Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

A poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.

Director:

Mel Stuart

Writers:

Roald Dahl (screenplay by), Roald Dahl (book)

Stars:

Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Wilder	...	Willy Wonka
Jack Albertson	...	Grandpa Joe
Peter Ostrum	...	Charlie
Roy Kinnear	...	Mr. Salt
Julie Dawn Cole	...	Veruca Salt
Leonard Stone	...	Mr. Beauregarde
Denise Nickerson	...	Violet Beauregarde
Nora Denney	...	Mrs. Teevee (as Dodo Denney)
Paris Themmen	...	Mike Teevee
Ursula Reit	...	Mrs. Gloop
Michael Bollner	...	Augustus Gloop
Diana Sowle	...	Mrs. Bucket
Aubrey Woods	...	Bill
David Battley	...	Mr. Turkentine
Günter Meisner	...	Mr. Slugworth (as Gunter Meisner)

Storyline

The world is astounded when Willy Wonka, for years a recluse in his factory, announces that five lucky people will be given a tour of the factory, shown all the secrets of his amazing candy, and one will win a lifetime supply of Wonka chocolate. Nobody wants the prize more than young Charlie, but as his family is so poor that buying even one bar of chocolate is a treat, buying enough bars to find one of the five golden tickets is unlikely in the extreme. But in movieland, magic can happen. Charlie, along with four somewhat odious other children, get the chance of a lifetime and a tour of the factory. Along the way, mild disasters befall each of the odious children, but can Charlie beat the odds and grab the brass ring?

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Plot Keywords:

factory | chocolate | ticket | candy | golden ticket | 

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Taglines:

Your golden ticket to imagination and adventure!

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Genres:

Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even Julie Dawn Cole - who played Veruca Salt - was fooled by the scene in which Willy limps out of his factory to greet the Golden Ticket winners. She mentions in the DVD commentary that she thought that Gene Wilder had injured his leg for real, and that the filming would have to be temporarily halted because of it. Her reaction, along with the rest of the audience, is genuine.

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Goofs

At the start of the movie when all the children are in the sweet shop, Bill the shopkeeper lifts up a section of counter to go to the customer side of the counter (at around 52 mins) and does not put the section of counter back down. Bill returns to behind the counter through another section of counter (at around 5 mins), and then re-opens the first section of counter to let the kids behind the counter (at around 50 mins). Also, when he lifts up the counter the second time, a girl by the counter with a white ribbon in her hair clearly gets smacked on the chin by the rising counter.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bill: All right, all right, all right, what's it going to be? A Triple Cream Cup for Christopher. A Sizzler for June Marie. And listen!
[the children fall silent]
Bill: Wonka's got a new one today.
Children: What is it?
Bill: This is called a Scrumpdiddlyumptious Bar.

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Crazy Credits

At the same time as the end credits are playing, the film shows the Wonkavator rising higher and higher.

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Alternate Versions

In the TV version that aired on ABC in 2001, the "Cheer up Charlie" song was cut out. In the same version, the computer that could tell exactly where the golden tickets were was edited out.

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Connections

Referenced in Vintage Video: Forbidden Zone (2020)

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Soundtracks

Wondrous Boat Ride
(uncredited)
Lyrics and Music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
Performed by Gene Wilder

User Reviews

Gene Wilder revealed...

Most excellent works in the arts are seen and enjoyed at a variety of "levels." That is true of this movie in general and of Gene Wilder in specific.

Wilder has been known in the circles of movie creators as a creative genius for many years. Here, his acting ability showcases that genius. To be sure, at the level of good fun for kids and Moms and Dads, he comes through. But writers must have loved his work. Watch for the "look" in his eyes. You will see "changes" in them as he speaks or as he listens to the kids. Those unheard, barely seen changes can be read many ways. And that is the genius. They put more into the lines than the words themselves.

Art should be clearly and quickly understood. It should also be the tool used to make us wonder a bit. Think a little. Or find meaning we didn't see at first look.

In this movie, Gene Wilder's almost imperceptible nuances speak volumes.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. [United States]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English French German Italian

Release Date:

30 June 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Filming Locations:

Stadtwerke München, Emmy-Noether-Straße 2, Munich, Germany

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$526,633, 4 September 2016

Gross USA:

$526,633

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$530,154

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolper Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 89 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) Dolby Digital (1996 Re-Release)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1