Willy Wonka moves on

[wannabegriffey]

Gene Wilder died today at age 83. I still enjoy Willy Wonka and watch any time I am surfing through the stations and find it on. Wilder had a great career. I also enjoyed him co-staring with ricky pryor in see no evil, hear no evil.

[TranaGreg]

I just read a letter someone posted on his thoughts on the original costume for Willy Wonka. Wonderfully detailed. I'm going to change my sig as a result.

Dear Mel

I've just received the costume sketches. I'll tell you everything I think, without censoring, and you take from my opinion what you like.

I assume that the designer took his impressions from the book and didn't know, naturally, who would be playing Willy. And I think, for a character in general, they're lovely sketches.

I love the main thing — the velvet jacket — and I mean to show by my sketch the exact same color. But I've added two large pockets to take away from the svelt, feminine line. (Also in case of a few props.)

I also think the vest is both appropriate and lovely.

And I love the same white, flowing shirt and the white gloves. Also the lighter colored inner silk lining of the jacket.

What I don't like is the precise pin pointing in place and time as this costume does.

I don't think of Willy as an eccentric who holds on to his 1912 Dandy's Sunday suit and wears it in 1970, but rather as just an eccentric — where there's no telling what he'll do or where he ever found his get-up — except that it strangely fits him: Part of this world, part of another. A vain man who knows colors that suit him, yet, with all the oddity, has strangely good taste. Something mysterious, yet undefined.

I'm not a ballet master who skips along with little mincy steps. So, as you see, I've suggested ditching the Robert Helpmann trousers. Jodhpurs to me belong more to the dancing master. But once elegant now almost baggy trousers — baggy through preoccupation with more important things — is character.

Slime green trousers are icky. But sand colored trousers are just as unobtrusive for your camera, but tasteful.

The hat is terrific, but making it 2 inches shorter would make it more special.

Also a light blue felt hat-band to match with the same light blue fluffy bow tie shows a man who knows how to compliment his blue eyes.

To match the shoes with the jacket is fey. To match the shoes with the hat is taste.

Hope all is well. Talk to you soon.

All my best,

Gene

[Fresno Bob]

My mom took me to see "Willy Wonka" in the theatre and have loved Gene Wilder ever since.....many quotes from that movie get used in our house on a regular basis

[Gregg]

He is the Captain of the funniest movie of all time, Young Frankenstein.

From a different movie, one of my favorite scenes, https://youtu.be/2wgCMvgrOLg

[Lucky]

My favorite Gene Wilder movie has to be The Producers. I still watch it about once a year, and it still cracks me up.