MovieChat Forums > Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) Discussion > what was the meaning of the boat ride?

what was the meaning of the boat ride?


It seems so out of place for this movie, what the hell did it mean?

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I have no idea either. In the book, the boat ride was nowhere near as scary, nor did it even include those nightmarish images. All they did in the book was whizz past dozens of doors, with the guests commenting on the names of the different rooms.

What was really funny was, the actors playing Wonka's guests were not told what Gene Wilder was gonna do during that scene, and there was one point where they truly thought Gene was going nuts with that creepy rhyme he was half-singing.

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If you were literate and actually READ the book, you would find that the song Wilder says actually is in the book. In fact, this is supposed to be a "scary" scene

'He's gone off his rocker!' shouted one of the fathers, aghast, and the other parents joined in the chorus of frightened shouting. "He's Crazy", "He's Balmy" (20 different ways of saying the same line)

"No he is not" said Grampa Joe

"Switch on the lights" shouted Mr. Wonka.

We see that Wonka is always in control but quite eccentric.

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First off, if you were literate enough to read what I wrote, you'd see that I never said the weird song was not in the book. In fact, it resembled a strange poem that Wonka was reciting, since books can't really convey music very well. They turned it into a strange, creepy singsong for the film.

I would also point out that it was very obvious the actors playing the guests had never actually read the book, so their reactions were very close to real while they were filming.

I have also read that book enough times to know it forwards and backwards, unlike a certain snot that's trolling me. I don't ever recall the people on the boat in the book seeing things like creepy eyes, leeches on people's faces, snarling fangs, flashing lights, or any of the other hair-raising stuff that was in the film boat ride.

We always knew Wonka was in control, but his guests weren't really sure. They weren't used to an eccentric man who walked, even danced a thin line between crazy and genius. Gene Wilder did this brilliantly, and in more than one role.

You can apologize now.

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I don't know, but the danger must have been growing because the rowers kept on rowing, and they certainly were not showing any sign that they were slowing.

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Very observant.

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I don’t know but I loved it when Veronica screams “What is this a freak out??!”

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Wonka's scream at the end is better.

Great scene

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I’m not sure exactly what you mean but I’d venture the scene further reinforces to the audience and on screen characters that Wonka is unpredictable, slightly mad, and his factory is “magical”.

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Add to the psychedelics of the movie.
If they leave that scene out on regular TV. You know it was good

Choosing a chickens head off. Crazy.

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They cut that scene on TV? Frankly I am surprised people would even watch movies on TV when they can just buy the movie on DVD for $5 or less at Wal Mart.

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I think it was a metaphor, to kind of warn the passengers and the audience to expect the unexpected while also showing them that surprises aren't always good. Kind of foreshadowing that what happened to Augustus wasn't the last of the danger.

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To expect anything!!!

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The boat ride literally put the entire film into context, lol. Why do you think Wonka had no heir to his factory? Because he had no children. Why no children? Because Wonka had no wife.

The boat ride showed that was tension and perhaps even some madness in Wonka's psyche.

Wonka couldn't have a wife because no woman could meet his psycho-entrepreneur standards.

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To freak everyone out???

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I think the boat ride did serve as a warning, yeah. But the kids didn't take it seriously. They still goof off and almost die.

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He probably should have put the warning in before one kid almost drowned in chocolate, then.

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