‘Willy Wonka’ Cast Reunion on ‘Today’: Celebrates Film's 44th Anniversary [WATCH]

Forty-four years ago Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory hit theaters and it seems the world has not been able to stop talking about it, which is something that can't really be said for that Tim Burton-Johnny Depp debacle remake from back in 2005. Anyway, on Thursday morning, several members of the iconic film's cast – the original – reunited on The Today Show to express their admiration for the Gene Wilder-leading film and what it has done for their lives.

Back in 1971, no one knew the Golden Ticket would be something still talked about over four decades later. Paris Themmen, also known as Mike TeeVee in the film, told Today, "We think of ourselves as a family. Maybe a bit of a dysfunctional family, but..."

With Themmen, Rusty Goffe (one of the Oompa Loompas), Denise Nickerson (Violet Beauregarde), Julie Dawn (Veruca Salt), Michael Bollner (Augustus Gloop), and Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket) got together to sit down with Today to drop some of the secrets fans have been wondering for years.

Literally, for years.

So, if you're looking to burst some bubbles and have your dreams destroyed at the realization that the Chocolate River was merely disgusting water, then go ahead and take a look at the cast's interview below:

It appears that while they all enjoyed working on the film, nothing could have been better than working with Wilder. "There was never any 'please don't bother Mr. Wilder,'" said Dawn. "We must have been tiresome."

"The first thing people do, when they find out who we are, is they smile," claimed Nickerson.

Readers, were you a fan of Willy Wonka? Share your memories with us below – after you relive the 1971 trailer, of course.

A photo posted by lesser (@joshless1) on Nov 12, 2015 at 3:34am PST