Wizard of Oz

“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore,” claims Dorothy Gale as she explores her new world of lively color in the Land of Oz. The film The Wizard of Oz, adapted from L. Frank Baum’s children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, released in movie theaters in 1939 and nominated for an Oscar Award for Best Cinematography and Color (The Internet Movie Database).The famous musical tells a story of a young girl Dorothy who gets lost in the Land of Oz and travels long and far to the Emerald City. At the Emerald City, she finds the Wizard of Oz, who she hopes will help her get back home to Kansas. On her journey she befriends the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion; at the same time, she must also avoid the Wicked Witch of the West who tries to take Dorothy’s enchanted ruby slippers. The Wizard of Oz has a unique characteristic in that it was one of the first films to include Technicolor (The Internet Movie Database). Transitioning into colored films became an important event in film history. The movie industry now had the technology capable of filming in sound and color, which dynamically influences a movie.The Wizard of Oz contains many colorful items that play key roles in the film: the yellow brick road, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, and the Emerald City. One might find it intriguing to learn that since the idea of Technicolor has been applied, certain colors symbolize important ideas. Although many viewers enjoy watching The Wizard of Oz and may think nothing more of it but as a mere fairy tale classic, the use of Technicolor conveyed many aspects about American history in the early 1900s including racial issues, economic issues, and political issues.Colors were used as a technique to represent social classes or certain races. Once Dorothy steps out of her house after the twister, she stares in awe at the vibrant colors of Munchkinland. These colors help the audience to determine the protagonist and antagonists. For instance, the Wicked Witch of the West and her Winkies, the guardians of the castle, have green skin, unlike those who appear to be human like Dorothy. The differences in color tie to the “public discourse on race in 1900” (Ritter 173). These references to racial disputes reflected the times in the early 1900s, or post Civil War. While recovering from the Civil War, many former African American slaves struggled to continue living their lives now that Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation has been established.They had the opportunity to find jobs, but still had difficulty merging with the white community. Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900 and incorporated racial (social) issues at that certain point in time in order to point out that there existed a segregated culture. Historians refer to the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century as the Gilded Age, an era which featured concerns about social change (190).The movie depicts the differences among the groups of characters and displays how they do not cooperate well together. Another example of utilizing color to express a change in social class is coloring the Emerald City. As Dorothy and her friends trot along the yellow brick road, the film captures the Emerald City’s elegant, resplendent towers from afar; the city itself has magnificent structures radiant in green splendor. Baum associates the people of the Emerald City as well as the Wizard of Oz with the color “wealthy green . . . [as] . . . selfish, stingy, and false,” (184) which in the end, the Wizard proves to be when he does not keep his promise to help Dorothy and her newfound friends. The reference to green does not indicate that a certain race is selfish; rather, it exemplifies the idea that at this time in history, serious turmoil existed between different cultures and races. Overall, color orientation enables the audience to understand relationships among the characters.The film also uses Technicolor to recognize the economic crisis occurring during the late nineteenth century, referred to as the Gilded Age and during America’s Great Depression. In the beginning and end of the motion picture, Dorothy is back home in Kansas, where the setting is set in a bronze, sepia color, unlike the Land of Oz, containing all the colors of the rainbow. The overall look of Kansas is “bleak. . . [including] . . . the house, people, and prairie . . .[which] . . . are all ‘dull and gray’” (177). The dramatic contrast in colors between Kansas and the Land of Oz shows how dismal and depressed the residents of Kansas felt while suffering from the poor economy; this represents the dismay many farmers experienced in the United States during the early 1900s. In the film, Dorothy comes from Kansas, where there reside clusters of independent farmers. Baum published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, the “cusp between the decline of Populism and producerism and the rise of consumerism and corporate liberalism” (198). At this time, many farmers created labor movements due to devastating droughts (198). In 1939, “Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer brought the Oz tale to screen in vivid color . . . [while] . . . the nation was recuperating from the depression and preparing itself for the challenge of World War II” (199). Color made an impact on the audience in that it inspired them to regain hope that “[America] would emerge, as Dorothy did, stronger for the difficulties they faced and overcame” (199). In the movie, transitioning from black and white to bright colors allows the audience to relate to Dorothy.The black and white setting represents America during the Great Depression. When Dorothy, representing the common people, is in the Land of Oz, she overcomes her obstacles, which represents America overcoming World War II. The use of color gives off a sense of optimism for the audience about the troubles that lay ahead.Many noticeable items in the movie play a key role in Dorothy’s journey, but also correspond to important political ideas. In fact, “The economic and political tumult of the 1880s and 1890s was reflected in competing cultural understandings of American society” (198). Glinda, the Witch of the North, explains to Dorothy that the Wizard of Oz can help her find her way home to Kansas. In order to reach the Wizard of Oz, she must follow the yellow brick road that leads her to the Emerald City, found in the center of the Land of Oz. The yellow brick road symbolizes the gold standard, the current form of currency (Rockoff 746). Many financial reformers “criticized the gold standard and the National Banking System [. . .] for favoring industrial over agricultural development” (191).Many have analyzed both the movie and book and have interpreted it as a monetary allegory about Populists (Hansen 254). Dorothy represents the Populist Party, while the yellow brick road that leads to the Emerald City signifies Washington, D.C., “controlled by the ‘Money Power’ and gold traders” (Ritter 194). Even though the yellow brick road shows Dorothy the way to the Wizard, she still does not find her solution of returning home when she arrives. Very much like a moment in history, this event correlates to the decline of the Populists who cried out to government in dire need for help with crops and farmland. For example, a group of “unemployed men, suffering under the economic depression of the 1890s, [. . .] marched from Ohio to Washington to demand work and relief, but [. . .] were dispersed rather than rewarded” (183). Dorothy’s journey and this small group of men are alike in that both parties sought for help, but never initially received any. In the Emerald City, the significance of the color green relates to greenbacks, or paper money, which many people of the United States referred to as “a form of false value” (184). This color coding can also relate back to the Wizard.The Wizard of Oz provides important historical references that took place in the United States of America. The movie allows us to escape from reality and discover somewhere over the rainbow a fantasy dreamland where adventure and excitement await us. The magic of The Wizard of Oz has an indelible memory to all ages, throughout the ages. As one of the most notable films in pop culture, the motion picture has obtained many outstanding awards thanks to an unforgettable cast and crew. Not only does the film remain a Hollywood classic, but it serves as historical documentation. As technology has progressed throughout time, the film has used the latest advances of Technicolor to produce a meaningful piece of artwork embedded with racial, economic, and political references. No matter what type of audience views the movie, each individual can relate to the idea that despite ongoing conflicts, “there’s no place like home.”OF Course I stole this whole discourse... So

Perfect. My daughter is doing the stage show and had never seen the movie. Instant hit in our house!

Absolutely love it. Brings back good memories

Fast delivery with item arriving in perfect condition. Excellent quality CD.

Good packaging. A old classic.

I love this movie!

A classic. What else is there to say?

With MGM's"The Wizard Of Oz" now so firmly established as a "cherished classic" and an essential aspect of the American pop-culture fabric, it is easy-- perhaps too easy-- to forget what a great film it is, and just how cinematically groundbreaking it was in 1939. The behind the scenes trials and tribulations of "Oz" are well known by now. "Oz" was an arduous shoot, enduring ten screenwriters (final credit went to Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf) and four directors. Richard Thorpe was fired. George Cukor, busy with pre-production on "Gone With The Wind", wasn't interested, but he did offer important production suggestions and advice. Victor Fleming directed most of "Oz" until Clark Gable threw a hissy-fit and demanded that Fleming replace Cukor on "GWTW." So King Vidor finished the final scenes of "Oz". Fleming, meanwhile, directed "GWTW" by day and supervised editing of "Oz" at night.With a recent gift of a new HD TV and Blu-Ray player, I couldn't wait to see how this Hollywood gem would look and sound on Blu-Ray.L. Frank Baum spends about two and a half pages of his original book "The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz" describing what a flat, dull, grey, lifeless environment Kansas is. Then, the cyclone blows Dorothy and Toto off to Oz. The screenplay spends the first 20 minutes in Kansas, and it's a much more horrible environment than Baum described. In effect, the screenplay gives Judy Garland's Dorothy every good reason to escape Kansas; and I don't think a very good reason to return to it. This Kansas environment is beyond oppressive. It is toxic.Dorothy must content with adults who don't have any time for her; for her feelings or concerns. More than overworked, Auntie Em (Clara Blandick) seems downright mean. Mean doesn't even begin to describe Miss Gulch (Margaret Hamilton), who is on her way to take beloved dog Toto away and have him "destroyed." When Judy Garland sings "Over The Rainbow", it is not merely Dorothy's poignant wish expressed against the backdrop of a dull barnyard. It is a cry from the soul, not just Dorothy's soul, but a universal cry from the soul; from anyone who ever wished for a better life; for a way OUT of a hell on earth environment. Judy Garland is right on the emotional mark; the lyric line "where troubles melt like lemon drops" perhaps foreshadowing Dorothy's battle with The Wicked Witch Of The West in Oz. After Toto escapes Miss Gulch's bicycle basket, Dorothy grabs her beloved dog baby and, understandably runs away; meeting Professor Marvel (Frank Morgan) alongside a dusty roadway. Marvel knows what's up when he says to Dorothy, "They don't understand you at home, they don't appreciate you. You want to see other lands, big cities, big mountains, big oceans." Dorothy, clearly relieved, replies, "Why, it's just like you could read what was inside of me." The Cyclone finally blows Dorothy and Toto out of Kansas hell, the real adventure begins, and the movie explodes into beautiful Technicolor and Blu-Ray brilliance.On Blu-Ray, everything in Oz, from Dorothy's simple blue gingham dress to the famous Ruby Slippers. is dazzling. Judy Garland looks beautiful, perhaps because, in Oz, Dorothy is finally entering into her full glory. If Kansas is hell, then Oz is definitely heaven (well, except for the Wicked Witch, of course). Glorious is the only word to describe Harold Rossen's Technicolor photography, Edwin B. Willis' set decorations, and Adrian's costumes, seen and appreciated on Blu-Ray in maximum splendor, perhaps for the first time since 1939. The scenes in the Scarecrow's cornfield and Poppy Field are particularly vivid and eye popping on Blu-Ray.The movie, of course, is not about Classic Movie magic; or technical artistry and special effects. The fantasy would not matter without the excellent story and cast. The impeccable cast makes everything work. As the original "Boys From Oz", Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Bert Lahr delight as the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. Lahr is especially outstanding. Judy Garland is the emotional center, the heart and soul of the movie. Bert Lahr provides the brightest, pure comedy moments. And Margaret Hamilton takes the movie to amazing psychological levels. If Miss Gulch was a nasty, annoying battle-axe on a bike, then her Oz incarnation, the Wicked Witch of The West, IS THE Wicked Witch who has haunted countless nightmares for 75 years now. More than frightening and beyond vengeful, Hamilton's Witch is the stuff of pure evil. To her credit, Hamilton, a sweet woman and talented character actress who loved both children and dogs dearly, plays her roles perfectly. Hamilton is a wicked and wild hoot.If the movie has a flaw, it is the sentimental insistence that "there's no place like home"; saying that "home" is the best place for Dorothy and, by extension, everybody in the audience. The "Oz is all a dream" ending is the most serious violation; attempting (unsuccessfully, Thank God) to invalidate and negate the entire "self-discovery to eventual self-actualization" experience of Oz for Dorothy and the audience. Once again, Judy Garland saves everything. Her intense conviction on the line, "No, Aunt Em, this was a real, truly live place" carries more weight than "there's no place like home." The MGM ending is a lie. Judy Garland, as always, knows and reveals the the real, emotional and honest truth.Most of the Special Features from previous DVD editions of "Oz" are on the Blu-Ray. But hang on to your Oz DVDs, especially if you have the big green Oz 3 DVD Collection Box that was issued several years ago. On the Blu-Ray, a new making of documentary completely replaces the 1990 "50 Years Of Magic" documentary hosted by Angela Lansbury. I can understand wanting a new documentary for the 75th Anniversary. It's all fascinating stuff, and Martin Sheen's narration is especially enthusiastic, but I miss the 50th Anniversary documentary with Lansbury."Memories Of Oz", "The Wonderful Things It Does" and the DVD entirely devoted to L. Frank Baum, are also NOT INCLUDED on this particular Blu-Ray release; resulting in my rating of 4 Stars instead of a full 5.Fortunately, "Oz" can be enjoyed on multiple levels. Never warming up to "there's no place like home", I received an alternative message from "Oz." I learned that leaving home and having adventures was good and necessary for personal growth and self-actualization. And if you have adventures with good friends and a beloved dog, life was a perfect Technicolor rainbow experience after all.