Iconic Film Intros: Willy Wonka in 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’

Gene Wilder’s iconic performance as the elusive, yet whimsical chocolatier Willy Wonka is upheld by one of the most important buildups and entrances to a character in movie history. Let’s take a look at Wilder’s first scene in the film and how the buildup to his entrance influences the rest of the film.

Wilder’s First Scene

When all of the families arrive at the factory, the buildup for Wonka’s reveal is brought to a grinding halt when Wilder solemnly exits the front door of the factory, looking incredibly somber and sporting his walking stick as a full-blown cane. It appears one of his legs is fully fused and can’t bend, and his body language gives the impression that he’d rather be anywhere than with the people that scored a golden ticket. And the people gathered by the gate more than take notice

All that changes though, when he makes it to the gate, drops his cane, and does a happy somersault into the crowd and greets everyone with flattery and compliments. Public perception is not only restored, but enhanced! Obviously, behind closed doors his antics prove to toe the line into something more deceitful, but that’s for later.

Why This Scene Has Such an Impact

‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’Credit: Paramount Pictures

Even though we can examine this scene as something special on its own thanks to Wilder’s performance, so much of its payoff comes from the allure of Wonka’s character that has been built up throughout the first act of the film.

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