Most of you have already seen The Wizard of Oz, however I'm going to write a post about it because it is one of my favorite movies of all time. The Wizard of Oz was made in 1939 and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is based on the book "The Wonderful World of Oz" by L. Frank Baum who unfortunately died twenty years before the movie was released. This movie racked up a few awards such as: Best Original song. It is also ranked among the top ten best movies of all time in various polls.
This movie is about a girl named Dorothy who lives with her Aunty Em, Uncle Henry and three farmers in Kansas. When a unfriendly townswomen called Miss Almira Gulch stops by the farm, Toto, Dorothy's dog, bites her and she proceeds to go to the town sheriff to have Toto killed. Thankfully Toto escapes from miss Gulch and returns to Dorothy. Dorothy, greatly worried about Toto, runs away and encounters a travelling fortune teller, Professor Marvel. He invited her into his wagon offering to tell her fortune. Sneaking a peak at her photo of her and aunty Em, he convinces her to return home by telling her that her aunt has fallen into ill grief. She rushes home but there is a tornado destroying everything in its path. She is unable to open the doors to the storm cellar where her family is therefore she takes shelter inside the house where she is knocked unconscious by a window frame. Dorothy awakens to her house being trapped in the twister where she begins panicking for her life. The house eventually falls back to earth and once outside, she finds her self in a colourful strange village. Soon a floating bubble appears and becomes Glinda, the good with of the north who informs the girl that she has killed the wicked witch of the east. All the munchkins finally come out of hiding to celebrate the witch's death. This celebration is interrupted when the wicked witch of the west appears claiming her sisters ruby slippers. Glinda magically transfers the ruby slippers from the dead witch to Dorothy. Before leaving, the wicked witch of the west threatens Dorothy,frightened, Dorothy wishes to go home. Glinda suggests Dorothy seeks help from the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald city which she can find by following the yellow brick road. On that road she encounters new friends, new problems but mostly the adventure of a life time.
Many details from the book were omitted and altered in the movie. For example, Dorothy's shoes were originally silvered, however they were altered into a ruby to take advantage of the new vivid technicolour process. The opening and closing credits, as well as all the Kansas scenes were filmed in a black & white coloured sepia tone. The rest of the movie took part in the world of Oz where they used three-strip Technicolour. Something I found funny was that it them a week on just finding the right yellow for the brick road. Even though Judy Garland was the vision of Dorothy, there is evidence of negotiation during pre-production for Shirley Temple to play the role of Dorothy. I'm very glad Judy Garland was chosen because her voice is absolutely beautiful, especially singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Overall this stays one of my favorite movies of all time and I highly suggest watching it even if you already have, watch it again! it'll never get old.
This movie is about a girl named Dorothy who lives with her Aunty Em, Uncle Henry and three farmers in Kansas. When a unfriendly townswomen called Miss Almira Gulch stops by the farm, Toto, Dorothy's dog, bites her and she proceeds to go to the town sheriff to have Toto killed. Thankfully Toto escapes from miss Gulch and returns to Dorothy. Dorothy, greatly worried about Toto, runs away and encounters a travelling fortune teller, Professor Marvel. He invited her into his wagon offering to tell her fortune. Sneaking a peak at her photo of her and aunty Em, he convinces her to return home by telling her that her aunt has fallen into ill grief. She rushes home but there is a tornado destroying everything in its path. She is unable to open the doors to the storm cellar where her family is therefore she takes shelter inside the house where she is knocked unconscious by a window frame. Dorothy awakens to her house being trapped in the twister where she begins panicking for her life. The house eventually falls back to earth and once outside, she finds her self in a colourful strange village. Soon a floating bubble appears and becomes Glinda, the good with of the north who informs the girl that she has killed the wicked witch of the east. All the munchkins finally come out of hiding to celebrate the witch's death. This celebration is interrupted when the wicked witch of the west appears claiming her sisters ruby slippers. Glinda magically transfers the ruby slippers from the dead witch to Dorothy. Before leaving, the wicked witch of the west threatens Dorothy,frightened, Dorothy wishes to go home. Glinda suggests Dorothy seeks help from the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald city which she can find by following the yellow brick road. On that road she encounters new friends, new problems but mostly the adventure of a life time.
Many details from the book were omitted and altered in the movie. For example, Dorothy's shoes were originally silvered, however they were altered into a ruby to take advantage of the new vivid technicolour process. The opening and closing credits, as well as all the Kansas scenes were filmed in a black & white coloured sepia tone. The rest of the movie took part in the world of Oz where they used three-strip Technicolour. Something I found funny was that it them a week on just finding the right yellow for the brick road. Even though Judy Garland was the vision of Dorothy, there is evidence of negotiation during pre-production for Shirley Temple to play the role of Dorothy. I'm very glad Judy Garland was chosen because her voice is absolutely beautiful, especially singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Overall this stays one of my favorite movies of all time and I highly suggest watching it even if you already have, watch it again! it'll never get old.
Wow, good review. I haven't watched the Wizard of Oz since I was a kid, now I may go back and watch it again!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing review, I really like how you described everything! When I was young this movie really didn't make sense, but I kind of get it now! I think I'm going to watch it now, THANKS
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