The mgm film the wizard of oz opened nationwide on august 25, 1939. Frank baums 1900 childrens fantasy novel the wonderful wizard of oz. Interesting facts about the wizard of oz mental itch. At the time, fantasy movies were considered risky and everyone in the production was. When i first saw the wizard of oz it made a writer of me. The studio, metrogoldwyn meyer, outbid 20th century fox for the movie rights. Decades later, it continues to warm the hearts of people young and old. Victor fleming, american filmmaker who was one of hollywoods most popular directors during the 1930s. The cabbie frank morgan drove the carriage drawn by it. Frank baum novel the wonderful wizard of oz and its afterlife surprisingly, the famous 1939 mgm film the wizard of oz was not the first time l. Here are some fun facts you might not know about this perennial favorite. The wizard of oz is a 1939 american musical fantasy movie that was produced by metro goldwyn mayer. Dorothy gale played by judy garland, a young girl from. Also, although in the movie the wicked witch of the west called the.
The wizard of oz film by fleming and vidor 1939 britannica. Farmgirl dorothy was actually supposed to be glamgirl dorothy. 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. The wizard of oz is one of the most classic films of all time. Dec 23, 2014 in baums the wonderful wizard of oz, dorothys magical shoes were silver. Camera that shot wizard of oz makes todays cinema cams look like toys. More so than the braids, the toy toto, or even the blueandwhite gingham. Jul 04, 2019 the wizard of oz has earned a spot in history as an iconic film, but it was not a box office smash hit in 1939. Top 10 wizard of oz facts that will ruin your one news. With cheerful songs and frightening tornados, the story of oz had us both excited and scared as kids.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, it is the most commercially successful adaptation of l. Few films enjoy the cult status and enduring popularity like the wizard of oz. Were honoring the films theatrical release with an epic list of facts. The 1939 metrogoldwynmayer film is the bestknown dramatization of the wizard of oz in addition to the wiz, royal shakespeare s 1987 staging, disneys return to oz and david lynchs wild at heart. Several crazy stories surround the making of this musical, some true, some false. His fictional novel was transformed into the 1939 film the wizard of oz, directed by victor fleming and featuring judy garland. He was best known for his work on the 1939 classics gone with the wind and the wizard of oz early work. Nearly 75 years old at the time of this writing, 1939 s the wizard of oz is arguably the most beloved movie of all time. Invented in 1932, the technicolor camera recorded on three separate negativesred, blue, and greenwhich were then combined to develop a fullcolor positive print. Frank baums famous childrens novel, its iconic 1939 film adaptation and the film s stars. Its going on sixtytwo years since it was first released and yet, it is timeless. Aug 25, 20 it was a modest box officer winner when it was released on this day back in 1939, but mgms grand technicolor fantasy film, the wizard of oz, won the hearts of millions more when it debuted on.
The wizard of oz is a famously iconic hollywood musical produced by mgm in 1939, consisting almost of an all star cast. Frank baum in 1900 and was the first novel to proceed sequels concluding with glinda of oz, published a year after baums death. Getting dorothy home to kansas was an easier feat than maintaining a director for the. The stamps featured stagecoach 1939, beau geste 1939, the wizard of oz 1939, and gone with the wind 1939. It was adapted from the novel the wonderful wizard of oz, written by l.
Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz books, which are the original oz stories, dorothys slippers are silver in color. Aug 21, 2019 the wizard of oz spawned two sequels, journey back to oz 1974, an animated film featuring the voice of judy garlands daughter, liza minnelli, and return to oz 1985. See how well you know what went on behind the curtain. It was a modest box officer winner when it was released on this day back in 1939, but mgms grand technicolor fantasy film, the wizard of oz. Nine insane facts about the set of the wizard of oz. It is great to look back on a film that was made in the thirties, and compare it to the movies made in this day and age. Some of the more minor mistakes in the film may have been left in because there was no time to shoot more accurate takes. 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. This is an undated photo of former syracuse resident and chittenango native l. Shocking facts about the wizard of oz movie and actors.
The first was a 1925 silent film, which, puzzlingly, had no magic. Top 10 wizard of oz facts that will ruin your childhood youtube. The wizard of oz is an american movie that was made in 1939 by metrogoldwynmayer. The wizard of oz vhs, 1995 5 out of 5 stars 21 total ratings 21. This camera was one of several used to film the oz scenes. In 1908, baum mounted a mixedmedia touring production called the fairylogue and radioplays that included both live actors and film elements. It was one of the very first full length pictures along with few others, such as gone with the wind 1939 and the adventures of robin hood 1938, to be shot in three strip technicolor. The movie is considered to be one of the greatest films in cinema history, and its the best known and most commercially successful adaption of l. However, as time goes on, more and more bizarre facts from the set of more. This 1939 american musical fantasy by metro goldwynmayer mgm is considered one of. Metrogoldwynmayer mgm needed to push the film as far as it would go. Lets peek behind the curtain at the wizard of oz to learn littleknown facts about the actors like judy garland. This picture wasnt expected to be as big of a hit as it was, and when it went overbudget and took longer than expected to shoot, a lot of pressure was put on the crew and director to finish it. Oct 11, 2019 in honor of the film s 80th anniversary this year, weve found some of the most magical and weird.
The wizard of oz national museum of american history. The wizard of oz, mgms enduring musical comedy film helmed by a handful of directors including victor fleming and based on the tale penned by l. Its a timeless classic, but these are the facts about the wizard of oz that will ruin your childhood. Frank morgan as in order of appearance professor marvelthe gatekeeperthe carriage driverthe guard the wizard of oz. The classic 1939 wizard of oz was not the first movie adaptation of l. Film making has come a long way since studios struggled with technicolor, makeup and stunts like they did when making the acclaimed, the wizard of oz in 1939. The wizard of oz 1939 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. For the movie, however, the color was changed to take advantage of the majority of film taking place in technicolor. Mgm wanted to put judy garland in a film with mickey rooney, as he was a bigger star than she was. The movie is based on the childrens book the wonderful wizard of oz by l. Writer salman rushdie acknowledged the wizard of oz was my very first literary influence in his 2002 musings about the film. Baums tin woodman first appeared in his classic 1900 book the wonderful wizard of oz and reappeared in many other subsequent oz books in the series. The new york premiere at loews capitol theater on 17 august 1939 was followed by a live performance with judy garland and mickey rooney. The wizard of oz is enjoyable for people of all ages.
His first short story, written at the age of ten, was titled over the rainbow. The iconic 1939 film is jampacked with catchy songs, inspiring quotes, and messages, and was based on the 1900 book by l. Surprisingly, the famous 1939 mgm film the wizard of oz was not the first time l. Aug 17, 2019 the wizard of oz is an oftenimitated but neverduplicated cinematic treasure that remains an integral part of childhood 80 years after it first enchanted audiences in theaters. Facts about the cast, crew, filming and characters in the wizard of oz film. The wizard of oz was a musical, comedy, drama and fantasy that starred judy garland as dorothy gale, and terry the dog as toto. Few motion pictures are more universally beloved than the wizard of oz, which opened nationwide on august 25, 1939. Making a classic movie from 1939 the magic of modern moviemaking at its miracle best breathes life into that beloved classic of childhood. 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 1939 is everybodys cherished favorite, perennial fantasy film musical from mgm during its golden years.
The ruby slippers in the wizard of oz were originally. Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, it is the. The song over the rainbow won the academy award for best original song. You can thank the power of technicolor for dorothys ruby slippers. In fact, the 1939 film the wizard of oz was the eighth film adaptation of l.
This is a film that will just be something that stays around forever. Though not an immediate financial or critical success, it became one of the most enduring family films of all time. Mar 19, 2020 film making has come a long way since studios struggled with technicolor, makeup and stunts like they did when making the acclaimed, the wizard of oz in 1939. The wonderful wizard of oz, childrens book written by l. Mary mayer, a unit publicist for the film, contacted the tailor and baums widow. Temple was signed to 20th century fox, and for years she was expected to star in some type of oz film series.
The tin woodman, also known as the tin man ormistakenlythe tin woodsman, is a character in the fictional land of oz created by american author l. The wizard of oz is the 1939 musical film by metrogoldwynmayer, directed by victor fleming and starring judy garland, ray bolger, jack haley, bert lahr, margaret hamilton, and frank morgan. For this list, were taking a look at some upsetting, disturbing, mythdeflating facts about l. Wizard of oz is a 1925 film, directed by larry semon in collaboration with frank joslyn baum and featuring a young oliver hardy. The wizard of oz is one of those classic movies that you can watch over and over again. It was statistically wellknown to be the most watched movie in the history of cinema.
This meant ray bolger scarecrow, jack haley tin man, and bert lahr cowardly lion doubled as farmhands, and margaret hamilton got wicked in both kansas miss gulch and oz the witch. A thirteen minute silent film was produced back in 1910 entitled the wonderful wizard of oz. The cowardly lions costume was made of a real lion skin. Jack haley wasnt going to be the tin man originally. And though it was met with a modest run at the box office, it picked up popularity steam when it was released in technicolor on televisionits. Jun 03, 2019 the wizard of oz is one of those classic movies that you can watch over and over again. Frank baums wildly popular 1900 childrens book the wonderful wizard of oz, the iconic mgm film from 1939 is still a gift that keeps on giving with its innumerable. They turned redand became the most iconic shoes of the centuryby the time they slipped onto dorothys feet in the 1939 film. The wizard of oz is a truly timeless classic that gets better as it ages over time. For this list, were taking a look at some upsetting, disturbing, mythdeflating facts. Three writers noel langley, florence ryderson and edgar allen woolf are listed in the film s opening credits, but more than a dozen other writers, lyricists, and cast members contributed to the final version. It was produced by mgm and released by rko in 1939. Here are 20 fun facts about the wizard of oz in honor of the film s 75th anniversary.
The wizard of oz is a 1939 american musical fantasy film produced by metro goldwynmayer. The wizard of oz, mgms enduring musical comedy film helmed by a. Despite the fact she played an adversary to judy garlands dorothy, margaret. While the 1939 version of the film is certainly the best known, it wasnt the first attempt at bringing frank baums. Feb 29, 2020 its a timeless classic, but these are the facts about the wizard of oz that will ruin your childhood. The book and movie are about a little girls adventures in the land called oz. Victor fleming, born february 23, 1889, near pasadena, california, u. Aug 25, 2019 in honor of the wizard of ozs 80th anniversary, we present 75 fascinating, surprising and sometimes a little unsettling, facts and interesting trivia about the beloved film s cast, characters. It would periodically change colors, hence its name. Aug 07, 2018 the wizard of oz is a truly timeless classic that gets better as it ages over time. See more ideas about wizard of oz, wizard of oz 1939 and the wiz. The success of the play in new york resulted in it touring for nine years.
His other movies included red dust, treasure island, captains courageous, and tortilla flat. Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz, first published in 1900. The wizard of oz 1939 film vhs tapes for sale ebay. The wizard of oz is a 1939 american musical fantasy film produced by metrogoldwynmayer. He was best known for his work on the 1939 classics gone with the wind and the wizard of oz. In the wizard of oz, dorothys journey from kansas to oz is symbolized by a shift from black and white to technicolor. Most of the main actors in the wizard of oz played two roles. The horse of a different color was a horse who drew the carriage in the opening emerald city scenes of the 1939 mgm film the wizard of oz. The silent film shows that dorothy and the scarecrow were already friends even long before they were swept by a tornado and towards their journey on 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. Since its release in 1939, the wizard of oz is thought to be the most viewed film everand certainly one of the most beloved.
The beloved 1939 film we all know and love was not the first cinematic adaptation of l. Interesting facts about the wonderful wizard of oz curious trivia about the classic l. There was also an earlier silent film version dating from 1925. Frank baums 1900 childrens book, the wonderful wizard of oz. Tell us which song from the wizard of oz is your favorite. Interesting facts about the wonderful wizard of oz. Oct 08, 2019 lets peek behind the curtain at the wizard of oz to learn littleknown facts about the actors like judy garland. Made in 1939 and starring the beautiful judy garland, it has been remade many times throughout the years. Fleming started in the film industry as a stunt car driver in 1910. There is a dark history behind the classic film the wizard of oz, including an actor catching on fire and a dark urban legend about the film. Fraums book a thirteen minute silent film was produced back in 1910 entitled the wonderful wizard of oz. The wizard of oz was far from an instant hit when it debuted in 1939, in fact, it barely broke. 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.
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