Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Headgear
If you have ever watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you’ll probably wonder how Willy Wonka (Alex Jennings) got his headgear on. In this classic film, Willy Wonka has his own special hat. It’s a buckram hat that’s been waisted to make it exaggerated in shape. The hat is modeled on a milliner’s block and is trimmed with a purple petersham ribbon.
In the film, Willy’s headgear comes in the form of a top hat. Traditionally, a top hat would be covered with panne velvet or silk plush. The hat would be trimmed with a purple petersham to avoid seams. A traditional top hat also had a silk bow on the brim.
But the “Wonka hat” is not the only example of headgear in the movie. There are also several characters who wear braces. And in some cases, their braces are so invasive that it prevents them from speaking normal speech. For example, the French comic Titeuf features a character named Jean-Claude.
Willy Wonka wears a hat in two ways. Firstly, he wears it as a kid. He had to wear it because his father refused to give him candy because it might harm his teeth. Later, when he decided to run away and pursue his chocolate dreams, he had to use it to keep his identity secret.
Secondly, the hat is a symbol of Willy’s creativity. When he’s young, he writes down the description of each type of chocolate. These are then sent to different rooms in the factory. Ultimately, he is able to find a suitable successor to take over his company. However, he’s not satisfied with his choice. So, he sets out to find a new heir to his chocolate empire.
As for the other hat, that would be the Oompa-Loompa. He has orange hair and is short. He is a member of a group of merry workers who are a bit quirky. Some of the Oompa-Loompas run through the Chocolate Room, but there are also those who run to places no human can physically stand. They are also able to spurt whipped cream.
Other examples of a similar hat include the Godstoppers and the Eerie, Indiana character. The Godstoppers don’t look like Dahl’s Gobstoppers, but they are similar in that they have an odd looking prosthetic. Also, the Eerie, Indiana character has a hat that can translate dog communication.
The headgear aficionado may also be interested in the “Orthodontic Police”. This episode in the TV series Cow and Chicken features an orthodontist who forces everyone to wear a variety of orthodontic devices. Many of these devices aren’t even effective, but the episode is still interesting.
Lastly, there are some other braces-related items to check out. The Little Shop of Horrors has a character who wears a complicated and odd-looking metal brace. Another cartoon character wears a smocked top hat with a red petersham ribbon, and a Hot Fuzz cosplayer has a bracer that makes a sound when the mouth is opened.