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reallca-blog · 2 years ago

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Unwrapping the Wonka Bar Vol. 1 - Where is Charlie’s Town Located? Part 4

If you haven’t read the previous post, click here for Part 3 to make sure you are caught up to speed. If you’re already read the previous posts, then welcome back and let’s get back to the show!

Exhibit #3: The Side of the Road that the Residents of Charlie’s Town Drive On (And the Side of the Vehicle that their Steering Wheels Are On)

If there was one difference between the British Isles and Anglo-North America that was so mundane yet also so ever-present, it would have to be on which side of the road cars drive on. When it comes to what side of the road vehicles in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory drive on, the most commonly cited example of this is that the red Wonka trucks that deliver the candy from the factory to the next leg of their destination drive neither on the left side or the right side of the road, but down the center of the road. Again, this is to sell the illusion that Charlie’s town is set in a place divorced from our world where British and American cultures blend evenly, but as we have established already, this is neither what Roald Dahl envisioned nor entirely what Tim Burton’s final project conveys. And so, we are left to once again analyze every moving and parked vehicle in Charlie’s town, as well as determining on which side of those vehicles the steering wheel was located on in order to better understand the setting of Charlie’s town. The only difference is this time we can build off what we learned when analyzing the accents of the residents in order to make a more sound conclusion by combining those results with those of this analysis at the end.

Now, before we start, I need to clarify how the findings of this analysis will be categorized. In short, there will be four possible sides of the road that a vehicle could be categorized as traveling on or have traveled on to get to where they ended up, the left side, the right side, the center and unknown (that is to say I could not pinpoint which side the car was driving on from the angle the final scene was shot). Vehicles that are parked on the left side of the road will be identified with red circles and those that are driving on the left side of the road will be identified with red rectangles. Vehicles that are parked on the right side of the road will be identified with blue circles and those that are driving on the right side of the road will be identified with blue rectangles. Vehicles that are parked down the center of the road will be identified with purple circles and those that are driving down the center of the road will be identified with purple rectangles. And finally, vehicles that are parked in an unknown position will be identified with black circles and those that are driving in an unknown position will be identified with black rectangles.

I also need to clarify the meaning of two automotive terms to describe the side the steering wheel is located on, Left-Hand Drive (LHD) and Right-Hand Drive (RHD). To prevent confusion when talking about direction, what happens in the real world is that countries which drive on the right side of the road, like the United States, have LHD vehicles, while countries that drive on the left side of the road, like the United Kingdom, have RHD vehicles. This is to ensure that the driver finds themselves near the middle of the road as opposed to the fringes. However, Charlie’s town seems to have a mix of both types of vehicles, as well as the side of the road the residents drive on. But the question that remains, just like with the accents analysis, is whether or not there is a disproportionate representation of either style of driving or the side on which the steering wheel for those vehicles are located on, and if there is, just how disproportionate the representation is.

To start us off, the side of the road on which vehicles in 1975 drive on or drove on to end up parked in the position they are shown to be in (and their LHD/RHD designation, if applicable) include:

Two cars parked on the left side of First Street on Halloween night.

A car driving down the center of the road while passing over the two lines on the street perpendicular to the store with the gumball machines (RHD)

and a car parked on the right side of the street perpendicular to the store with the gumball machines.

A car driving down the center of the road in front of the store with the gumball machines (RHD).

A car driving down the center of the road in front of the taffy shop (RHD)

and a car parked on the left side of the street in front of the taffy shop.

A car driving on the left side of Pickwicket Avenue (RHD).

And a car driving down the center of Pickwicket Avenue (LHD).

Sidebar #3.1: I classified this vehicle as traveling down the center by comparing how much of the side of the vehicle I could see compared to how much of the side of the vehicle in the previous image, which was traveling in the opposite direction, I could see. And because you could still see some of the side of the vehicle on screen, this would imply that the car was farther away from the other end of the street where the camera would have been located during filming, meaning that this vehicle drove down the center.

The side of the road on which vehicles in 1985 drive on or drove on to end up parked in the position they are shown to be in (and their LHD/RHD designation, if applicable) include:

A car driving down the center while passing by Willy Wonka’s first candy shop (RHD)

and a car parked on the right side of First Street next to Willy Wonka’s first candy shop (LHD).

And a car parked on the left side of the other end of the block where Willy Wonka’s first shop is located.

The side of the road on which vehicles in 1990 drive on or drove on to end up parked in the position they are shown to be in (and their LHD/RHD designation, if applicable) include:

A truck parked on the left side of First Street next to the Greystone Café (RHD)

and a CNG news van parked in the center of First Street (RHD).

Sidebar #3.2: The CNG news van is an RHD vehicle, that meaning it probably drove on the left side to get there but later moved into a position more in line with what one would expect from a vehicle which drove on the right side. However, since the CNG news is parked in the center and we did not see it drive into its parked position, it will be categorized as unknown as that is the most honest designation I can give it.

The side of the road on which vehicles in the early 1990s drive on or drove on to end up parked in the position they are shown to be in (and their LHD/RHD designation, if applicable) include:

A car driving down the center of First Street after the end of a shift at Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory (RHD).

A car driving down the center of Cherry Street while the other candymakers sell their knock-off candies (LHD)

and a car parked on the right side of Cherry Street while the other candymakers sell their knock-off candies.

Three vehicles parked on the right side of a road on the far edge of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while he shuts down the factory

A truck parked on the right side of a road perpendicular to one that runs near the center of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while he shuts down the factory

Two cars parked on the right side of a road perpendicular to roads that run near Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while he shuts down the factory

A car parked on the left side of a road perpendicular to roads that run near Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while he shuts down the factory

and a car driving down the center of a road near the center of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while he shuts down the factory.

A car driving down the center of a road on the far edge of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while he shuts down the factory

and a car driving down the center of a road near the center of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while he shuts down the factory.

Two cars parked on the left side of First Street when Willy Wonka shuts down his factory

and a car parked in an unknown position on First Street when Willy Wonka shuts down his factory.

And the side of the road on which vehicles in 2005 drive on or drove on to end up parked in the position they are shown to be in (and their LHD/RHD designation, if applicable) include:

Ten Wonka Vans driving down the center of First Street leaving the factory

A car driving down the center of a road a block ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car driving down the center of a road leading away from Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car driving on the left side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car driving on the right side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Three cars parked in an unknown position on First Street as the Wonka Vans leave Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the right side of a road four blocks ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A truck parked on the right side of a road a block ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the right side of a road in front of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Four cars parked on the left side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Two cars parked on the right side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Two cars parked on the left side of a road a block ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the right side of a road a block ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the left side of a road leading away from Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

and a car parked on the right side of a road leading away from Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

A car driving on the left side of a road three blocks ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

and two cars parked on the left side of a road next to a building three blocks ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

A car driving on the left side of First Street towards the Bucket home (LHD)

Two cars parked on the left side of First Street

A car parked on the right side of First street

and four cars parked in an unknown position on First Street.

Ten motorcycles riding down the center of First Street and the surrounding streets.

A car driving in an unknown position on a road running parallel to Factory Street

A car parked on the left side of a road running parallel to Factory Street

and a car parked on the right side of a road heading towards the edge of town.

A car driving on the right side of Factory Street while Charlie stands outside the gates of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory (RHD).

Two cars driving on the right side of Factory Streets while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car driving down the center of a road leading away from Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Three cars parked in unknown positions on First street while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Four cars parked in unknown positions in front of homes while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the left side of a road one block ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the left side of a road three blocks ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the left side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

and one car parked on the left side of a road leading away from Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while Charlie leaves Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

A car driving on the right side of Factory Street while Charlie finds the money he will use to buy the Wonka Bar with his Golden Ticket inside (RHD).

A car driving on the left side of First Street while Charlie runs home with his Golden Ticket

A car driving in an unknown position on a road next to the Bucket’s home while Charlie runs home with his Golden Ticket

A car parked on the right side of First Street while Charlie runs home with his Golden Ticket

and a car parked in an unknown position on First Street while Charlie runs home with his Golden Ticket.

A car parked on the right side of Factory street during the morning of February 1st

A truck parked on the right side of Factory street during the morning of February 1st

A car parked on the left side of Factory street during the morning of February 1st

A news van parked on the right side of First Street during the morning of February 1st

A news van parked on the left side of First Street during the morning of February 1st

A news van parked in the center of First Street during the morning of February 1st

A car parked on the right side of a road on one far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st

A car parked on the left side of a road on one far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st

Three cars parked on the right side of a road on the other far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st

and one car parked on the left side of a road on the other far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st.

A car parked on the right side of Factory Street during the morning of February 1st

Two cars parked on the left side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st

A car parked on the right side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st

Two cars parked on the left side of a road in front of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st

and a car parked on the right side of a road in front of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the morning of February 1st.

A CNG news van parked in an unknown position on Factory Street during the morning of February 1st.

A van parked on the left side of Factory Street during the morning of February 1st.

A van parked on the right side of Factory Street during the afternoon of February 1st

and a truck parked on the left side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the afternoon of February 1st.

Four cars parked on the left side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the afternoon of February 1st

and a car parked on the right side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory during the afternoon of February 1st.

A car parked on the left side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while the Golden Ticket winners and their guardians leave the factory

and a car parked on the right side of a road one block ahead of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while the Golden Ticket winners and their guardians leave the factory.

Two cars driving down the center of First Street as Charlie returns to his home in the Great Glass elevator

A car driving on the left side of First Street

A car driving on the right side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A truck parked on the right side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the right side of a road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A truck parked on the right side of a road on the other far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the right side of a road on the other far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the left side of a road on the other far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Three cars parked in an unknown position on First Street

Three cars parked on the right side of First Street

A car parked on the left side of First Street

A car parked on the left side of a road three blocks ahead of the Bucket home

A truck parked on the right of a road two blocks ahead of the Bucket home

A truck parked on the left side of a road two blocks ahead of the Bucket home

A car parked on the left side of a road perpendicular to the road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A car parked on the right side of a road parallel to the road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

A truck parked on the right side of a road parallel to the road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

and a car parked in an unknown position on a road parallel to the road on the far edge of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

A car driving in an unknown position on a road next to the Bucket’s home as the Buckets repair their home (RHD).

And a car driving down the center of First Street while Charlie and Willy Wonka board the Great Glass Elevator (RHD).

And so, much like the analysis of accents spoken in Charlie’s town, the analysis of on which side of the road do the vehicles in the town drive on revealed some interesting information after conducting a deep dive into the data. This time, I have not made the error of sorting every vehicle in the film into one pile, instead I segregated the data into the five different eras the film covers. But this revealed that no other era besides 2005 contained enough data to make any definitive conclusions, therefore I will be focusing on the most detailed era in order to present to all of you the best analysis available. And so, after analyzing 130 vehicles from the scenes of the film that took place in 2005, it can be confirmed that 41, or 31.54%, of the vehicles drive or drove on the left side of the road, 39, or 30%, of the vehicles drive or drove on the right side of the road, 27, or 20.77%, of the vehicles drive or drove down the center of the road, and 23, or 17.69%, of the vehicles drive or drove in an unknown position.

Now, at face value, such data seems to provide no insight into the nature of Charlie’s town as every faction seems to be so nearly evenly divided for any patter to emerge. And unfortunately, a further analysis of the LHD/RHD data turned up inconclusive results due to the small sample size of only 5 vehicles receiving a LHD/RHD designation in this era. However, and with the forewarning that this data originates from a different era, the data from 1975 can deliver some insight into just whom the drivers who drove down the center of the roads were. While only 9 vehicles were categorized in the analysis from this era, 5 of them received a LHD/RHD designation, of which the four RHD-designated vehicles drove down the center or on the left, as was to be expected, whereas the one LHD-designated vehicle drove down the center as well. While this data set is too incredibly small to make any definitive conclusions, it offers us the best insight into the nature of center-driving residents that we have.

In short, with residents not all driving in a uniform fashion, it makes sense that a group of townsfolk would have at some point before 1975 agreed to drive in the center of the road in hopes of bridging the gap between those who drove on the left and those who drove on the right. They obviously have modeled this behavior to some degree of success as by 2005 over a fifth of all drivers in the town drove in such a fashion. But just who were these consensus drivers? If we look at the data from 1975, we see that 80% of drivers who drive in the center of the road drive RHD-designated vehicles, whereas 20% of center drivers drive LHD-designated vehicles. If we apply this 80-20 rule to the 20.77% of drivers who drove down the center in 2005, with the presupposition that all drivers who drove on the left drove RHD-designated vehicles and all drivers who drove LHD-designated vehicles drove on the right side, which in the interest of full disclosure is not the case (there are 3 vehicles in 2005 which appear to violate this rule), the results that we receive are the following:

After crunching the numbers using the previously stated rule, the results show that 48.16% of vehicles might be RHD-designated whereas only 34.15% of vehicles might be LHD-designated, with the remaining 17.69% being those parked in an unknown position. Now, in order to sort these unknown position vehicles, we need to come up with a rule to divide this percentage as well, and the best way we can do that is to repeat the process we used with the 80-20 rule and come up with an admittedly flawed formula, yet the best formula we can come up with. Of we apply the 80-20 rule to the 27 vehicles designated as having driven down the center of the road, we see that 21.6 of these vehicles could have perhaps been RHD designated-vehicles, while 5.4 could have perhaps been LHD-designated vehicles. And once we add these numbers to the data set of 80 vehicles from 2005 that we do know did drive or drove on either the left or right side of the road, we see that 62.6 of these vehicles could have perhaps been RHD designated-vehicles, while 44.4 of these vehicles could have perhaps been LHD-designated vehicles. If we then take these numbers and fund out how much of a percentage they are of 107, the total number of vehicles we have given theoretical LHD/RHD designations to up to this point, we see that 58.50% of them could be RHD designated-vehicles, whereas the other 41.50% could be LHD-designated vehicles.

And finally, we have a rule we can apply to the unknown position vehicles, the 58.50-41.50 rule. And so, when we apply this rule to the 23 unknown position vehicles from 2005, we see that 13.45 of the vehicles could be RHD designated-vehicles and 9.55 of the vehicles could be LHD-designated vehicles. If we then add these results to those of the LHD/RHD designation breakdown for the 107 vehicles we just did, we discover that 76.05 of the vehicles could be RHD designated-vehicles while 53.95 of the vehicles could be LHD-designated vehicles. And finally, when we divide these results with the total number of vehicles identified in 2005, 130, we discover that 58.5% of the vehicles could be RHD designated-vehicles and 41.5% of the vehicles could be LHD-designated vehicles. Now, these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt as they come from miniscule data sets and imperfect formulas, however, our best guess once again gives the upper hand to the British Isles rather than Anglo-North America for the British-style RHD-designated vehicles beat Anglo-North-American-style LHD-designated vehicles by a 17 percentage point difference. It additionally should be said that the results of this final analysis, while not a perfect match, are somewhat close to the results of our analysis of the accents spoken in Charlie’s town, with 70.6% of residents speaking with British Accents and 58.5% most likely driving British-style RHD-designated vehicles. Whereas 29.4% of residents spoke in North American Accents, 30% of vehicles drove or were driven on the right side of the road and 41.5% most likely drove Anglo-North-American-style LHD-designated vehicles. So, while this data should not be taken as completely definitive, it is our best window into the world of Charlie’s town and the data from this second analysis indicates a town that is significantly much more British than Anglo-North American.

That’s it for Part 4, click here for Part 5 when we analyze various background items used to decorate the sets of the film and use what we know about their real-world national origins to paint a picture of where Charlie’s town is located.

Also, if you have better quality images of the scenes from the film I included in this post, feel free to share them with me so that I may replace the ones I used to improve the experience for the reader.

#unwrapping the wonka bar #charlie and the chocolate factory #charlie and the chocolate factory 2005 #unwrappingthewonkabar #charlieandthechocolatefactory #catcf #catcf 2005

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