The Dreamer of Oz (1990)

The film is the biography of Frank Baum, the children's book author and creator of the fantasy world Oz.

Director:

Jack Bender

Writers:

David Kirschner (story), Richard Matheson (story)

Stars:

John Ritter, Annette O'Toole, Rue McClanahan

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Ritter	...	L. Frank Baum
Annette O'Toole	...	Maud Gage Baum
Rue McClanahan	...	Matilda Electa Joslyn Gage
Charles Haid	...	Al Badham / Cowardly Lion
David Schramm	...	W.W. Denslow
Nancy Lenehan	...	Harriet Alvena Baum Neal
Courtney Barilla	...	Dorothy Leslie Gage / Dorothy Gale
Nancy Morgan	...	Helen Leslie Gage Gage
Pat Skipper	...	Charlie H. Gage
Ed Gale	...	Ned Brown / Farmer
Trevor Eyster	...	Frank Joslyn Baum (5-9 years) (as Tim Eyster)
Joshua Boyd	...	Frank Joslyn Baum (3 years)
Roger Steffens	...	Salesman (as Roger Steffans)
John Cameron Mitchell	...	Albert the Reporter
Frank Hamilton	...	Sullivan

Storyline

The film is the biography of Frank Baum, the children's book author and creator of the fantasy world Oz.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to lyman frank baum | children's author | children's book | imagination | another world | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bedrock Productions, Adam Productions, Spelling Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This prior unavailable 1990 TV film appears for the first time on disc 2 on the two - disc The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary DVD set.

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Goofs

Kenneth Gage Baum, the Baum's fourth son, was omitted from the film, although he was present for much of the time period that the film shows.

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Connections

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

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Soundtracks

Main Title
From the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Music by Harold Arlen and Herbert Stothart
Arranged by Herbert Stothart
Orchestrated by Murray Cutter
Played offscreen in final scene by the M-G-M Studio Orchestra

User Reviews

Please show this movie...

This has to be the best movie I have ever seen. John Ritter was/is wonderful. The writing was excellent, too. If I could get a copy of this movie I would give it a special place in my home. When you watch this movie you will sure to be moved as I was. I loved to see how L. Frank Baum came to write 'The Wizard of Oz'. It is not easy to imagine just how an author comes to compose a story. As many times as I have seen the film, The Wizard of Oz, and that is dozens of times, I never once thought to myself, "I wonder where Mr. Baum got his inspiration... you will be pleasantly surprised when you find out. I am very surprised and a bit dismayed that this film has not made it to the re-run stage. What a shame!