Willy Wonka

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Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka on the poster for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka on the poster for Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka is a fictional character in the Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

Contents

[edit] Background

Willy Wonka is the founder of the Wonka Candy Company and the inventor of candy such as Wonka bars and Everlasting gob stoppers. He proves an unparalleled genius in confectionery development, inventing seemingly impossible products that capture the world's imagination, like ice cream that never melts, and small candy eggs that hatch chocolate chip birds that move and chirp. His products are shipped and sold worldwide from his factory.

However, other chocolate makers become jealous and start sending spies to infiltrate Wonka's factory and secretly steal his recipes. In fear of being ruined, Wonka closes the factory and fires all of his workers. Several years later, the factory once again starts running, secretly staffed exclusively by Oompa-Loompas, a race of dwarves from Loompaland who relish the taste of cacao beans. His business resumes its dominance. Wonka's journey to Loompaland was for the purpose of finding new exotic flavours for his candy. The gates of the factory remain locked, to prevent any more spies from stealing his recipes.

Eventually Wonka, now old and not having any children to inherit the business when he died, felt the need to arrange for a successor for his business, if only to provide a home and work for the Oompa-Loompas. However, he wanted to groom one from childhood to guarantee they would keep with his methods and spirit. To that end, he announces a contest with five Golden Tickets randomly placed in his products promising a tour and a lifetime supply of his products to the winners for starters. Five children find the tickets, including Charlie Bucket, and they go on the tour of the bizarre factory. During the course of the tour all the children except Charlie misbehave, and find themselves in terrible predicaments that result in their being removed from the group. When only Charlie remains, the delighted Wonka reveals his plan and his offer, which Charlie eagerly accepts. He and his family move in to live and work in the factory.

[edit] Wonka in the film adaptations

A musical film adaptation of Dahl's book Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, directed by Mel Stuart and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, was released in 1971. It was originally a box office flop, but has since become a cult classic, hailed a children's classic by critics and has attracted a worldwide audience.

This film added some dialogue with references to poetry that were not in the novel. The film also included a rival chocolate maker offering the children money if they betrayed Wonka and provided him with an 'Everlasting Gobstopper'. Another departure from the novel had Charlie disobeying Willy Wonka with the encouragement of Grandpa Joe.

Another film version of the tale was released in 2005. Titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it was a comedy directed by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.

This film featured sections of the novel that were not included in the first film, but also removed some scenes which were in both.

Tim Burton's 2005 version added a history of the character: Willy Wonka is the son of dentist Dr. Wilbur Wonka (played by Christopher Lee). Wonka had a traumatic childhood: his father forbade him to eat candy and forced his son to wear large and unsightly orthodontic headgear. Eventually, he tastes chocolate and starts getting ideas for other candies. When he becomes an adult, Wonka opens his own candy store, with Grandpa Joe being one of Wonka's first employees; Mike Teavee's father was hinted to be one as well.

Additionally, in Burton's film, Wonka initially refuses to allow Charlie to bring his family to his factory. An eventual reconciliation between Wonka and his father causes Wonka to change his mind and allow Charlie's family to move in with him as well.

[edit] Other appearances

  • In the Family Guy episode "Wasted Talent", Pawtucket Pat offers a tour of the Pawtucket Brewery to winners in a plot similar to Dahl's and the 1971 movie version. Pawtucket Pat himself is a spoof of the Gene Wilder version of Wonka, and also has Oompa Loompa like employees (also referring to the '71 movie) called Chumbawamba's that are summoned by a pennywhistle. And Peter and Brian, just like Grandpa Joe and Charlie from the '71 movie version, sneak a taste at exprimental beer similar to fizzy lifting drinks and have fun floating until they're about to be chopped by the ceiling fan...only to be saved by farts. Pawtucket Pat is livid when he discovers this, chews them both out, and his Chumbawambas kick Peter in the kneecap.
  • In Dexter's Laboratory, a contest took place in which Professor Hawk gave gold floppy disks to stores around the world, whoever found these golden floppy disks, which were sold amongst normal floppy disks, were allowed to tour Professor Hawk's laboratory.
  • During Fry and the Slurm Factory of Futurama, Fry wins a contest to visit the Slurm factory after finding a golden bottle cap in a can of slurm, which features a slurm room and Grunka Lunkas who sing and the title of the episode.

[edit] Nestlé's mascot

Main article: The Willy Wonka Candy Company

An animated version of Willy Wonka, based on Gene Wilder's portrayal and Quentin Blake's illustrations, serves as a mascot for Nestlé's Willy Wonka Candy Company brand. He appears on the packaging, marketing, and in the company's television commercials. Animated versions of Oompa-Loompas are seen on the website.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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