Return to Oz (1985)

Director:

Walter Murch

Writers:

L. Frank Baum (novels)
Walter Murch
(more)

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 | Chicken | Mysterious Girl | Delusional Depression

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
John Alexander	...	Cowardly Lion / Wheeler
Deep Roy	...	Tin Man
Emma Ridley	...	Ozma
Sophie Ward	...	Mombi II
Fiona Victory	...	Mombi III
Pons Maar	...	Lead Wheeler / Nome Messenger
Rachel Ashton	...	Wheeler
Robbie Barnett	...	Wheeler
Ailsa Berk	...	Wheeler
Peter Elliott	...	Wheeler
Roger Ennals	...	Wheeler
Michele Hine	...	Wheeler
Mark Hopkins	...	Wheeler
Colin Skeaping	...	Wheeler
Ken Stevens	...	Wheeler
Philip Tan	...	Wheeler
Rob Thirtle	...	Wheeler (as Robert Thirtle)
Bruce Boa	...	Policeman
Tansy	...	Toto
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cherie Hawkins	...	Polychrome (uncredited)
Kevin Hudson	...	Munchkin (uncredited)
Jon Jacobs	...	Cage Carrier (uncredited)

Directed by
Walter Murch

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
L. Frank Baum		novels "Ozma of Oz" and "The Land of Oz"
Gill Dennis
Walter Murch

Produced by
Colin Michael Kitchens	....	associate producer
Gary Kurtz	....	executive producer
Paul Maslansky	....	producer

Original Music by
David Shire
Victoria Wood		(music composed and performed by)

Cinematography by
David Watkin
Freddie Francis		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Leslie Hodgson

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Susie Figgis
Marci Liroff

Production Design by
Norman Reynolds

Art Direction by
Charles Bishop		(supervising art director)
Fred Hole

Set Decoration by
Michael Ford

Costume Design by
Raymond Hughes

Makeup Department
Stuart Artingstall	....	mechanical characters hair design
Magdalen Gaffney	....	makeup artist
Robin Grantham	....	makeup supervisor
Beryl Lerman	....	makeup artist
Patricia McDermott	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Philip Kohler	....	unit manager (as Phil Kohler)
Steve Lanning	....	production manager (as Stephen Lanning)
Bruce Sharman	....	executive in charge of production
Thomas L. Wilhite	....	original executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ray Corbett	....	assistant director
James Devis	....	second unit director
Ian Hickinbotham	....	second assistant director
Michael Murray	....	assistant director
Kieron Phipps	....	second assistant director
Waldo Roeg	....	second assistant director: second unit
Peter Waller	....	assistant director: second unit
Steve Lanning	....	assistant director (uncredited)
John Speer	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Alan Adams	....	dipping props
Bill Beecham	....	constructor hod (as William Beecham)
Reg Bream	....	chief draughtsman
Barry Bruce	....	claymation art director
Bruce Cheesman	....	unit props
Kenneth Clarke	....	constructor hod
Bill J. Coggon	....	unit props (as William Coggon)
Peter Collins	....	constructor hod
Michael R. Driscoll	....	constructor hod (as Michael Driscoll)
Peter Hancock	....	property master
Ron Higgins	....	unit props
Robert Hill	....	unit props (as Rob Hill)
Richard Holland	....	draughtsman
Tommy Ibbetson	....	prop management
Harley Jessup	....	storyboard artist
I.F. Lawrence	....	constructor hod
Bert Long	....	constructor hod (as Albert Long)
David Lusby	....	production buyer
Philip McDonald	....	locations property master
Ted Michell	....	scenic artist
Michael G. Ploog	....	illustrator (as Mike Ploog)
Michael G. Ploog	....	storyboard artist (as Mike Ploog)
Doug Purdie	....	dipping props
Denis Rich	....	storyboard artist
Henry Selick	....	storyboard artist
Chris Sheehan	....	dipping props (as Christopher Sheehan)
Bob Walker	....	scenic artist
Bill Welch	....	construction manager
Gavin Bocquet	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Michael Finlay	....	painter (uncredited)
Dave Midson	....	supervising dressing prop (uncredited)
Brian Muir	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Jay Pales	....	plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bob Allen	....	production sound (as Robert Allen)
Tim Blackham	....	sound crew
Geoff R. Brown	....	assistant sound editor
Martin Evans	....	sound editor
Mike Hopkins	....	sound editor
Ray Merrin	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Tony Morris	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Musgrave	....	sound editor
Walter Nelson	....	assistant sound editor
Bill Rowe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Martin Trevis	....	sound crew

Special Effects by
Peter Davey	....	special effects technician
Michael Dawson	....	special effects technician
Ken Gittens	....	special effects technician
Brian Lince	....	special effects technician
Ray Lovell	....	special effects technician
Brian Morrison	....	senior special effects technician
Trevor Neighbour	....	senior effects technician
Frank Richardson	....	special effects technician (as B. Frank Richardson)
John Stephenson	....	mechanical characters mechanical design
David H. Watkins	....	special effects technician (as David Watkins)
Barry Whitrod	....	senior effects technician
David Hunter	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Richard Craske	....	assistant model cameraman
George Djurkovic	....	art department models
Carl Frith	....	model and process effects unit camera operator
Allen Gonzales	....	effects animator
Peter Hammond	....	matte camera
John Harris	....	model camera operator (as John H. Harris)
Robert Hill	....	model and process effects unit camera operator
Peter Krook	....	optical editorial supervisor
Michael Lloyd	....	matte supervisor
Tim McHugh	....	matte camera assistant
Nick Moore	....	assistant optical editor
Zoran Perisic	....	director of model and process unit-visual effects consultant
Stanley W. Sayer	....	matte photography consultant (as Stanley Sayer)
Robert Scifo	....	matte artist
Charles Stoneham	....	matte artist
Carl Willat	....	additional opticals
Ian Wingrove	....	model and special effects supervisor
David Worley	....	model camera operator
Alan Church	....	optical camera operator (uncredited)
Peter Govey	....	additional opticals (uncredited)
Sam Longoria	....	claymation camera (uncredited)
Sam Longoria	....	motion control engineer (uncredited)

Stunts
Andy Bradford	....	stunts
Cheryl Brown	....	stunt double: Fairuza Balk
Alison Lynn	....	stunt double: Fairuza Balk
Gareth Milne	....	stunts
Nicola Roche	....	stunt double: Fairuza Balk
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt arranger
Colin Skeaping	....	stunt coordinator
Tip Tipping	....	stunts
Sarah White	....	stunt double: Fairuza Balk

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold	....	camera grip
Richard Blanshard	....	still photographer
Bob Bridges	....	video technician (as Robert Bridges)
David Budd	....	assistant camera
Jim Dawes	....	camera grip
James Devis	....	camera operator: second unit
James Devis	....	director of photography: second unit
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
Ronnie Homewood	....	best boy
Christopher Kenny	....	video technician
Roy Larner	....	gaffer
Roger McDonald	....	assistant camera
Simon Mills	....	clapper loader: second unit
Shane O'Neill	....	assistant camera
John Palmer	....	camera operator
Barry Peake	....	still photographer
Ken Worringham	....	camera operator
Dean Kennedy	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tony Allen	....	wardrobe assistant (as Anthony Allen)
Rosemary Lis	....	wardrobe assistant (as Rosemary Worth)
William McPhail	....	assistant costume designer
Paul Vachon	....	wardrobe supervisor
Hilary Watson	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Peter Boita	....	second editor
Daniel Farrell	....	assistant editor
Kerry Kohler	....	senior assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Davis	....	musician: violin solo
Gordon Greenaway	....	assistant music editor
Harry Rabinowitz	....	associate conductor
David Shire	....	conductor
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator
Eric Tomlinson	....	music recording mixer
Stan Witt	....	music editor

Other crew
Douglas Aberle	....	claymation artist
Barbara Allen	....	production coordinator
David Altschul	....	claymation producer
Brian Archer	....	mechanical characters patternmaker
Alan Arnold	....	publicist
Craig Bartlett	....	claymation artist
Annie Britten	....	secretary to producer
Lyle Conway	....	mechanical characters cosutme design supervisor
John Coppinger	....	mechanical characters designer
Michael Culling	....	animal trainer (as Mike Culling)
Douglas Cummings	....	cello soloist
Chris Eveleigh	....	mechanical characters designer
William Fiesterman	....	claymation artist
Derek Frampton	....	mechanical characters technician
Gary Frutkoff	....	mechanical characters additional design
Tom Gasek	....	claymation artist
Joan C. Gratz	....	claymation artist
Linda Gregory	....	assistant accountant
Mark Gustafson	....	claymation artist
Don Henry	....	first process engineer
Colin Hurry	....	mechanical characters technician
Paul Jiggins	....	mechanical characters supporting plasterer
Val Johnston	....	mechanical characters fabric design
Sally Jones	....	continuity
Helen Lewis	....	mechanical characters textile
Lesja Liber	....	mechanical characters fabric design
Pons Maar	....	mime movement arranger
Mary Jo Macvey	....	tutor
Doris Martin	....	continuity: second unit
Sue Matthews	....	secretary to director
Bruce McKean	....	claymation artist
Tom McLaughlin	....	mechanical characters foam latex supervisor
Cathy McMahon	....	tutor
Gary McRobert	....	claymation artist
Gary McRobert	....	claymation technical supervisor
Phil Meador	....	supervisor: Disney Efx (as Philip Meador)
Richard Morrison	....	title designer
Aggie Murch	....	unit nurse (as Muriel Murch)
John R. Neill	....	mechanical characters original drawings
Roger Nichols	....	mechanical characters technician
Grania O'Shannon	....	location manager
Chris Ostwald	....	mechanical characters designer
Richard Padbury	....	mechanical characters designer
William Plant	....	mechanical characters technician
Joanne Radmilovich	....	claymation artist
Nick Rayburn	....	mechanical characters designer
Melinda Rees	....	continuity: second unit
Glynis Robertson	....	executive producer's secretary
Ian Rolph	....	mechanical characters technician
Tim Rose	....	mechanical characters senior designer
David Sainty	....	mechanical characters general assistant
Neal Scanlan	....	mechanical characters technician
Moyra Simpson	....	assistant production coordinator
H.W. Hamilton Smith	....	mechanical characters mechanical design
Will Vinton	....	claymation director
Chris Warren	....	video coordinator (as Christopher Warren)
David Watson	....	effects technician
Rebecca West	....	publicity assistant
Sam Williams	....	supporting accountant
Cas Willing	....	mechanical characters fabric design
Michael Yell	....	assistant accountant
Judy Britten	....	captions assistant: publicity (uncredited)
Francis Ford Coppola	....	assistant to director (uncredited)
Sue Dacre	....	supporting puppeteer (uncredited)
Geoff Felix	....	supporting puppeteer (uncredited)
David Greenaway	....	supporting puppeteer (uncredited)
Swee Lim	....	supporting puppeteer (uncredited)
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)
Tony Miller	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Stefano Priori	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Maurice Sendak	....	preliminary artwork (uncredited)

Thanks
George Lucas	....	special thanks
Robert Watts	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• BMI (No. 9) Ltd.
• Oz Productions Ltd.
• Silver Screen Partners II
• Walt Disney Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1985) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures Entertainment (1985) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Productions (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Anvil-Abbey Road Studios, London  music recorded at
• Disney Efx  additional opticals
• Disney Efx  matte paintings
• Elstree Film & Television Studios  movie studio
• General Screen Enterprises  additional opticals
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• London Symphony Orchestra, The (LSO)  music performed by
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording
• Oxford Scientific Films  additional opticals
• Peerless Camera Company  additional opticals
• Peter Govey Film Opticals  additional opticals
• Rank Film Laboratories  additional opticals
• Thorn EMI Elstree Studios  produced at
• Thorn EMI Elstree Studios  re-recording facilities
• Westbury Design & Optical  additional opticals

Also Known As:

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) | Canada:F (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | UK:U (original rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

BMI (No. 9) Ltd.

Trivia:

In order to include the ruby slippers as part of this film, Disney had to pay royalties to MGM, the studio which had produced The Wizard of Oz (1939). The ruby slippers did not appear in the original novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"; they were invented for the 1939 film to better take advantage of the newly developed Technicolor process. Interestingly enough, in "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," Dorothy wore a pair of magical silver shoes which were actually destroyed when she used them to return to Kansas. In the subsequent novel "Ozma of Oz," one of the books on which this film is based, Dorothy and her friends meet the Nome King who possesses a magical belt with properties similar to those of the silver shoes. Early drafts of the script for Return to Oz reflect this, with the Nome King possessing a magical ruby belt which had been created from the ruby slippers.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mombi wakes up and walks around headless, it is obvious by her stiff jerky movements, and the way she glides rather than walks, that is an animatronic puppet and not Jean Marsh.

Quotes:

Jack Pumpkinhead:[everybody's falling off the Gump and out of the sky] I'm sorry, Mom!
Dorothy:It's okay, Jack, it can't be helped now!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "At the Movies: D.A.R.Y.L./Cocoon/Return to Oz" (1985)

Yep, dark and disturbing

After reading about 40 of the other comments here, all of whom say RETURN TO OZ is dark and disturbing, I will make a different comment. In the early 80s Disney certainly were off the cash trail with a range of films, each expertly produced, that were box office disasters. One may recall SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, TRON, THE BLACK CAULDRON, ONE MAGIC Christmas and a few others that had much to offer any thinking crowd,and each had special effects that were quite astonishing. Disney were in a very bleak period and the films, attempting to reflect perhaps a more mature or even grown up perspective chose, oh dear I have to say it: a dark and disturbing theme. At the time of release every critic bleated at the grim and melancholy tone of RETURN TO OZ, and sadly themselves neglected to celebrate the original book look, a choice Disney execs applauded themselves for. One Exec infamously said to us theatre owners: "We're going for the Frank L Baum book illustrations and nothing like that 1939 vaudeville thing". Oh dear, I thought at the time. You mean the world's most popular kids film? Well. $27 million dollars later in production costs returned maybe a quarter in theatre film rentals and RETURN TO OZ for all its merit and lavish production care and superb scary special effects....was consigned to the Disney dud bin. At the time I was irritated by the fixed goony expressions on Jack Pumpkinhead and the Scarecrow (loved Tik-tok, though, a fascinating and completely compelling design and movement piece) This time around I didn't mind it and actually appreciated the fact that they were 'book' expressions. Viewed 20 years later on a Disney DVD of dubious quality, I have to say it is a film more suited to these dark and disturbing times and if released today would certainly get a better reception and better crits...and possibly make a lot of money. I think the world is tuned into this type of family film more now than in the Flashdance 80s. The production values of RETURN TO OZ are simply breathtaking. Scene after scene perfectly realised: the green walled horror of the psychiatric asylum in reel one, the amazing claymation of the Gnome King, and especially the glittering halls of Mombi's castle. One genuinely screamworthy scene in the hall of Heads with a headless Queen rushing about in a nightmarish vision is almost only for adults, so intense is it's genuine horror. The glittering climax of a restored Emerald City is a triumph of green and silver/gold set design, I defy any viewer not to rewind it several times just to see each and every part. Yes nominated for 5 Oscars, it won none and vanished for 20 years. The no-marquee name Fairuza Balk didn't help the public embrace, no matter how exquisite she is. At least she wasn't named Soleil Moon Fry. In the same class as The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, RETURN TO OZ now deserves its place there as part of a trilogy of superbly crafted fantasy for smart kids and astonished adults. That 'vaudeville thing' it certainly isn't. But not a failure either. The DVD is lacking trailers and production material that should and could be included. Bad Disney! Good film! I also defy any viewer not to shriek with laughter at the Gnome King revealing he is wearing the ruby slippers, a sly joke well presented.