Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) - 15 questions

Question: When Slugworth is trying to bribe Charlie into bringing him the Everlasting Gobstopper, he says that his reward will be "10,000 of these" as he shows Charlie a bunch of money. Does anyone know what "those" were and how much "they" were worth? They look too big to be American dollars.

Answer: The story itself is purposely set in a fictional European country (accordingly to the DVD's audio commentary), so no real town or city can be identified (keeping the cities anonymity). Coupled with the fact that Willy Wonka IS a fantasy, the money offered to Charlie by Slugworth is of a non-descript denominational currency used in that country. It can safely assumed that it was a VERY large sum of money.

Question: Why did the author of the book, that this movie is based on, hate this movie version so much?

Answer: He felt that it took too many liberties with the story. In the original agreement, Dahl himself was to write the screenplay (he was, by that point, a not-unsuccessful screenwriter), only to find that his version of the script was subsequently heavily re-written, including what Dahl felt were a number of unnecessary gimmicks, such as Wonka's penchant for literary quotations. Even the title of the film was changed from the original "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", in order to tie into the launch of the "Wonka Bar", a new candy bar made by the Quaker Oats company, who co-financed the film. Annoyed at all the changes, he ultimately disowned the film and refused to sell the cinematic rights to the sequel, "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator".

Question: How does Slugworth know where to go and find all the kids that found the golden ticket? I've watched the movies a lot of times and I still don't get how he finds them all so fast.

Answer: "Slugworth" is really an employee of Wonka's named Wilkinson. One can assume that part of this clever plan is that Wonka knows and controls what boxes the tickets are in, when they go out, and where they are going so it's not that difficult for Wilkinson to be on hand when the winning candy is opened.

Question: At the end of the movie, Wonka tells Charlie and his grandfather that they do not get the lifetime supply of chocolate because they drank the bubble juice and floated to the ceiling, thus breaking the rules. Charley then places his share of the everlasting gobstopper next to Wonka and all of a sudden, Wonka is very friendly and gives Charlie the entire factory. Did I miss something?

Answer: It was a test. Even though Wonka was being a jerk to Charlie, Charlie gave the Everlasting Gobstopper back. By refusing to sell its secret to Slugworth, even though the Buckets were very poor and Wonka was rude, Charlie proved himself an honorable, honest person and a worthy heir to the business. Wonka was happy for Charlie.

Question: When the first golden ticket is found, it seems like the news reporter has antlers on his head. Did they intentionally do that, or was it an accident?

Answer: It is almost certainly on purpose; it fits the kind of comedy of the movie, and the editors would had to have been really dull not to notice it if it was an accident.

Question: Was there any significance to Wonka's 'half-room' aside from showing his eccentricity?

Answer: None at all. It isn't mentioned in the book and appears to simply be designed to show how unusual Wonka (and the factory) are.

Question: What are the lyrics and name of the song Willy sings during the creepy boat ride?

Answer: The song has no real name. It was a poem/song that Dahl put into the book durring the tunnel scene (Actually, they are the only song lyrics in the whole movie that actually came out of the book, I believe.) The words go like this: "There's no earthly way of knowing / Which direction we are going! / There's no knowing where we're rowing, / Or which way they river's flowing! / Is it raining? Is it snowing? / Is a hurricane a-blowing? / Bah! Not a speck of light is showing, / So the danger must be growing, / Are the fires of hell a-blowing? / Is the grizzly reaper mowing? / Yes! The danger must be growing, / For the rowers keep on rowing, / And they're certainly not showing / Any signs that they are slowing...

Question: What is the joke when they are auctioning the box of Wonka bars, and the auctioneer gasps 'Your majesty'?

Answer: In other words, the Queen of England was bidding on a box of Wonka Bars.

Question: What was the significance of the scene on the boat? To me it always seemed quite irrelevant, albeit scary (for a child), and now when it is shown on TV, most of the time this scene is edited out anyway. So why was it in there in the first place? Was it more important in the book?

Answer: In the book there is very little about the tunnel. They go very fast and there are many doors along the way, but nothing scary. I think it is to illustrate how weird and frightening Wonka can be. He does sing the little song in the book.

Question: When Charlie goes into the candy shop and gets a Scrumdiddlyumptious bar, he gobbles it down and the man warns him he'll get a stomachache. The fifth golden ticket had been found (or so Charlie thinks at this point), so he can't be digging for it. I've never understood: what was the point in eating it so fast?

Answer: I've always thought that the reason he eats it so fast is because chocolate for Charlie is a very rare treat. Being in such a poor family, Charlie probably hardly ever has any chocolate or sweets, and maybe he was hungry.

Question: Is it true there's going to be another 'Willy Wonka' movie starring Johnny Depp?

Answer: Yes. Tim Burton will direct the film and Johnny Depp will star as Wonka. The name of the film will be, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', just like the book that the movies are based on. Filming is scheduled to begin in May 2004.

Question: When the people are on the boat ride, can anyone tell me what the things in the pictures on the walls are?

Answer: I don't know every detail but I do know that there is a spider, a chicken being be-headed, an eyeball, and I think a worm or snake.

Question: What is the translation of what Wonka says before getting on the boat??

Answer: "Ladies and Gentlemen, now we are going for a great little trip by boat."

Question: What is the translation of what Wonka says, after getting off the boat, going into the testing room?

Answer: "My friends, please give me your attention. You have now come to the most interesting and, at the same time, the most secret room of my factory. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Inventing Room."

Question: In the end credits, Peter Capell is credited for playing "The Tinker" and Peter Stuart is credited for playing "Winkelmann." I have no idea who these characters were in the movie. Does anyone know which characters they were?

Answer: The Tinker was the wierd looking old man that tells Charlie "You see, nobody ever goes in and nobody ever comes out." outside the gates of the factory (he is pushing a cart, that looks to be full of knives). Winkelmann was the little boy that told Charlie's teacher (Mr. Turkentine) about the Golden Ticket's contest (when the teacher dismisses class).