Many of us remember our first time watching the original Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, sitting on our parents couch or nestled on the floor, enticed by the fantasy imagery unfolding before our eyes. However, until we watched it as adults, we forgot just how dark and sorted the movie was presented. It is no wonder that Tim Burton was drawn to remaking such a classic film.
That all being said, the original still stands up today as a classic piece of film making, simultaneously captivating children while also keeping adults interested with its subtleness and intrigue. As an example of some of this hidden entertainment for adults, here are ten of my favorite quotes from the film.
“Of course you don’t know. You don’t know because only I know. If you knew and I didn’t know, then you’d be teaching me instead of me teaching you – and for a student to be teaching his teacher is presumptuous and rude. Do I make myself clear?” – Mr. Turkentine (David Battley)
– What makes this quote interesting is that it is given by a character that had little to no involvement in the actual plot of the film. However, it is exactly the type of whimsy that this film was famous for, drawing your attention in many multiple directions to make the story seem bigger than it really was.
“There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination.” – Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder)
– Wilder’s role in the film was that of pure genius, perhaps even trumping that of his performance in Young Frankenstein. While singing this line and watching the children revel in the wonders of his edible candy room, Wonka passes on a bit of wisdom, reminding us all that we don’t have to accept only the things in life that are placed before our eyes. Instead, we should dare to dream and make our dreams come true.
*We are the music makers… and we are the dreamers of dreams.” – Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder)
– Another great deliver by Wilder, as he calmly reminds Veruca of the same lesson he attempted to teach her with the quote above. With his calm tone of voice, Wonka reminds us that the other personality shifts he undertakes are simply part of the ruse he is trying to pass off.
“The suspense is terrible… I hope it’ll last.” – Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder)
– At the point this line is delivered, it is the first hint that Wonka is teetering on the brink of madness, and that he enjoys every minute of it. However, you need to remember that his ultimate goal was to find an heir for his factory, and there had to be a certain amount of glee with having eliminated one unworthy candidate so early.
“We must remember there are many more important things, many more important things . . . off hand, I can’t think of what they are, but I’m sure there must be something.” – Newscaster
– This line is just another reminder from Dahl that life should be taken at face value, and that we often put too much concern into extravagance rather than the concentrating on the subtle things in life. Comparatively, this could be used to describe Congress’s current infatuation with policing professional sports rather than worrying about the looming recession.
“I serve all his TV dinners right here. He’s never even been to the table.” – Mrs. Teevee (Nora Denney)
– The whole basis of the other children is basically to make each of them a never-ending service announcement, with behavioral issues that would be their inevitable downfall. For this film to take a stand against excessive television, as far back as 1971, shows some of the moral fortitude that went into the production of the book and inevitably the movie. Today, it is ingrained into parents to limit the amount of television their children watch. Having it portrayed on screen is just a little bit of the paradox that we love about Wonka.
“A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men.” – Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder)
In life, we often get caught up in the negative, and this is just another reminder by Wonka that we all owe it to ourselves to enjoy parts life too, even if we have to inject our own little bit of fun to do so.
“I’m a trifle deaf in this ear. Speak a little louder next time.” – Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder)
When Wonka mutters this gem, he’s speaking to Mike Teevee, who has just asked how Wonka makes the Everlasting Gobstopper. This was Wonka’s little reminder that some secrets are just that, secrets, and they are only available to those who truly need to know. Lesson learned; ask not, want not.
“/ Oompa loompa doompadee doo / I’ve got another puzzle for you / Oompa loompa doompadah dee / If you are wise you’ll listen to me / Who do you blame when your kid is a brat / Pampered and spoiled like a siamese cat / Blaming the kids is a lie and a shame / You know exactly who’s to blame / The mother and the father / Oompa loompa doompadee dah / If you’re not spoiled then you will go far. / You will live in happiness too / Like the oompa loompa doompadee do.” – Oompa Loompas
– Of all the Oompa Loompa songs, this one strikes the biggest chord, as we all as parents strive to give our children the best lives possible. However, there is a fine line between providing for your children and spoiling them rotten. Sometimes we just need a little reminder that it is okay to say no.
“When a loaf of bread looks like a banquet, I’ve no right buying tobacco. ” – Grandpa Joe (Jack Albertson)
– We all go through hard times, but maybe not as much so as Charlie’s family was, living as six people under one small roof and eating cabbage water for dinner. When Charlie offers to buy Grandpa Joe his tobacco, a sign of maturity by placing himself as a breadwinner in the house, he simultaneously makes Grandpa Joe proud and shames him at the same time. Alas, we all have vices, and sometimes, we need to sacrifice those for the good of the family as a whole. Granted, Grandpa Joe bought a chocolate bar with the money, but the message was clear.
Well folks, there you have it. I could go on for hours quoting this film and what it has meant to me, but I think I’ve provided a solid example of just how wonderful a movie it was. So next time you are sitting down with your kids and looking for a good movie for the whole family, why not continue to pass on this classic to another generation.
Sources:
Willy Wonka: Memorable Quotes, IMDB
Willy Wonka Quotes, UselessMovieQuotes.com
