Everyone knows the yellow brick road, the wicked witch of the west, the scarecrow, the tin man, and the cowardly lion. Due to the particulars of the process, it was simpler to film pink and make it look white later on. Aug 12, 2010 its essentially a back story to the wizard of oz, and shows the wicked witch of the west is a positive light. Frank baum 18561919, the film starred judy garland as the young kansas farm girl dorothy, who, after being knocked. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly american setting, a delightfully levelheaded heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature.
This week the wizard of oz returns to theaters in a 3d imax presentation as part of the films 75th anniversary. Feb 08, 2017 in the key scene in the 1939 film the wizard of oz, judy garland skips down the yellow brick road with her dog toto and hundreds of helpful munchkins. Mayer wanted to create a movie that would beat the success of walt disneys snow white and the seven dwarfs. Very creative for this time period as are many of the shots the cinematographer harold rosson created for the wizard of oz.
But is there something sinister hidden in this classic movie. The lack of color in all shots filmed in kansas are a yellow tint or filter creating a sepia or brownish black and white of country dust in the air adding to the mise en scene of the ordinary unsaturated color of the. Jun, 2017 the wizard of oz is a classic and one that doesnt get any less nightmarish with age. Baum, the wizard of oz is a dazzling motion picture achievement, featuring unforgettable songs including oscarwinner over the rainbow, scenery, and costumes. Judy garland appears in a scene from the 1939 film the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz 1939 film, an american mgm film starring judy garland.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, it is the most commercially successful adaptation of l. Without question, the wizard of oz has obtained status as a film icon ever since it was released in 1939. Frank baums childrens book the wonderful wizard of oz, released in movie theaters in 1939 and nominated for an oscar award for best cinematography and color the internet movie database. The wizard of oz went through four directors, starting with richard thorpe, who left a month into filming. The dark side you never knew about the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz stars legendary judy garland as dorothy, an innocent farm girl whisked out of her mundane earthbound existence into a land of pure imagination. The wizard of oz, american musical film, released in 1939, that was based on the book of the same name by l. The wizard of oz has one of the wildest and most infamous productions of any movie ever filmed. The wizard of oz is a 1939 musical fantasy film produced by turner entertainment, and released formally by metrogoldwynmayer and currently by warner bros. The wizard of oz film symbols, allegory and motifs. Frank baum was a wellliked childrens book in the early part of the century that had already had several popular adaptations. This wasnt the first time the story had been filmed following two silents and a cartoon, and later ozinspired works have included films like oz the great and powerful, return to oz, and the novel and broadway. For those of you who think this must have taken a lot of time.
Dorothy gale is swept away from a farm in kansas to a magical land of oz in a tornado and embarks on a quest with her new friends to see the wizard who can help her return home to kansas and help her friends as well. Frank baums turn of the century childrens story the wonderful wizard of oz, in which a resourceful american girl is snatched up by a kansas tornado and deposited in a fantastic land of witches, talking scarecrows. Until this version, the book had inspired a number of now less well known stage and screen adaptations, including a profitable 1902 broadway musical and three. Though not an immediate financial or critical success, it became one of the most enduring family films of all time. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the wizard of oz film by richard thorpe. Judy garland was put on a strict diet and encouraged to take pep pills while filming the wizard of oz as dorothy in the wizard of oz, judy garland cemented her place in. The wizard of oz is a 1939 american musical comedydrama fantasy film produced by metrogoldwynmayer, and the most wellknown and commercially successful adaptation based on the 1900 novel the wonderful wizard of oz by l. The wizard of oz has a wonderful surface of comedy and music, special effects and excitement, but we still watch it six decades later because its underlying story penetrates straight to the deepest insecurities of childhood, stirs them and then reassures them. Sep 16, 20 the ingenious way the 1939 classic transitioned into the land of oz.
It was made in 1939 during the dark days of the old hollywood studio. Sep 23, 2010 the wizard of oz, already turned into two rather dreadful films, seemed a perfect followup. The wizard of oz is perhaps the most iconic example of early color cinematography. The 1939 movie version of the wizard of oz was filmed, from october, 1938 until march 16, 1939. California, inside one of the metrogoldwynmayer sets on 10202 w.
It was made in 1939 during the dark days of the old hollywood studio system. Wizard of oz named most influential film weatherwatch weatherwatch. The technicolor df24 beam splitter camera is what made it possible. Based on the 1900 childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz, by l. In which studio is the wizard of oz filmed answers. It was first rereleased in 1949, and then in 1955, and then for many seasons, it was featured regularly on network tv as a prime time event its first two showings were on cbs television on november 3, 1956 and in december, 1959. No one had any idea of what a nightmare production and filming would be. Morgan, magically, not only played the wizard, but five roles in the feature film. The color parts of the movie were filmed on 3 strip technicolor film. From the start of production, george cukor was the creative advisor but soon left in november 1938 to direct gone with the wind and victor fleming was brought in to take on the directorial duties of the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz 1933 film, a canadian animated short directed by ted eshbaugh.
See how well you know what went on behind the curtain. Tucked away in downtown wamego is the wonderful oz museum, which features more than 2,000 wizard of oz artifacts, colorful exhibits, a unique gift shop and several fabulous surprises along the way. Culver hotel, culver boulevard, culver city most of the 124 small people who played the munchkins stayed just over the road at the historic culver hotel, 9400 culver boulevard, though the legend of their dubious exploits seem to be based on judy garland s dodgy recollection, elaborated with plenty of. How the wizard of oz led judy garland to fame, and misery. One of the most ubiquitous of film legends holds that a munchkin hanged himself oncamera during the filming of the wizard of oz. The costars are ray bolger, jack haley, bert lahr, frank morgan, billie burke, and margaret hamilton, with charley. This film contains extremely fast editing, flashes of light, abrupt changes in image and sound.
Here are just 23 of the many, many weird littleknown and wellknown facts about. The logistics of this alleged hanging defy all credulity. Heres what really happened behind the scenes of the wizard of oz. Tell us which song from the wizard of oz is your favorite. The 1939 metrogoldwynmayer film adaptation of the wonderful wizard of oz directed by victor fleming and starring judy garland the film changed the silver shoes to ruby slippers depending on this source, this was either to show off the new color technology of the time, because silver shoes were boring, or because silver shoes didnt show up well, merged the two good witches, cut out. The difference is that while wine must remain unopened to increase in value, the film positively. He is first seen as professor marvel in kansas, who claims he can tell the future. So as well as helping her cope with 18hour days six day days a week making the wizard of oz.
The first scenes filmed were with judy garland wearing a blonde wig as the character of dorothy dressed in a rather garish. Photographs of judy garland, 17, on wizard of oz set go up. Which if you have the dvd you will see the true color of the sepia tone. The wizard of oz film essays are academic essays for citation. The dark side you never knew about the wizard of oz page 10. By the time cameras began rolling on the film, garland was already in an upper. Filming for the wizard of oz started on october, 1938 on the metrogoldwynmayer studio lot in culver city, california, with richard thorpe as director, replacing the original director, norman taurog, who filmed a few early technicolor tests and was then reassigned. The wonderful wizard of oz is a 1910 american silent fantasy film and the earliest surviving film version of l. However, while most of us have been happy to enjoy the classic comfortably sitting either in a theater or on the sofa back home, for most of the actors starring in it, the filming was rather like hell. Frank baums 1900 childrens fantasy novel the wonderful wizard of oz. The wizard of oz 1939 movies, tv, celebs, and more. Aug 21, 2019 filmed at mgm studios in culver city, california, the wizard of oz was a modest boxoffice success when it was first released, but its popularity continued to grow after it was televised for the. Sep 15, 20 the brandnew 3d conversion of the wizard of oz had its first press screening in new york sunday morning on the imax screen at the kips bay ahead of public showings later today at the.
When the wizard of oz had its last network broadcast on cbs may 8th, 1998, the bumpers around the commercial breaks had interesting behind the. The film had 5 academy award nominations, and garland was. Bizarre things that happened on the set of the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz is the cinematic equivalent of highend wine, in that it gets better with age. The wizard of oz was filmed that way to give it the over the rainbow effect. Horrors from behindthescenes of filming the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz is a 1939 american musical fantasy film produced by metrogoldwynmayer. Judy garland and terry, the dog aka toto, in scene from the film the wizard of oz.
Frank baums 1900 novel the wonderful wizard of oz, made by the selig polyscope. In addition to being slapped in the face by frustrated director victor fleming, garland also faced horrific abuse at the hands of mgm studio head louis b. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. The wizard of oz film literary elements gradesaver. The wonderful wizard of oz, childrens book written by l. As john notes in his comments, the effects in wizard of oz looked and still look real. The wizard of oz has remained a classic american film since its creation in 1939. And they were realnot a real tornado, of course, but a real, tangible object. Since the movie was filmed way before concepts like workplace safety and sobriety were invented, a lot of. Apr 05, 2019 heavy drinking, sexual harassment, drugs, and onset catastrophes.
Still one of the most beloved films of all time, the wizard of oz was released in the landmark year of 1939 and featured judy garland in her most famous role as dorothy gale. Judy garland molested by munchkins in wizard of oz at. But in 1939, when the wizard of oz was being filmed at mgm, the industry was a much more primitive place. Jan 25, 2020 the wizard of oz the scenes in oz in particular was shot in technicolor, a special dyetransfer technique that required combining film shot on more than one camera. I wrote a couple apps that made disassembly go very quickly. Even before casting could take place, the wizard of oz proved to be a challenge in acquiring film rights for the metrogoldwynmayer mgm studios. Dec 12, 2019 a year prior to the wizard of oz, studio managers were sending memos to each other detailing garlands food intake. Dorothy gale played by judy garland, a young girl from.
In honor of the film s 80th anniversary this year, weve found some of the most magical and weird. The wizard of oz 1925 film, an american silent film directed by larry semon. This is how a family movie the wizard of oz was filmed. Aug 25, 2015 from the start of production, george cukor was the creative advisor but soon left in november 1938 to direct gone with the wind and victor fleming was brought in to take on the directorial duties of the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz is famous for its unprecedented and innovative technicolor and beautiful set pieces.
Did you know that half of the cast was either injured or nearly died during production, and one potential cast member did before she was signed onto the film. Judy garland sexually harassed by munchkin costars on. George cukor subbed in for a week, long enough to get judy garland out of a blonde wig. File photo was judy garland sexually abused at age 16 while filming her most famous movie. The film s influence on contemporary popular culture is immense. First of all, the forest scenes in the wizard of oz were filmed before the munchkinland scenes, and thus none of the munchkin actors would. And ray harryhausens creatures also looked real, for the excellent reason that they were realreal threedimensional models animated by harryhausens artistry.
Color or technicolor was not uncommon in the movies at that time, it was just more expensive to use in your film. An alphabetized version of the entire film, titles too. How they created the tornado in the wizard of oz video. The story on which the film is based, the wonderful wizard of oz, by l. The film s star, judy garland, was launched into the stratosphere of hollywood stardom, and promised her a long career as a hollywood actress. Salman rushdie, growing up in bombay, remembers that seeing the film at 10 made a writer of me. Metrogoldwynmayer is the studio that filmed the beloved 1939 movie version of the wizard of oz in one of its sets at 10202 w. This deep universal appeal explains why so many different people from many backgrounds have a compartment of their memory reserved for the wizard of oz.
The wizard, in the wizard of oz, was played by actor frank morgan. The earliest film to ever have color was georges melies trip to the moon, and that was when they had to hand paint eve. The brandnew 3d conversion of the wizard of oz had its first press screening in new york sunday morning on the imax screen at the kips bay ahead of public showings later today at the. The question and answer section for the wizard of oz film is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. At that time, the filming process could be very treacherous. The wizard of oz 1939 is everybodys cherished favorite, perennial fantasy film musical from mgm during its golden years. Directed by victor fleming, george cukor, mervyn leroy. It was first rereleased in 1949, and then in 1955, and then for many seasons, it was featured regularly on network tv as a prime time event its first two showings were on cbs television on november 3, 1956 and in. Margaret hamilton, the wicked witch of the west, suffered. With judy garland, frank morgan, ray bolger, bert lahr. Ever since it became a tv staple during the late 1950s, the wizard of oz has been regarded as a classic family film, part of the fabric of american popular culture.