yes Gene is the better Wonka, but the modern version is more to the book than the previous.

The new Wonka is creepy in every way, the old was more friendly to see.

Heh, actually, before Gene, Willy Wonka was always played as a creepy and stern man in plays. He would shout at children and lecture them. It was Gene who added the idea of the mischievous, "Oh no, you don't want to do that..." said in that taunting voice that hinted that he really did want them to do it. Gene recreated the character, and made it into something so much more than it was originally written to be.

Peter Rostrum, who played Charlie in the original, tells a story about the time he and Gene did the scene in his office, at the end of the movie. Peter had absolutely NO idea what the scene would entail, the director insisted the boy just come into Wonka's office and prepare himself for whatever was about to happen.

When Gene tears into both Peter and Jack, you can see the visible effect it's having on the boy the whole time. He's completely stunned because...he had no idea Gene would do this, and it was a last-second script idea they felt would really hammer home the "true" Willy Wonka. ^^

And it was Gene's idea to do it. As soon as the scene ended, and the camera was off, Gene quickly gathered up Peter in his arms and hugged him tightly, letting him know it was okay.

Just goes to show...Gene was amazing as an actor...and as a human being. *^^*

Sorry, Peter Ostrum.
Whom Wikipedia just said now owns the Chocolate Factory.

The whole movie was made on the other actors having no idea what Gene was going to do next. In the boat scene, even the parents thought he was going nuts!

I think that's why the movie worked so well. The responses from the actors are pure gold. ^^

He didn't tell anyone about but the director about his tumble when they first see him

Correct.
Gene's idea from the start. It would have seemed odd, to him, for him to come out of the factory in a strange, crusty, and cantankerous manner and just invite everyone in. Nope, he had to show them he wanted to have FUN. ^^
No one expected it. That whole outburst from the audience watching is 100% real.

He apparently demanded that scene when he was cast, telling the director he wanted it so that the other characters would never know when he was lying or telling the truth from then on...

Keep your co-actors guessing, and sometimes you get better performances. ^^

"Stop Don't Come back..." lol I love that line from Wilder's willy wonka movie

Mel Stuart Vs Tim Burton and 40 years difference. :)

You're right.Gene was the Only Willy Wonka.RIP Gene Wilder.

Oh yeah, Gene was the only Willy Wonka for me!

RIP Gene.

The Snozberries will never taste the same......

It's pronounced Eye-Gore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGo4mPa_bWc Pryor and Wilder <3

I also loved Gene Wilder in Blazing Saddles and The Producers.

RIP.

Silver Streak was the best flick.

Yeah they never should have touched that movie. :P

Yeah, he was a great actor and comedian. I will miss him...

Rest in Peace, Mister Wilder...

I will always remember him in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory and Young Frankenstein.

He'll always be my favorite mad scientist who told me to PUT THE CANDLE BACK! XD
I'll always remember his song "If you want to view paradise" from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

At least he's with Richard Pryor, now.

And his third wife, Gilda Radner, another comedic genius.

"Now, listen to me, cuz. You keep your eyes on this tuchas, and don't you take them off till we get to San Francisco!"

Here Here!

Damn straight.

Gene WAS Willy Wonka.

I love Johnny Depp for what he has done in other movies...But he just wasn't Wonka to me.

And of course, the Waco Kid.

RIP Gene.


-Badger-

The only thing I appreciated with the remake was that it was more faithful to Roald Dahl's book. ^^

I have been told that.
But I never read it.

Not actually a fan of Dahl's work.
Tried reading something of his- I think it was actually a short story.
But it was depressing and hard to get into, and I never finished it.

Eh.

I like the Wilder movie.

Going to miss that man.

-Badger-

I will too.
Hmm, a good Dahl book for you might be "James and the Giant Peach". It's very easy to read, fun, weird, very creative, and with a rather uplifting adventure and happy ending. ^^

Another book to consider is "Matilda", about a little girl at school who has special mental powers. It's kind of like Carrie, but for kids. ^^

Of course.
Just Googling "Willy Wonka" pulls up pictures of Wilder.
Gene Wilder's legacy will last forever.

I've been sad all day. Really, this death hurts me very much, because I grew up with his movies, from The Producers and on. Did you know Gene was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Leo Bloom? *^^* The man was amazing...and yes, he was the best candyman there ever was. I hope everyone goes out and gets a lot of Wonka-bars.

RIP Gene. Time to que up all his movies and have a binge watch ^^

I agree, he was the only Willy Wonka.

RIP, Gene Wilder. I saw the news of his death this morning as I was preparing to go to work. May his memory live forever.

I will remember him best for his role as the Waco Kid in Blazing Saddles ^^.

Eight months nearly over, four more to go. Let's see who we've lost this year so far...

David Bowie
Brian Bedford (voice of Disney's Robin Hood)
Alan Rickman
Glenn Frey (Eagles)
Abe Vigoda
Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane/Starship)
Maurice White (Earth, Wind & Fire)
Joe Alaskey (voice of Plucky Duck)
Dave Mirra (BMX rider)
Antonin Scalia
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
George Kennedy
Nancy Reagan
George Martin (Beatles producer)
Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Garry Shandling
Patty Duke
Merle Haggard
Chyna (ex-WWF wrestler)
Prince
Alan Young (voice of Scrooge McDuck)
Muhammad Ali
Gordie Howe
George Voinovich (ex-governor of Ohio)
Janet Waldo (assorted Hanna-Barbera voices)
Anton Yelchin (Chekov in the new Star Trek)
Elie Wiesel
Garry Marshall (creator of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley)
Kenny Baker (R2-D2)
Jack Riley
and now Gene Wilder.

Who do you think will be next?

I have a Very Long List of people that I would LIKE to be on that list...

just sayin

Don't forget Lemmy Kilmister

He died last December.

Oh, I thought it was this January.

he was EVERYONE'S willy wonka!

Why? Why? Why? Why?!?!?

~smudges up the ceiling in the Fizzy Lifting Drinks lab in his memory~ ;^;

"Screw Johnny Depp. Gene was MY Willy Wonka!"

True words, man. True words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr9xVmCL0bA

Yes to Wonka, and Blazing Saddles is still one of my favorite films. Wilder will be missed. Now we know the answer to his question in Blazing Saddles. "When?" too soon...

Neither of them seemed close at all to the wizened little man envisioned by Roald Dahl. He should have looked like a diminutive Col. Sanders. Kenny Baker might have been in interesting choice, and he was alive while the last Wonka movie was made, so in some alternative universe, perhaps C3PO was also Willy Wonka, and Fidgit from Time Bandits!

A shame, I really enjoyed many of the movies he was in. He was never the same after Gilda passed away, something died inside.

Though not to the degree that Peter Cushing was affected with Wife Violet Helene Beck's passing.



Farewell Mr. Wilder, you will be forever remembered fondly.

I think Liam Neeson crushes Peter Cushing's grief... it's disturbing to watch the parts of Taken before and after her death.

Yeah, I think I only knew him from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sea No Evil, Hear No Evil. But I enjoyed both movies quite a bit. Huh, just realized that means both main characters from the latter have now passed on.

It is indeed a sad time to be alive. Many of our favorite faces are now only able to be seen in photographs... it sucks.

*lights a candle*

Yeah, it's tough seeing Gene go. There was a nice little blurb on the net. Never knew he was an author of several books. I can't begin to pick a favorite role for him.

Fun fact: Gene Wilder was originally against the 2005 version, until he was given a private advance showing of it, and he came out admitting he was wrong and giving his blessing to Johnny Depp's performance.

I don't think there's any need to hate on either Wonka. Depp and Wilder were both fantastic, it's just that Depp's was actually like the one in the book while Wilder kinda did his own thing. Honestly, looking back, Wilder's Wonka is really one of the only things I still actually like from the original movie.

He's made the trip to heaven in his great mighty Wonkavator.

Bart: Well, Jim, since you are my guest and I am your host, what's your pleasure? What do you like to do?

Jim: Oh, I don't know. Play chess... screw...

Bart: [quickly] Well, let's play chess.
~*~

The Fox: Because you wasted so much time on me, you made me feel very important.
~*~

Many of wasted a lot of time on this gentle soul's work. We won't see his kind again.

Ah, dear Froaderick. He'll always be missed.

I immagie his funeral had clips and pics of him to the tune of pure imagination. he sang it so well, and it was fitting for the joy and wonder he brought to us all.