Memories of Oz (TV 2001)

Interviews with filmmakers/fans Willard Carroll and John Waters, Stephen Cox, author of The Munchkins of Oz, Munchkin actors and others on the impact and influence of the 1939 MGM film version of The Wizard of Oz.

Stars:

John Waters, Willard Carroll, Jane Lahr

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Waters	...	Himself
Willard Carroll	...	Himself - Oz collector
Jane Lahr	...	Herself, daughter of Bert Lahr
Margaret Pellegrini	...	Herself
Meinhardt Raabe	...	Himself
August Clarence Swenson	...	Himself (as Clarence Swensen)
Mickey Carroll	...	Himself
Karl 'Karchy' Kosiczky	...	Himself (as Karl Slover)
Stephen Cox	...	Himself - author of 'The Munchkins of Oz'
Dona Massin	...	Herself
Buddy Ebsen	...	Himself
Jerry Maren	...	Himself
Ruth L. Robinson	...	Herself (as Ruth Duccini)
Woolsey Ackerman	...	Himself - Oz-ocologist
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Judy Garland	...	Herself / Dorothy Gale (archive footage)

Storyline

Actors who played Munchkins, Bert Lahr's daughter, John Waters, the film's choreographer, film critics, and others tell stories about the making of the "Wizard of Oz," discuss its special effects, and assess its place in film history. Munchkins also talk about Judy Garland, the set, and the rehearsals; Buddy Ebsen describes his short-lived and nearly-fatal time as the Tin Man; and, footage from the film illustrates the points made by talking heads.

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Plot Keywords:

munchkin | oz | wizard of oz | wizard | judy garland | 

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Genres:

Short | Documentary

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 2001 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the scene showing 1939 merchandising to promote "The Wizard of Oz", we see a 45-RPM record entitled "Art Carney narrates The Wizard of Oz". This record could not have existed at the time the film was released and so heavily merchandised because Art Carney had not yet become famous in 1939. Other 45 RPM records featuring songs from the film are seen, but these had to have been made years later also, because there were no 45 RPM records in 1939.

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Connections

Features Cabin in the Sky (1943)

User Reviews

How the making of a great film became a party.

This engaging 30 minute effort, created to share bills with reruns of the WIZARD OF OZ, is predominantly composed of interesting recollections by several midgets who were cast as Munchkins (interviewed while wearing their original costumes) elaborating upon various technical gambits utilized in the production of the classic, including disclosure of the choreographic modes of Dona Massin, so very successful with her little-recognized achievement. Among the more interesting morsels discussed are the replacement with Jack Haley of Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man when the latter was hospitalized for six weeks (in an oxygen tent) due to his violent allergy to the requisite aluminum dust added to his part's silver paint; the excision from the story line of an innocent Kansas love affair between Dorothy and Ray Bolger's character Hunk, accounting for her favoritism of the Scarecrow; use of Oz props, e.g., Dorothy's basket, in subsequent MGM motion pictures; and other revelations from such as hilarious John Waters, Willard Carroll, whose collection of Oz material is the largest, and Stephen Cox, author of The Munchkins of Oz, with only graceless Jane Lahr's grotesque attempt to politicize WIZARD bespotting a generally delightful piece.