In the beginning of the movie, when the candy store owner is singing the candy man song, there's a spot towards the end of the song where he lifts up his counter to let all the kids in. Watch the little blonde girl as she gets walloped in the chin by the counter.

The novel's writer, Roald Dahl, hated this movie version of his story.

Oompa Loompas were originally written, by Dahl, as caricatures of African Pygmees. the producers felt that this was offensive, this is why they are orange.

When the newsreader announces the finder of the fraudulent fifth ticket, the picture he holds up is actually one of Hitler's last known henchmen, Martin Bormann.

This movie was filmed in Munich, the entrance to the Chocolate Factory is actually the Munich Gas Works.

When Augustus gets caught in the tube, Wonka says "The suspense is terrible, I hope it will last." This is a quotation by Irish writer Oscar Wilde.

Peter Ostrum won the role for Charlie while acting at the Cleveland Playhouse children's theater in 6th grade. He had no acting experience after that, and is now a veterinarian.

Although ostensibly created as a kid's movie, Willy Wonka has maintained its popularity as a stoner classic.

Michael Bollner who played Augustus Gloop lived in Munich were the filming took place. He used to change at his home in the morning then turn up for filming. He also couldn't speak English and had to be coached on his lines, this meant it was hard for him to bond with the other kids in the cast.

In Wonka's office (the half-room) even the sound is cut in half. The clock on the wall only "ticks" instead of going "tick-tock".

Gene Wilder (Willy Wonka) would not do the film unless it included the scene in which he walks out of the factory lame and then falls and does a somersault. Wilder said that he wanted to make sure no one ever knew if the character was lying or telling the truth.

The Wonka factory was inspired by the notoriously secretive Mars Corporation, nicknamed the "Kremlin of candy".

The girl in the classroom who says she opened "about a hundred" Wonka Bars, is director Mel Stuart's daughter.

Julie Dawn Cole, who plays Veruca, doesn't even like chocolate.

The tinker that startles Charlie outside the gates of the factory quotes from the poem "The Fairies" by William Allingham. "Up the airy mountain, Down the rushing glen."

Because "Candy Man" is a slang term for a drug dealer, the song has been banned in many schools.

Only the ears on the jelly bears that Violet was eating, was edible.

The foam sprouting from the machine Wonka takes through the Wonkawash was actually the foam from a number of fire extinguishers.