The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Garland was MGM's second choice for Dorothy after Shirley Temple dropped out of the project; and Bolger was to have played the Tin Man but talked co-star Buddy Ebsen into switching roles. When Ebsen proved allergic to the chemicals used in his silver makeup, he was replaced by Haley. Gale Sondergaard was originally to have played the Wicked Witch of the West in a glamorous fashion, until the decision was made to opt for belligerent ugliness, and the Wizard was written for W.C. Fields, who reportedly turned it down because MGM couldn't meet his price. Although Victor Fleming, who also directed Gone With the Wind, was given sole directorial credit, several directors were involved in the shooting, included King Vidor, who shot the opening and closing black-and-white sequences. Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg's now-classic Oscar-winning song "Over the Rainbow" was nearly chopped from the picture after the first preview because it "slowed down the action." The Wizard of Oz was too expensive to post a large profit upon initial release; however, after a disappointing reissue in 1955, it was sold to network television, where its annual showings made it a classic. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, (more)
- Director(s):
- Victor Fleming
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- G
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Blu-ray
| Digital SD
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Synopsis of The Wizard of Oz
The third and definitive film adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's fantasy, this musical adventure is a genuine family classic that made Judy Garland a star for her heartfelt performance as Dorothy Gale, an orphaned young girl unhappy with her drab black-and-white existence on her aunt and uncle's dusty Kansas farm. Dorothy yearns to travel "over the rainbow" to a different world, and she gets her wish when a tornado whisks her and her little dog, Toto, to the Technicolorful land of Oz. Having offended the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), Dorothy is protected from the old crone's wrath by the ruby slippers that she wears. At the suggestion of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), Dorothy heads down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, where dwells the all-powerful Wizard of Oz, who might be able to help the girl return to Kansas. En route, she befriends a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley), and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr). The Scarecrow would like to have some brains, the Tin Man craves a heart, and the Lion wants to attain courage; hoping that the Wizard will help them too, they join Dorothy on her odyssey to the Emerald City.
Garland was MGM's second choice for Dorothy after Shirley Temple dropped out of the project; and Bolger was to have played the Tin Man but talked co-star Buddy Ebsen into switching roles. When Ebsen proved allergic to the chemicals used in his silver makeup, he was replaced by Haley. Gale Sondergaard was originally to have played the Wicked Witch of the West in a glamorous fashion, until the decision was made to opt for belligerent ugliness, and the Wizard was written for W.C. Fields, who reportedly turned it down because MGM couldn't meet his price. Although Victor Fleming, who also directed Gone With the Wind, was given sole directorial credit, several directors were involved in the shooting, included King Vidor, who shot the opening and closing black-and-white sequences. Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg's now-classic Oscar-winning song "Over the Rainbow" was nearly chopped from the picture after the first preview because it "slowed down the action." The Wizard of Oz was too expensive to post a large profit upon initial release; however, after a disappointing reissue in 1955, it was sold to network television, where its annual showings made it a classic. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 102 mins
Complete Cast of The Wizard of Oz
- Judy Garland - Dorothy Gale
- Ray Bolger - The Scarecrow
- Jack Haley - The Tin Woodsman
- Margaret Hamilton - The Wicked Witch of the West
- Clara Blandick - Auntie Em
- Tyler Brooke - Ozmite
- Terry - Toto
- Ray Bolger - Hunk
- Lillian Porter - Munchkin (uncredited)
- Mitchell Lewis - Head Winkie
- Charles Grapewin - Uncle Henry
- Billy Curtis - City Father
- Gus Wayne - Munchkin
- Harry Monty - Winged Monkey/Munchkin
- Carol Tevis - Munchkin
- Harry Earles - Guild Singer
- Pinto Colvig - Munchkin
- Clarence Swensen - Munchkin
- Daisy Earles - Munchkin Villager
- Billy Bletcher - Mayor/Lollypop Guild
- Buddy Ebsen - Tin Woodman on "We're Off to See the Wizard"
- Jimmy Rosen - Munchkin (uncredited)
- George Ministeri - Coach Driver
- Yvonne Moray - League Dancer
- Adriana Caselotti - Juliet
- Frank Morgan - The Wizard of Oz
- Bert Lahr - The Cowardly Lion
- Billie Burke - Glinda, the Good Witch
- Pat Walshe - Nikko
- Karl Slover - Munchkin
- Charles Irwin - Ozmite
- Oliver Smith - Ozmite
- Meinhardt Raabe - Munchkin Coroner
- Walter Miller - Bespectacled Munchkin
- Bert Lahr - Zeke
- Major Doyle - Munchkin (uncredited)
- Harlan Briggs - Uncle Henry's Double
- Lee Murray - Winged Monkey
- Jerry Maren - Guild Leader
- Margaret Hamilton - Miss Gulch
- Abe Dinovitch - Munchkin
- Mickey Carroll - Munchkin
- Frank Morgan - Prof. Marvel
- Abe Dinovitch - Apple Tree
- Frank Packard - Munchkin (uncredited)
- The Singer Midgets - Munchkins
- "Little Billy" Rhodes - Barrister
- Bobby Watson - Ozmite
- Lois January - Cat Owner
- Jack Haley - Hickory
- Director(s):
- Victor Fleming
- Writer(s):
- Noel Langley, Edgar Allan Woolf, Florence Ryerson
- Producer(s):
- Mervyn LeRoy
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- G(Child Classic, Scary Moments)
- Categories:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Family & Kids, Music & Performing Arts
- 1998 - American Film Institute - 100 Greatest American Movies
- 1939 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
- 1988 - Library of Congress - U.S. National Film Registry
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