10 Incredible Movies With ONE Unnecessary Scene
5. The Boat Ride - Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is so heartwarming, it can make the most cynical viewer feel like a kid again. Even though the production design is incredible and the music sequences are stellar, the film owes its legacy to the enchanting performance of Gene Wilder. The character of Willie Wonka from Roald Dahl's novel is so chimerical, it felt impossible for any actor to convey him accurately. But Wilder managed to surpass the source material, transforming Wonka into one of the most delightful characters ever put to screen.
That's why it's so jarring when Wonka takes his guests on a boat ride through his chocolate factory and begins singing about the fires of hell and screaming like a lunatic. Not only is this scene pointless, it has some needlessly unsettling imagery. While Wonka is busy losing his mind, Charlie watches a clip on the wall depicting a chicken having its head lopped off! Just to remind you, this film received a G for General rating!
What makes this scene more peculiar is the fact that nobody mentions Wonka's deranged ramblings for the rest of the movie. Why the guests don't run out of the factory and call the authorities immediately after is a mystery.