Willy Wonka fun facts
*Willy Wonka Willy Wonka everybody give a cheer HOORAY*
Don’t pretend you did not sing that like the Oompa Loompa’s did because that is such a classic.
Obviously the one with the late Gene Wilder, even though the one with Johnny Depp isn’t that bad either.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory came out in 1971 and was based on the 1964 book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by British author Roald Dahl.
To this very day it remains a classic to grandparents, parents and even kids who grew up watching it.
We all secretly wished we could visit Willy Wonka’s factory and consume all the chocolate possible…just like Augustus Gloop wanted to.
But did you know that Willy Wonka’s factory wasn’t actually a factory? Yes, the movie has some delicious facts despite being released 51 years ago.
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Wonka’s limping entrance was Gene Wilder’s idea
The first time everyone finally meets Willy Wonka is when he is limping. This idea came to Gene Wilder who suggested it would be perfect to keep the crowd on its toes.
The director questioned why he would want to do that to which Gene responded: “Because from that time on, no one will know if I’m lying or telling the truth.”
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Almost everything was edible
Remember when Willy Wonka said “everything in this room is edible except for me”? Well they weren’t lying because everything in the factory was edible.
Except for that floral cup he would drink from which was actually made from wax. Gene would bite into it and continue biting until the shot was perfect.
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Chocolate river not actually made out of chocolate
Would’ve been a dream come true had that river actually been made out of chocolate. It was however filled with brown-coloured water which eventually stunk up the place.
In the remake, thick, fake chocolate was actually used.
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Charlie and Wonka were close in real life
Peter Ostrum, the actor who played Charlie, said Wilder “treated people with respect and dignity.”
He said Wilder would always buy a chocolate bar after lunch and share it with him.
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Not a factory
The movie was filmed in Germany and Willy Wonka’s “factory” was in fact a power plant.
The director chose that place on purpose so viewers would not immediately pick up where the story was set.
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Roald Dahl HATED it
Author Roald Dahl actually hated the film and refused to grant the film rights to a sequel.
It was only 15 years after he died that a remake was approved.
Image: Getty