Review of The Wizard of Oz (1939) by Steven S — 19 Feb 2015

"The Wizard of Oz" (1939).

The Wizard of Oz is a classic 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by MGM and based of the 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" L. Frank Baum, although it wasn't the first film based on the novel. There was a film in 1910, 1925 and 1933 based on the Wizard of Oz. There was a film in 1908 that actually had a lot of involvement with L. Frank Baum and the film even had scenes in color. Sadly however, this film is lost and no copies of the movie are known to exist anymore. None of these films were ever as popular as the 1939 version directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland. Although the movie got good reviews, it was not a box office success getting only $3,017,000 on a $2,777,000 budget. At the time, it was the most expensive MGM film ever made and was a commercial flop. It however was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture which lost to "Gone With The Wind". It however won two awards including one for Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow". Although the film was a commercial failure, when it was rebroadcast on television in 1956, it became a huge hit and has since become one of the most famous films ever made. Wizard of Oz is currently the most viewed motion picture in television history and is now seen as one of the greatest films of all time. There is so much to say about this film, but I guess the best place to start is at the beginning.

Dorothy Gale (played by Judy Garland) is a farm girl who lives with her Aunt and Uncle on a farm in Kansas in the early 1900's. She decides to run away from home after a cruel neighbor had got a court order to take her dog Toto away. Dorothy however isn't that smart of a person, granted this is Kansas, but she is actually tricked by a phony fortune teller that her aunt is ill and encourages her to go back home. As Dorothy returns home, a powerful tornado comes and Dorothy is forced to take shelter in her home, but is knocked unconscious and wakes up to discover her house is being lifted up by the twister. She sees the woman who attempted to kill Toto who is Miss Gulch taken by the tornado and she transforms into the cackling Wicked Witch of the West on a broomstick. The farm house crash lands in the Wonderful Land of Oz in Munchkin Land. Although it wasn't the first film of its kind, it was one of the most famous classic films to be featured in color by Technicolor. The scenes in Kansas is filmed in black and white, whereas the land of Oz was filled in color and at the time, it was very rare to see a film in color, although Gone With The Wind, released that very same year was also in color. Dorothy is greeted by Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and the Munchkins, who treat her like a hero because her house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East killing her as a result. Her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West, arrives and tries to claim the magical ruby slippers from her sister's feet, but Glinda transfers them to Dorothy's feet instead. The Wicked Witch of the West threatens Dorothy and her little dog too that she will get the Ruby Slippers back. Glinda tells Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City where the Wizard of Oz might be able to help her get back home. Along the way she meets three new friends who also want to meet the Wizard. There's the Scarecrow who wants to have a brain, Tin Man who wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion who wants courage. So the story is about Dorothy getting to the Wizard of Oz to get back to Kansas while being accompanied by her three friends and while avoiding the Wicked Witch of the West.

*CAUTION SPOILER ALERT*.

I always thought this story made no sense. Why does Glinda have such disregard to Dorothy's safety? Giving her the slippers makes her the target of the Wicked Witch of the West and she tells her not to take them off. It's not like Dorothy asked for the slippers. Glinda also doesn't tell Dorothy that she can tap her heels to go home until at the very end after they arrive at Emerald City and after the Wizard of Oz failed to get Dorothy home. What was the point of all this? It makes no sense. But whatever, this movie is still a great classic*.

*SPOILERS END HERE*.

There is so much to say about this wonderful classic. During the production of the film, Bubby Ebsen, the man who was originally cast to play as Tin Man, suffered an allergic reaction to the aluminum powder makeup he was wearing for his role, got sick and was unable to play the part and the film studio had to be shut down briefly until a new actor can fill the part. Although, some speculate that he refused to be painted silver and was fired. This however is unlikely since there were photographs of the actor wearing aluminum makeup, although no film footage of his scenes were ever released. Filming was even dangerous, Margaret Hamilton, the woman who played as Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West got severely burnt during one of the scenes and spent six weeks in the hospital before she returned for her role.

The film is also noted for its musical selections and soundtrack, the most famous song is "Over the Rainbow" and that is considered to be one of the best original songs ever made for a motion picture. The film has since developed a lot of legends and even urban legends. One of which is if you play Pink Floyd's 1973 album "The Dark Side of the Moon" in its entirety starting at the beginning of the movie, it apparently syncs up to what is going on. The song "The Great Gig In The Sky" is played when the tornado strikes, the song "Money" is played right after Dorothy enters the Technicolor land of Oz (color film at the time was expensive), the song "Brain Damage" is played when the Scarecrow sings "If Only I Had A Brain" and the heartbeat at the end of "Eclipse" is played when Dorothy puts her ear to the Tin Man's chest (The Tin Man wanted a heart). Every member of Pink Floyd has since denied any connection saying whoever discovered this had way too much time on their hands. There was also a disturbing urban legend that a Munchkin can be seen committing suicide by hanging by the neck from behind a prop tree when Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man are singing "We're Off to See the Wizard". The object however was actually a bird borrowed from the Los Angeles Zoo, most likely a crane or an emu that was placed on the indoor set to make it more lively.

The most famous prop is the Ruby Slippers used for the film. Several were made, but only five are known to exist with one that was stolen and remains missing. One of the slippers was sold at an auction in 2000 for $666,000 making it one of the most valuable movie props of all time.

This is one of the most cherished movies of all time and almost everyone has seen this movie as a kid and it holds a special place in our hearts.

FINAL RATING: 10 out of 10.