Oompa Loompas Invade Manhattan To Promote Collector's Edition 'Wonka' Movie
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Oompa Loompas were out and about Tuesday celebrating the 40th anniversary of the classic film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and the release of a new collector's edition DVD and Blu-ray.
The Oompa Loompas passed out Golden Tickets all over Manhattan and winners were able to attend a DVD signing event at Jacques Torres Chocolates.
"I've seen the movie in the movie theater a hundred times when I was a kid, a thousand times on TV," said "John," who was one of the first fans in line.
When asked what he thought was so great about the movie, that fan told 1010 WINS' Eileen Lehpamer that "it's fantasy -- the Golden Ticket, you know. The guy's down and out and you get it all."
Movie director Mel Stuart, along with the actors and actresses who played Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teevee, attended.
When asked what she thought about the 2005 remake of the film, featuring Johnny Depp, Beauregarde said there is only one Willy Wonka.
"I love Johnny Depp, but I'm really sorry to tell you that Gene Wilder is Wonka. I mean, he is Mr. Wonka. So it's very, very different film. I'm glad we still have ours preserved," she said.
Actor Rusty Goffe, who played an Oompa Loompa, said one of the things that he remembered most about making the movie was the "76 takes" of doing cartwheels.
"We just couldn't get it right," he said.
Wilder, who played Willy Wonka, was invited but declined to attend. Jaques Torres was also there and he created a special chocolate sculpture for the event.
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