I held my father's hand on the ride home that night. After about half an hour of cheerful bantering back and forth, he got quiet. Then he said, "I always told you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Since you were a little boy, I warned you not to put all your eggs in one basket. Now I'm glad you did." What I didn't have the heart to tell him was that Start the Revolution Without Me and Quackser Fortune had both failed at the box office, and if Willy Wonka also failed, I didn't know where my next job would come from, or even if there would be a next job.
In his reflective moment, Gene Wilder recalls a ride home with his father filled with lighthearted conversation, which takes a serious turn as his father emphasizes a lesson he's long taught: not to put all your eggs in one basket. This advice resonates deeply with Wilder, especially as he contemplates the precariousness of his own career in Hollywood. His father's statement hints at a certain pride and acceptance of Wilder's bold choices, especially in pursuing risky projects.
Despite this encouragement from his father, Wilder conceals his anxieties about failed films and an uncertain future. The stress of potentially being left without opportunities looms large as he considers the possibility of another box office flop with Willy Wonka. The conflicting emotions of familial support and personal doubt illustrate the pressures faced by an artist in the entertainment industry, where successes can be fleeting and failures daunting.
