Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka Entrance

When Gene Wilder was offered the role of Willy Wonka, he agreed to take it only if he could make his entrance limping with a cane, then suddenly lose the cane, stumble, and turn the fall into a somersault. He wanted the crowd to believe he was frail right up until that flip. Wilder explained that from that moment on, no one would know if his character was lying or telling the truth.

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