Return to Oz (1985)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Walter Murch

Writers:

L. Frank Baum (novels)
Gill Dennis (writer)

Release Date:

21 June 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

An all-new adventure down the yellow brick road.

Plot:

Dorothy, saved from a psychiatric experiment by a mysterious girl, is somehow called back to Oz when a vain witch and the Nome King destroy everything that makes the magical land beautiful.

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | King | Mysterious Girl | Chicken | Scarecrow

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Fairuza Balk	...	Dorothy
Nicol Williamson	...	Dr. Worley / The Nome King
Jean Marsh	...	Nurse Wilson / Mombi
Piper Laurie	...	Aunt Em
Matt Clark	...	Uncle Henry
Michael Sundin	...	Tik-Tok
Tim Rose	...	Tik-Tok
Sean Barrett	...	Tik-Tok (voice)
Mak Wilson	...	Billina
Denise Bryer	...	Billina (voice)
Brian Henson	...	Jack Pumpkinhead (voice)
Stewart Larange	...	Jack Pumpkinhead
Lyle Conway	...	Gump (voice)
Stephen Norrington	...	Gump (as Steve Norrington)
Justin Case	...	Scarecrow

Also Known As:

Oz (USA) (working title)
The Adventures of the Devil in the Sky (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

113 min | Finland:110 min (uncut) | Finland:109 min (cut)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (2003) | Finland:K-10 (uncut) | Finland:K-8 (cut) | Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:L | Iceland:LH (video rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | UK:U (original rating) | Australia:PG | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Elstree Film and TV Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

BMI (No. 9) Ltd.

Trivia:

The movie is based on the second and third Oz books: "The Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz". Elements from the former include the introduction of Jack Pumpkinhead, the witch Mombi and her powder of life, the conquest of the Emerald City, the escape by flying sofa, and the search for Princess Ozma. From the latter comes the return of Dorothy, the talking chicken Billina, the wheelers, the discovery of Tick-Tock, a princess with interchangeable heads, the introduction of the Nome King, and the ornament room.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Dorothy first meets Tick Tock, he tells her that he will be her humble servant, takes off his hat and bows before her. When he's bowing if you look closely you can see the "puppeteer" crouched behind him.

Quotes:

Lead Wheeler: You'll be sorry for treating me like this! I'm a TERRIBLE fierce person!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Beetle Juice (1988)

Not a sequel, judge it on it's own merits.

Despite the title, this is not a sequel to the classic film that everyone loves. This is a different story about Dorothy and OZ that is actually more faithful to the series of L. Frank Baum books than the Judy Garland film was. Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, Mombi, the gnome king, and the wheelers were as much a part of the original stories (published in the very early 1900's) as the scarecrow and tin man were. I understand why some people don't like the movie as I didn't the first time I saw it. No film that trashes emerald city and has Dorothy recieving shock treatment is going to make fans of the first film very happy.

However on my second veiwing years later it was nice to get an idea of the much darker vision that the author of the books had created. He created an OZ that had a very scary side to it, but ultimately good would always triumph. Although this isn't a film for kids under 8 years of age, I believe most kids would probably like it. I do think the special effects could have been a little better, as this was made in 1985. And I wish that they would have had Dorothy interact more with the scarecrow, lion and tin man.

If you only want to see more of the first film then I wouldn't recommend this, otherwise enjoy.