2006-10-02 02:49:22 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
Why was the name changed from Charlie and the Chocolate factory to Willy Wonka?
2006-10-02 04:44:32 · update #1
I have heard a few reasons any of which could be true as they are all quite plausible.
1. The Quaker Oats Company, which had a large invested interest in the film, wanted the title change to stir up brand recognition for its accompanying line of "Wonka" candy products.
2. This one seems the most likely to me, personally.
They changed it to give Gene Wilder title billing.
3. "Charlie" was common slang for "white person", and people might take the adventures of "Charlie" in the "chocolate" factory to mean something racially charged.
This was to be a family movie in the early 70's, and this title would be a bad idea. Of course, not that there aren't worse subtexts already in the film, oh, gosh no. Seriously though have you read about the missing chapter... deary me!
I don't think any of these have ever been substantiated and its just as likely that someone thought a 'W' word in the title would be more visually pleasing in the poster.
Also to me 'Willy' is just a nickname for someone called William and I always thought of 'Wonka' as being derived from wonky and so quite an apt name for this particular character.
Nice question though.
2006-10-02 09:51:46 · answer #1 · answered by â?¥MissMayâ?¥ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all, its CHARLIE and the chocolate factory, willy wonka RUNS it but the story is called 'charlie and the chocolate factory'.
Also when the great genius Roald Dahl wrote the book, I very much doubt he thought that Willy Wonka could mean anything other than a funny name, unless he was a total pervy fruit (which he wasnt!).
Sorry, having a bad day and feel the need to have a mini outburst!!
2006-10-02 03:17:45 · answer #2 · answered by Secret Squirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rights of the Charlie & the Chocolate Factory book were owned by the Quaker Oats company. They were planning on releasing a series of Wonka bars with the film as a successful advertising tool. They changed the title from 'Charlie...' to 'Willy Wonka' because it would sell more of their chocolate. Needless to say it didn't pay off and Quaker sold off the rights of the chocolate bar to Nestle a few years later.
2006-10-02 05:13:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
But did Willy Wonka make deposits in his Charlie Bucket?
Think about it.
Roald Dahl named the guy Willy Wonka cos he thought kids didn't need patronising, so he'd give his characters purposely silly names. Look at the rest of them - Mike Teevee, Veruca Salt?
2006-10-02 03:38:48 · answer #4 · answered by babyeddieuk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's Willy Wonka but it still sounds funny both ways lol
2006-10-02 05:41:40 · answer #5 · answered by Hailey :) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His name was Willy Wonka
and he owned the factory
2006-10-02 02:56:39 · answer #6 · answered by GD-Fan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put your willy wonka in my chocolate factory.
2006-10-02 02:56:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
its willy wonka not wonker since it takes place in great britian i guess it is an english name
2006-10-02 02:58:08 · answer #8 · answered by cozjeanda 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They had to change it because originally they thought Charlie and the Chocolate factory was racist...Seriously...Because African americans used the word charlie to describe white people.
2006-10-02 02:57:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What would you prefer - The milky bar kid visits the chocolate factory ?
2006-10-02 03:00:17 · answer #10 · answered by mark m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋