunity to interview a handful of the original main cast members as well as director, Mel Stuart!

Release Date: October 18, 2011
Rating: G
Feature Running Time: 100 minutes

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition is a Blu-ray + DVD Pack from Warner Home Video that contains over an hour of special features including a new interview with Mel Suart and a new DVD featurette on author, Roald Dahl. Other special features include a Willy Wonka documentary, commentary from the Wonka kids, and yes, yes, yes, there are sing a longs!

That’s not even the best part! The Ultimate Collector’s Edition comes with a 144 page book which is basically a walk through every aspect of the making of the film through Mel Stuart’s eyes. The book has rare photographs and an overflowing amount of fascinating facts that hardcore Willy Wonka fans will not want to be without. To learn about the challenges behind the chocolate river, scouting shooting locations, and more… it brings an even bigger appreciation to a film that I already loved so much. The book takes a handful of hours to read but what your read… these are memories that will last a lifetime. It’s a confirmation of just how much of a staple Willy Wonka is and will always be in the world.

The writer that I am, I especially loved the retro Wonk Bar shaped tin box (that included scented pencils and an eraser) which I can keep my pens in. But what’s an ultimate collector’s edition without the Golden Ticket? Yeah, I’ve got a golden ticket! I’ve got a golden ticket! And not just any golden ticket. They’ve created an entirely new instant win where 5 winners receive a trip to LA and a VIP tour of Warner Brothers Studios! Ain’t no Wonka anniversary like a 40th anniversary!

As I mentioned before, marking the 40th anniversary this month were a number of the original cast members and director, Mel Stuart. Check out my video interviews with Stuart and the cast below:

The original cartwheeling Oompa Loompa, Rusty Goffe and Director Mel Stuart

Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket) and Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt)

Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde) and Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee)

Own Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition for $64.99 or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on iTunes and Amazon On Demand today.