Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons
From a young age we’re exposed to the exploits of the screen. Some movies stick with us long into our adulthood. Others, not so much.
Last time, I delved into the depths of the magical land of Oz and divulged reasons why Dorothy’s journey to return home left a lasting impression on me. This time, I can’t believe my luck. I got a golden ticket! And you know what that means.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was a staple film from my childhood, to the point I also played the titular candyman in a stage production when I was 14. Based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, the 1978 film brought every child’s dream to life by imagining what would happen if you magically inherited a giant, fantastical and whimsical candy factory.
Starting the film, the audience is introduced to Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), a simple, poor paperboy struggling to help his family survive. His mother works hard while his four grandparents are bid ridden.
But things change for Charlie when he discovers a Golden Ticket hidden inside a Wonka bar. Along with five other children (and their respective legal guardians), Charlie is invited to attend a tour of Willy Wonka’s mysterious, well-guarded chocolate factory. The tour is certainly not what anyone expected.
Most of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a pretty mellow film, but there are a few scenes that turn the scene from a fantastical dream to a horrific nightmare. I mean, who else had chills running up their spines when Charlie is confronted by Slugworth in a dark tunnel on the way home to tell his family the good news about winning the Golden Ticket.
But when it comes to nightmare scenes, there’s one we all think of.
When Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) brings the young ticket winners into his factory, he directs them onto a boat, sails into a dark tunnel, and then starts singing a seriously creepy song. The sinister lyrics are accompanied by horrific images projected on the tunnel walls, including disgusting insects and a chicken’s head getting cut off.
Things only get worse from there as one of the children is turned into a giant blueberry, one is dropped down a trash shoot that either leads to the garbage or the furnace. Another is shrunk down to the size of a chocolate bar, while our protagonist faces death from blades of a terrifying fan.
Gene Wilder’s performance is something truly to behold. At times, he’s very child-like, eyes full of wonder. At other times, he is borderline predatory. He gives a very unsettling feeling to the film from the moment we meet him as he limps from the front door of the factory.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is a feel-good movie for the most part. Even in these modern times, the film still leaves a lasting impression. It has truly stood the test of time.
So, the next time you find yourself opening a chocolate bar, stop and think about what would happen if you discovered a Golden Ticket hidden inside. After all, “There’s no earthly way of knowing, which direction we are going…”