MovieChat Forums > Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Discussion > Charlie was supposed to get the ticket

Charlie was supposed to get the ticket

posted 4 years ago by jekporkins (1921)
24 replies | jump to latest

I guess it's assumed or nobody cares because it's a movie, but I am watching this again and it's pretty obvious to me Charlie was picked by Wonka from the get-go.

1. The scene where he goes in to buy the candy he asks for a second one and the guy gives him a different candy bar than he previously ordered. It was also sitting on a shelf away from the others stacked behind it. So if Charlie hadn't ordered that candy he would have insisted on it the next time Charlie showed up at the store.

2. Charlie happens to live in the very town the factory is in. Willy had been watching him for a long time. In fact, I suspect the Candyman was the inside man.

3. Slugworth is already waiting for him right when he gets the ticket. I mean, he's not at the press conference the next day but right when Charlie pulls it out of the wrapper.

[–] hurricane (1907) 4 years ago

Interesting thoughts.

Not specifically mentioned in the movie, but can't think of anything that would disprove this either.

Obviously not read the book since I was a kid, so can't really remember that. But if we're basing it purely on what happens in this movie, it's an interesting theory.

[–] bistritapcv (1653) 4 years ago

Slugworth (Wilkinson) happens to be at each location just as the ticket is found

[–] strntz (10771) 4 years ago

Exactly, one of the little unexplained issues in this film.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

It's certainly not "unexplained", Slugworth just gets around.

[–] bistritapcv (1653) 4 years ago

Actually, he isn't even Slugworth. He is Wilkinson and works for Willy Wonka. So at least one human may have gotten in. How did the health inspectors inspect?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Take my above comment in jest, that's how it was intended.

But yes, I did find it odd how Wilkinson was able to BE there a short while after each ticket was found, especially considering the worldwide distribution of them, namely two from the USA, one from Germany, two from the UK and so on, and even then, he would've had to track the tickets somehow. The logistics alone would be impossible for one person, too - maybe Wonka had a CLONING facility? ;)

[–] bistritapcv (1653) 4 years ago

And I cannot find a Duesselheim, Germany

[–] Joogle83 (4137) 4 years ago

how is it an issue we are all happy when he gets the ticket

[–] strntz (10771) 4 years ago

The issue is that Slugworth just happened to be where the tickets were discovered - an impossibility since the tickets were sent all around the world.

They could have fixed that issue by having Slugworth approach each child while they were actually in town for the tour.

[–] Joogle83 (4137) 4 years ago

it was the 70's they couldnt have known still holds up

[–] strntz (10771) 4 years ago

It's true that movies today get watched, rewatched, and dissected far more than they ever thought they would be.

[–] Joogle83 (4137) 4 years ago

we need to go back to that Mindset honestly

[–] GoMangoMan (40) 2 years ago

One explanation could be, as OP mentioned, that Slugworth/Wilkinson is planting the tickets. He's not there because the tickets are found; the tickets are found because he's there.

[–] strntz (10771) 2 years ago

Yeah, but it's still clunky writing. Slugworth would need to have access to all the retailers that sold the candy, and then believing that placing the exact bar with the ticket into the hand of the selected child without the retailer's knowledge is problematic at best.

It would have better to have Sugworth approach each winner before the tour. They wouldn't have even have to show him approach every kid, just Charlie and one or two others at most.

[–] wearsalan (5554) 2 years ago

Well he had nothing else to do seeing as the slaves...I mean Oompah Loompahs did all the real work. Wonka probably wanted Charlie from the beginning so made sure he picked the opposition carefully. Remember no one had seen him for years. Most likely touring the world incognito with Slugworth/Wilkinson and checking the chocolate sales.

[–] strntz (10771) 2 years ago

Too bad Willie picked a thief!! ;)

[–] jekporkins (1921) 4 years ago

I thought he was at the press conferences saying they HAD the ticket, not when the ticket was actually found. I might have to go watch it again.

[–] AP (5256) 4 years ago

I always figured Wonka was either magic or had tech that was even more advanced than we realize to the point where it might as well be magic. Obviously, he operates on another plane of reality. I’m fine with this.

[–] uridon2 (184) 4 years ago

bullshit

[–] Sandman81 (1501) 4 years ago

Also notice when Charlie buys the Wonka Bar, the candy doesn't grab one from the rack right in front of him. Instead he reaches for the only one on the shelf behind him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUIlKbZKha0

[–] hyperjet (631) 4 years ago

Exactly. The shopkeeper was in on it. None of this was an oversight. If Charley hadn't found the coin, they'd have figured out another way to give him the bar with the golden ticket. Just glad his gramps didn't find it. He'd have probably invited one of his drinking buddies instead of Charlie to tour the factory.

[–] strntz (10771) 4 years ago

Also notice when Charlie buys the Wonka Bar, the candy doesn't grab one from the rack right in front of him. Instead he reaches for the only one on the shelf behind him.

Still a stretch. First, Charlie finds the money in the sewer. A long shot he would spot it in the sewer, but even if Willie set up someone to give Charlie a huge tip for the newspaper delivery, why would anyone assume that Charlie would buy a candy bar? His family was short of money and decent food. It was actually out of character for Charlie to buy something as frivolous as a candy bar, particularly since he thought the contest was over and there were no more tickets.

But it's worse: Charlie *does* uncharacteristically buy a Wonka bar but the clerk doesn't give Charlie the golden ticket bar, he gives him a candy bar that Charlie immediately starts hammering in the shop, then turns to leave. But Charlie returns and buys one more for Uncle Stinky Bed Joe, which turns out to be the winning bar. So even if Charlie *did* buy the candy bar as Wonka had predicted with the oddly found sewer coin, why would they risk giving him a standard non-winning bar first? They took a big gamble that he would not only buy one bar (in that particular shop), but then buy two. Too much a stretch.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6909) 4 years ago

It's pretty explicit in the film, isn't it? Wonka himself says that he did this with all the contest winners (or whatever they're called).

[–] kenburke (2278) 4 years ago

Oh, the conspiracy of it all!!!