This engaging 30 minute effort, created to share bills with reruns of the WIZARD OF OZ, is predominantly composed of interesting recollections by several midgets who were cast as Munchkins (interviewed while wearing their original costumes) elaborating upon various technical gambits utilized in the production of the classic, including disclosure of the choreographic modes of Dona Massin, so very successful with her little-recognized achievement. Among the more interesting morsels discussed are the replacement with Jack Haley of Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man when the latter was hospitalized for six weeks (in an oxygen tent) due to his violent allergy to the requisite aluminum dust added to his part's silver paint; the excision from the story line of an innocent Kansas love affair between Dorothy and Ray Bolger's character Hunk, accounting for her favoritism of the Scarecrow; use of Oz props, e.g., Dorothy's basket, in subsequent MGM motion pictures; and other revelations from such as hilarious John Waters, Willard Carroll, whose collection of Oz material is the largest, and Stephen Cox, author of The Munchkins of Oz, with only graceless Jane Lahr's grotesque attempt to politicize WIZARD bespotting a generally delightful piece.
Review of Memories of Oz
