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THERE'S NO PLACE... OZ
Date of Review: May 2, 2004
The Bottom Line: A classic for anytime but for its time, special effects were fantastic.
I grew up watching the Wizard of Oz with our beloved Dorothy (Judy Garland) and all her zany friends. It was a picture filled with action, innocence and fun! Fun for the whole family!
The story begins with Dorothy running home from school trying desperately to get the attention of her aunt and uncle while trying to explain that their neighbor, Mrs. Gulch was on her way to complain about Dorothy's dog, Toto.
I'm sure we can all relate to Dorothy's plight of trying to get someone to listen. As teens, we thought our every day life was a hair's width short of a major crisis. So too with Dorothy, until she decided to run away from home. That's when her real crisis began.
Feeling like no one understands her, she packs her few belongings and taking her little dog, in tearful determination, she walks away from the only home she's ever known.
Along the way, she meets a stranger, Professor Marvel, a traveling clairvoyant, played excellently by Frank Morgan. He convinces her to return home and try and be more patient with her aunt and uncle who have problems of their own trying to keep the farm in business.
Dorothy is almost home when a tornado strikes. A window blows out and strikes her head just as she reaches what she feels in the safety of her bedroom. The house is tossed and while "inside" the twister, she sees many strange sights, including her neighbor, Mrs. Gulch, who is the cause of many of Dorothy's woes.
Finally, the house lands with a thud – smack in the middle of Munchkin Land. And this is where the adventure begins.
In this wonderful land of strange people and events, Dorothy meets the Munchkins who are ever so grateful for "dropping her house" on the Wicked Witch of the East that had for so long terrorized them. They were finally free, but Dorothy's problems were only beginning. In order to get back home where she was truly safe, Dorothy was told by Glenda, the Good Witch (played by Billie Burke) that she would have to travel to Oz to see the Wizard.
It was during this journey, that Dorothy met The Scarecrow (excellently portrayed by Ray Bolger), The Tin Man (flawlessly done by Jack Haley), The Cowardly Lion (perfected by Bert Lahr), The Wicked Witch of the West who was the twin sister of the Wicked Witch of the East (and expertly played by Margaret Hamilton) and finally, the Wizard (convincingly done by Frank Morgan).
(Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr also played the roles of the farm hands, Margaret Hamilton is also Mrs. Gulch and Frank Morgan is also cast as Mr. Marvel.)
Dorothy's journey takes her from Munchkin Land, through the enchanted forest to Oz. There, Dorothy feels her wish, like those of her new-found companions, will be granted. The Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tin Man wants a heart and the Lion wants some courage, but most of all, Dorothy just wants to go home.
Will the Wizard grant their requests? CAN the Wizard grant their requests?
This is truly a picture of brains (being able to decide what's important), compassion (understanding your fellow-man and wanting to help in any crisis), courage (being able and willing to face your foes) and the appreciation of home and family (no matter where you are, there is 'no place like home'.)
The Wizard of Oz began as a bedtime story. Each night, L. Frank Baum would tell his children another episode in the adventures of Dorothy. His wife suggested he write down every chapter. Eventually, it was published and brought fortune and fame to its author. It also became one of the biggest box office draws for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It is now one of the leading video rentals (and/or purchases) in history.
L. Frank Baum, in his wonderful imagination, draws us into his world of good vs. evil.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer delights us with a musical production unlike any other.
Judy Garland, as Dorothy, makes us understand and realize that there is truly,
"no place like home."
