The Wizard of Oz

Released:  1939

Cast:  Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin, Pat Walshe, Clara Blandick, Terry the dog

Oscar Wins:  Best Music, Original Song (“Over the Rainbow” — Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg), Best Music, Original Score (Herbert Stothart)

Oscar Nominations:  Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Color (Harold Rosson), Best Art Direction (Cedric Gibbons, William A. Horning), Best Effects, Special Effects (A. Arnold Gillespie, Douglas Shearer)

SUMMARY:  In early-1900s Kansas, Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) lives on a farm with her aunt, uncle, and dog Toto (Terry the dog).  When Toto gets into trouble for biting a neighbor, Dorothy decides to take Toto and run away.  She is convinced to return to the farm by a fortune teller, but gets caught up in a tornado as she returns.  After being knocked unconscious, she wakes up to find the house spinning through the air, along with a variety of other people and objects.

The house eventually lands in Munchkinland in Oz, where Dorothy is celebrated as a hero because her house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East and killed her.  The Witch’s sister, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), arrives to take her sister’s ruby slippers, but Glinda the Good Witch (Billlie Burke) puts the shoes on Dorothy’s feet instead.  This angers the Wicked Witch, and she vows to get revenge on Dorothy (and Toto).  The Munchkins advise Dorothy to talk to the Wizard of Oz about returning to Kansas, so Dorothy sets off down the Yellow Brick Road.

On the way to Oz, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley) and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), each of whom decide to visit the Wizard, too.  The Scarecrow wants to ask the Wizard for a brain; the Tin Man wants a heart, and the Lion wants courage.  Although the Wicked Witch attempts to stop them several times, the group is able to reach the Emerald City.  When they see the Wizard (Frank Morgan), he tells them that each of their wishes will be granted after they bring him the Wicked Witch’s broom.  On their way to the Witch’s castle, Dorothy and Toto are kidnapped by the witch; Toto is able to escape, and leads the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion to the castle.  By disguising themselves as guards, the three are able to break into the castle and rescue Dorothy.  In the process, a bucket of water is thrown on the Wicked Witch, and she melts away.

When the group returns to the Wizard, with the broom, they find that the Wizard is a phony, and has no magical power.  However, he does grant their wishes:  he gives the Scarecrow a diploma, the Tin Man a heart-shaped watch and the Lion a medal.  He also offers Dorothy a ride home in his hot air balloon.  Just as the balloon is leaving, Toto jumps out:  Dorothy follows him, and the balloon leaves without them.  Dorothy fears that she will never get home, but Glinda the Good Witch tells Dorothy that she can return home simply by tapping her ruby slippers together and saying (three times), “There’s no place like home”.  When Dorothy next opens her eyes, she is back home in Kansas.

MY TAKE:  This is one of the all-time great movies.  In any other year, it would have won Best Picture:  unfortunately, it had the bad luck to be released in the same year as Gone with the Wind.  I am still absolutely enchanted by the transition from sepia-toned film (the Kansas portion) to the eye-popping colors of Oz, and the color-changing horse is still one of my favorite parts (as a kid, I was very entertained to learn that this was achieved with Jello powder).  In fact, the majority of the movie is enchanting, from the cute Munchkins to the scary-but-cool flying monkeys.  In addition, the Wicked Witch of the West is one of the greatest film villains of all time – who hasn’t said, “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!”  The songs are just as iconic, and virtually everybody has heard them.  Tons of aspects of this film have become part of pop culture, which for me very concretely makes the case that this is one of the greatest films ever made.

RATING:  Due to its popularity and its TV airing at least once a year, it’s hard to believe that anyone hasn’t seen this movie.  However, if you haven’t seen it, watch it soon.  It’s a giant.