The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Dorothy Gale is swept away to a magical land in a tornado and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home.

Director:

Victor Fleming

Writers:

Noel Langley (screenplay), Florence Ryerson (screenplay),

Stars:

Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger

Top 250 #148 | Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Judy Garland	...	Dorothy
Frank Morgan	...	Professor Marvel / The Wizard of Oz / The Gatekeeper / The Carriage Driver / The Guard
Ray Bolger	...	'Hunk' / The Scarecrow
Bert Lahr	...	'Zeke' / The Cowardly Lion
Jack Haley	...	'Hickory' / The Tin Man
Billie Burke	...	Glinda
Margaret Hamilton	...	Miss Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West
Charley Grapewin	...	Uncle Henry
Pat Walshe	...	Nikko
Clara Blandick	...	Auntie Em
Terry	...	Toto (as Toto)
The Singer Midgets	...	The Munchkins (as The Munchkins)

Storyline

In this charming film based on the popular L. Frank Baum stories, Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up in the land of Oz. Here she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage.

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Plot Keywords:

witch | dog | wizard | home | heart | 

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Taglines:

Let's go "Over the Rainbow" with Judy in her greatest hit! (1955 re-release)

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. (1998 rerelease)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

El mago de Oz

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,777,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$5,354,311 (USA) (6 November 1998)

Gross:

$14,792,232 (USA) (1 January 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Loew's

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System: The Voice of Action) Dolby Digital (2005 re-issue)

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original concept for the Wicked Witch of the West was to have her resemble a strikingly beautiful woman much in the same way the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was conceived. Producer Mervyn LeRoy originally cast MGM beauty Gale Sondergaard in the role as a sleek, sexy Wicked Witch of the West. However, the presence of a sexy Wicked Witch left a large plot hole within the script, for it played against the idea that bad witches were ugly. Convinced that the point was important, LeRoy retested Sondergaard as an ugly witch. Looking hideous in the make-up, she immediately declined the role and was replaced with Margaret Hamilton.

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Goofs

When Dorothy firsts meets the Scarecrow, her hair style changes from short and curly to longer and straighter several times.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dorothy: She isn't coming yet, Toto. Did she hurt you? She tried to, didn't she? Come on. We'll go tell Uncle Henry and Auntie Em.

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Crazy Credits

Dedication right after opening credits - "For nearly forty years this story has given faithful service to the Young in Heart; and Time has been powerless to put its kindly philosophy out of fashion. To those of you who have been faithful to it in return ...and to the Young in Heart ...we dedicate this picture."

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Connections

Referenced in Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List: Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Scherzo in E-Minor, Op. 16, No. 2"
(1829) (uncredited)
Written by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Played by The MGM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Herbert Stothart
Heard as background music during the scene in which Toto escapes from the Witch's castle and runs to fetch Dorothy's three friends

User Reviews

Will continue to enthrall for generations to come!

One of the most cherished fantasy films to ever grace the screen, "The Wizard of Oz" stands as a crowning achievement in 1930's film making. The special effects are highly impressive considering the limited technology available at the time, not to mention they are infinitely more endearing than most CGI effects present in today's films. The lavish sets, impeccable costume design, and glowing Technicolor help to create a convincing and enchanting Land of Oz. And though obviously filmed on a soundstage, the sets never seem confining; thanks largely in part to the meticulous backdrop paintings used to add depth to the foreground. The musical numbers are quite lively & catchy -- never slowing the pace of the film -- except perhaps for the Lion singing "King of the Jungle". Judy Garland truly shines in her portrayal of Dorothy, perfectly capturing the wide-eyed innocence of her character. She definitely deserved the special Oscar she was awarded for her performance. Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, and Frank Morgan as the Wizard also turn in praiseworthy characterizations. Definitely timeless in every sense of the word, this film is recommended to those of all ages – a 10/10!