The Wizard of OzYou know the old saying, the one about the grass being greener on the other side? Well, in the case of The Wizard of Oz, that turns out to be literally true, on the other side of the rainbow. When the young Dorothy (Judy Garland) from rural Kansas finds herself swept up by a tornado and dropped in a faraway land of magic and myth, she opens the door from her sepia stained world and into a lush, vibrant dream world drenched in color. As gorgeous and lovely as the Land of Oz is, Dorothy longs to return home to her family farm, and embarks upon an adventure, step by step along the yellow brick road.
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Dorothy is disenchanted with her life at home, wishing for more out of life, although her family and the farmhands try to console her despair. Largely, Dorothy's sorrow comes from the vindictive badgering of the wealthy, but heartless, Almira Gulch (Margaret Hamilton) to "destroy" her dog, Toto, for biting her; Toto is about four pounds soaking wet, and is a lovable scamp to those who treat him well. When Toto returns after his ill-fated appointment with destiny, Dorothy is convinced she must run away to save her dog, but is dissuaded from doing so by a travelling charlatan with a beneficent heart. Dorothy tries to go home, only to get caught in the fateful tornado, which whisks her over the rainbow. In Oz, she emerges into the light, only to discover that her landing resulted in the welcome demise of the Wicked Witch of the East. But before festivities can get even more festive for the local Munchkins, her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West (also Margaret Hamilton) emerges to wreak vengeance and claim the ruby slippers now bound to Dorothy by Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke). To get home, Dorothy sets out for the Emerald City to meet the eponymous Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan), recruiting three dear friends and familiar denizens of her new environment along the way, while dodging the persistent attacks by the surviving Wicked Witch. It seems hardly necessary to summarize the events of The Wizard of Oz, as the film is so firmly entrenched in the collective unconsciousness of film goers that anyone with even a remote familiarity with movies has some inkling of the movie's plot. People who have never seen the film (if you can believe they exist) can quote lines from it and sing songs from it verbatim--although "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" remains one of cinema's most misquoted lines, alongside "play it again, Sam". Elements of the film have become commonplace in everyday speech, not just because of the popularity of the film, but because of its pure, innocent charm which speaks to a native goodness within people, one which even the most jaded of film buffs can still appreciate. The opening titles remark on the innocent philosophy of the story, a call for simpler, ideal dreams.
The Wizard of Oz was a massive undertaking for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which devoted a comparatively huge budget to finance the dream imprinted onto celluloid. The look of The Wizard of Oz is crucial, not just in the transformation from monochrome to color, but in the fantastic appearance of another world, one meant to represent a fairy tale made manifest. While no doubt convenient for the film, the painted backdrops have the benefit of giving The Wizard of Oz the appearance of a story book come to life. Even more than the film's elaborate set design are the musical numbers which you will be singing for days, featuring inviting, funny characters. The Wizard of Oz literally set the stage for countless studio blockbusters since, creating the formula big budget family film entertainment. But the secret isn't just funneling money into the project, hoping for a return, but by a complete experience which transports the audience into Oz and the land beyond the rainbow. The Wizard of Oz extols many virtues of respect and responsibility by way of Dorothy's interaction within the Land of Oz, and its unique denizens. Her journey necessitates that she work in harmony with them and understand their needs to reach her goal. Those who are discourteous or dangerous are portrayed as ugly or horrible, just as Glinda smugly points out that "only bad witches are ugly".
Dorothy's adventure would no doubt have been a glum one--and likely unsuccessful--were it not for the aid of her allies she meets along the way. There is the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), who pines for a brain, the Tin Man (Jack Haley) who longs for a heart, and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), who is desperate for courage. Each of Dorothy's encounters with these new friends--who bear a striking resemblance to the farmhands back home, not just in character, but because they are played by the same actors--is accompanied by musical dance numbers and more than a few funny puns based on the respective party member's individual idiosyncrasy. Although each of the three seek a boon from the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy is kidnapped by the Witch, the three manage to summon forth the very things they are convinced they lack to secure her rescue, emphasizing that the very doubts we have about ourselves we are apt to overcome when pressed to action. There is the great argument about The Wizard of Oz as to whether Dorothy actually does visit Oz, or whether it was all a fantastic dream following her bump on the head. Certainly the people she meets in Oz resemble those she knows in her life back home, either as mirror counterparts (like the Wizard), or even exaggerated caricatures of them (like the farmhands). Of course, when Dorothy is in the throes of the vortex, she glances out her window to see Miss Gulch transform into the Wicked Witch of the West before her eyes, so who knows? Perhaps it's true that somewhere, over the rainbow, there is a place where dreams come true, so "truth" is just a matter of perspective.
Recommended for: Fans of a classic of cinema history and delightful family entertainment, as captivating almost eighty years ago as it is today. The Wizard of Oz may be singularly the most invitingly enjoyable movie for any kind of audience at any time in history; a rare feat, no doubt infused with a degree of magic.
The Wizard of Oz was a massive undertaking for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, which devoted a comparatively huge budget to finance the dream imprinted onto celluloid. The look of The Wizard of Oz is crucial, not just in the transformation from monochrome to color, but in the fantastic appearance of another world, one meant to represent a fairy tale made manifest. While no doubt convenient for the film, the painted backdrops have the benefit of giving The Wizard of Oz the appearance of a story book come to life. Even more than the film's elaborate set design are the musical numbers which you will be singing for days, featuring inviting, funny characters. The Wizard of Oz literally set the stage for countless studio blockbusters since, creating the formula big budget family film entertainment. But the secret isn't just funneling money into the project, hoping for a return, but by a complete experience which transports the audience into Oz and the land beyond the rainbow. The Wizard of Oz extols many virtues of respect and responsibility by way of Dorothy's interaction within the Land of Oz, and its unique denizens. Her journey necessitates that she work in harmony with them and understand their needs to reach her goal. Those who are discourteous or dangerous are portrayed as ugly or horrible, just as Glinda smugly points out that "only bad witches are ugly".
Dorothy's adventure would no doubt have been a glum one--and likely unsuccessful--were it not for the aid of her allies she meets along the way. There is the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), who pines for a brain, the Tin Man (Jack Haley) who longs for a heart, and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), who is desperate for courage. Each of Dorothy's encounters with these new friends--who bear a striking resemblance to the farmhands back home, not just in character, but because they are played by the same actors--is accompanied by musical dance numbers and more than a few funny puns based on the respective party member's individual idiosyncrasy. Although each of the three seek a boon from the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy is kidnapped by the Witch, the three manage to summon forth the very things they are convinced they lack to secure her rescue, emphasizing that the very doubts we have about ourselves we are apt to overcome when pressed to action. There is the great argument about The Wizard of Oz as to whether Dorothy actually does visit Oz, or whether it was all a fantastic dream following her bump on the head. Certainly the people she meets in Oz resemble those she knows in her life back home, either as mirror counterparts (like the Wizard), or even exaggerated caricatures of them (like the farmhands). Of course, when Dorothy is in the throes of the vortex, she glances out her window to see Miss Gulch transform into the Wicked Witch of the West before her eyes, so who knows? Perhaps it's true that somewhere, over the rainbow, there is a place where dreams come true, so "truth" is just a matter of perspective.
Recommended for: Fans of a classic of cinema history and delightful family entertainment, as captivating almost eighty years ago as it is today. The Wizard of Oz may be singularly the most invitingly enjoyable movie for any kind of audience at any time in history; a rare feat, no doubt infused with a degree of magic.