Wizard of Oz

~~~~~~~~~~ This Review is of the film only ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Cast includes :- Judy Garland , Ray Bolger , Jack Haley , Bert Lahr , Jack Hamilton and Frank Morgan .
The Director :- Victor Fleming
Certificate U
The Running Time :- 103 minutes .

In adulthood this became one of my favourite films, quite a few years ago I think I watched it so much, that I became overdosed on it, but for any new viewers, it is a brilliant, and timeless, piece of fun and fantasy.

When I was about 4/5 years old my Mum took my Brother and I to see it at our local cinema. Being a scaredie cat I only made it to the tin-man's first appearance before I had to be taken home, in tears. Children today are of much hardier stuff, although I still think there are a fair few parts which may worry really young ones. I shall mention these later on. Anyway, I never saw it again till I was at least in my twenties, for some reason.

At this time I would re-watch it constantly as I loved the music, the sentiment and the whole thing . For such an early film it is really well done. It does have a theatrical feel, almost pantomime, which is very appropriate.

So on to the film .

It was based on the story written in 1900 by Frank Baum. There were other film versions of the Wizard of Oz, but this 1939 film is the most well-known and loved. When it was first released it won three Academy awards.

The female lead of Dorothy was played, very successfully, by Judy Garland, who at sixteen was a little old for the role. I read years ago that her adult figure needed a bit of binding to hide her breasts, and she was made up to try and look younger. She certainly made a very pretty Dorothy and in her youth had the voice of an angel.

The film starts in grainey black and white. Dorothy after a complaint about Toto, her little dog , decides to run away from home, with him. After meeting a stranger she heads back home, only to get caught up in a storm . When she wakes from an injury, apparently, she is in another world completely. Here the film also turns to vivid colour .

I understand the film on release at the moment has been digitally remastered so the black and white and the colour will probably be much better. However the old film seemed very atmospheric and authentic with the old colouring, even though it was a bit faded in parts.

The film slips back into black and white eventually as Dorothy returns home. I don't think I have said anything to spoil the plot and film, and there can't be many adults who have not come across the story, even if only at pantomime .

This film is full of great characters :-

The Tin Man, the Straw Man and the Lion who all accompany Dorothy on her journey. These are the main stars of the film along with Toto the dog. Much of the comedy comes from this trio.

The tiny occupants of Oz - the Munchkins , little people with quirky voices .

The horse of another colour , a clever twist from the saying .

Glinda the good witch .

The Ruler of Oz and the travelling showman(same actor) and the Emerald City.


On the scary and nasty side we have :-

The wicked witch of the west(or is it east?)and the schoolteacher, Miss Gulch, both played by the same actress. There are a few different characters that are played by the same actor, like this. One character in Kansas and the other in Oz.

The flying monkeys and the guards at the wicked witches castle. These were really well done in their day and still stand up very well. Truly the stuff of children's nightmares.

The Straw-man getting set on fire, more than once, almost.

These are by no means all. There are even some good special effects, such as at the beginning with the storm. Exceptional for their day .

The setting of Kansas, Dorothy's home , and the extreme difference in the land of Oz , is good, but is made so much better by the colour changes. The scenery, such as when Dorothy leaves the woods and sees the Emerald city in the distance are magical.

This film is full of great songs, such as Somewhere over the Rainbow, We're of to see the Wizard and Follow the Yellow Brick Road. You will find yourself singing along to so many songs which you have heard before

The plot though simple seems to have a child's vivid imagination thrown in for good measure. The stuff of dreams or nightmares. The journey which the film, and the characters, follow is one of searching for what they need, and finding that they had the necessary all along . And of course the discovery that there really is No Place Like Home .

Go on just click your heels together and you're there .


Thanks for reading

Copyright Eiley