The Wizard of Oz (1925)

Director:

Larry Semon

Writers:

L. Frank Baum (novel)
Frank Joslyn Baum (adaptation) ...
(more)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Adventure

Tagline:

Larry Semon, Oliver Hardy: Alone Either One Is Hilarious; Together They Are a Riot

Plot:

A Toymaker tells a bizarre story about how the Land of Oz was ruled by Prince Kynd, but he was overthrown by Prime Minister Kruel...

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Prince | Wizard | Birthday | Lightning

Cast

Dorothy Dwan	...	Dorothy / Princess Dorothea
Mary Carr	...	Aunt Em
Virginia Pearson	...	Lady Vishuss
Bryant Washburn	...	Prince Kynd
Josef Swickard	...	Prime Minister Kruel
Charles Murray	...	Wizard of Oz
Oliver Hardy	...	Woodsman / Knight of the Garter / Farmhand (as Oliver N. Hardy)
William Hauber	...	Undetermined Role
William Dinus	...	Undetermined Role
Frank Alexander	...	Uncle Henry / Prince of Whales
Otto Lederer	...	Ambassador Wikked
Frederick Ko Vert	...	Phantom of the Basket
Larry Semon	...	Scarecrow / Toymaker / Farmhand
Spencer Bell	...	Cowardly Lion / Rastus / Snowball (as G. Howe Black)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chester Conklin	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Wanda Hawley	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Directed by
Larry Semon

Writing credits
L. Frank Baum		(novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")
Frank Joslyn Baum		(adaptation) (as L. Frank Baum Jr.) &
Leon Lee		(adaptation) &
Larry Semon		(adaptation)
Leon Lee		(titles)

Produced by
I.E. Chadwick	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Larry Semon	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Marc Glassman		(1996)
Robert Israel		(2005 Composer New Score)
Steffan Presley		(1996)
Rosa Rio		(1986)
Julius K. Johnson		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Frank B. Good		(photographed by) (as Frank Good)
Hans F. Koenekamp		(photographed by) (as H.F. Koenenkamp)
Leonard Smith		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Sam Zimbalist

Art Direction by
Robert Stevens

Costume Design by
Frederick Ko Vert		(uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William King	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Vladislav Kvapil	....	recording director (2005 alternate version)

Stunts
William Hauber	....	stunt double: Larry Semon & Dorothy Dwan (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Larry Semon	....	costumes: Tin Man and Scare Crow

Music Department
Robert Israel	....	conductor (2005 alternate version)
Robert Israel	....	music arranger (2005 alternate version)
Julius K. Johnson	....	musician: organ (at the premiere) (uncredited)
Louis La Rondelle	....	orchestrator (at the premiere) (uncredited)
Harry F. Silverman	....	conductor (at the premiere) (uncredited)

Other crew
Edwin G. Hitchcok	....	publicity director (uncredited)
Steve Miranda	....	assistant publicity director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Chadwick Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Chadwick Pictures Corporation (1925) (USA) (theatrical)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• A-1 Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Arts Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Castle Communications (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Intertain (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Passport International Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Turner Entertainment (2006) (USA) (TV) (presents) (2005 alternate version)
• Video Yesteryear (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Bros. Television (2006) (USA) (TV) (2005 alternate version)

Other Companies

• Arts Home Entertainment  artwork and DVD cover design
• EmGee Film Library  presents
• The Robert Israel Orchestra  orchestra (as The Robert Israel Orchestra {Europe}) (2005 alternate version)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

81 min (20.7 fps) | USA:72 min (2005 alternate version)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:G | Finland:S (1993)

Company:

Chadwick Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Many theatres that booked the film never received it because its production caused Chadwick Pictures to go bankrupt and distribution ceased long before it was intended to.

Goofs:

Continuity: The plane that brings Kruel's emissaries from Oz to Kansas is a triplane in the long shots of it in mid-air, but a biplane when it lands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Valley Girl (1983)

Oy vey!

I approached this film with great interest. Being a fan of Oz in general and silent film in particular, this seemed like a sure fit. Well, it's hard to put all prejudices aside, having (like most people) been bombarded with various adaptations of L. Frank Baum's book that one naturally has preconceptions.

Now, I won't bother to comment on the liberties taken in this film, the 1939 film bears, in all truth, barely a passing resemblance to Baum's dark and bizarre novel. The problem is, the changes made for this film just don't work. It's really just a standard silent slapstick film, but not a very funny one.

It's hard to sit through 90 minutes of lame jokes and vulgar stereotypes. But, as a historical curiosity, the film merits a once-over. I cannot, however, endorse the release pictured on the IMDb page, with it's "Digital Soundtrack" and "Narration." The music is inappropriate and the narration is silly...I mean, I CAN read for myself thank you! It was like sitting in the theatre with some rude patron talking to the screen! I expect this was added for children watching the films, but I really don't think many young children today would sit through this, sadly.

See it at least once, but don't expect too much from it.