Return to Oz (1985)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

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 | Scarecrow | Chicken

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) | Australia:G (re-rating on appeal) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | UK:U (original rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

BMI (No. 9) Ltd.

Trivia:

Several major characters from the Oz books make cameos in the final parade scene, including: The Shaggy Man, The Patchwork Girl, Prof. H.M. Wogglebug, T.E., Santa Claus, Tommy Kwikstep, Button Bright and The Musicker.

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:

Dorothy: You're so beautiful. What's your name?
Ozma: Ozma.
Jack Pumpkinhead: MOM! My *real* mom!
[he faints into the crowd]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Beetle Juice (1988)

A classic in its own right.

In this movie adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic books, Dorothy, who has returned home to Kansas after her adventure in Oz, has trouble readjusting to life after the tornado and her infamous journey. Naturally, no one believes Dorothy's tale, and when Dorothy suffers insomnia, a desperate Aunt Em enlists the aid of a doctor at a medical clinic who, unbeknownst to Dorothy and Aunt Em, performs harmful experiments (nothing graphic -- it's just suggested) on children. In the midst of a rainstorm, Dorothy escapes the clinic to the nearby river, and floats to freedom in a chicken coop, only to awaken in the morning to find herself once again in the mystical and magical world of Oz. Once there, however, Dorothy is soon horrified to realize that the land is in peril, and is now controlled by an evil tyrant of a king. Now it's up to Dorothy to once again save the land she has come to love.

Those wishing to see this movie should most definitely know that it is in no way a continuation of the events of the 1939 classic, and the two should not be compared, for while they share some of the same characters, each is a classic in its own right. The differences are definitely apparent. The Judy Garland classic varied in many ways from the original books, while Return to Oz stays true in a greater way to Baum's original writing. In Return to Oz, Dorothy is a young child -- I'm not sure if her age is ever mentioned, but she appears to be around 10 or so. You may in fact recognize the face -- it's Fairuza Balk, who has appeared in many recent films such as The Craft and The Waterboy. The Scarecrow, Tinman, and Cowardly Lion are featured, but only the Scarecrow has even a mentionable role. There are, however, a number of loveable characters introduced in this film: Tik-Tok, a mechanical man, Jack Pumpkinhead, whose name pretty much says it all, and my personal favorite -- Ozma, the sweet and lovely Queen of Oz. Then there's the deliciously villanous Princess Mombie, who has a collection of stolen heads which she wears to suit her moods, and is played to near-perfection by the talented Jean Marsh, whom you may recognize as Queen Bavmorda from Willow (another fantasy classic that is a must-see). Topping the newcomers list is the Nome King, who is responsible for the things that have gone horribly awry in the land of Oz. Those who view this movie must do so without any preconceptions or expectations. It is NOT a sequel and should not be viewed as such. The producers of the film chose wisely in making this film instead of the original Wizard of Oz story -- the "remake" wouldn't have stood a chance against the classic 1939 version. Instead, it gives more to those who fell in love with the land of Oz and wished they could see "what happens next." Adults and older children who watched Wizard of Oz as tots may feel the story is inconsistent with the first film, and parents should take caution in showing it to younger children -- the creepy Wheelers, Princess Mombie, who is briefly headless -- her scene of yelling heads is also a little creepy, and the Nome King, who is, well, he's just a bad guy. Before showing this film to children, parents should really try to emphasize to children that the film is just a story, the characters are fictional, etc. When viewers know what to expect (and what not to expect), it will be a thoroughly enjoyable film experience for the whole family -- and yes, I would advise parents and children watching together. Personally, I'm confident that Return to Oz will become an instant classic for many generations to come.