1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Wizard of Oz

#137- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger
Directed by: Victor Fleming


Plot Summary: A tornado takes Dorothy Gale away from her farm house in Kansas and transports her to the magical Land of Oz. In order to get back home, she must go to Emerald City to speak to the wonderful Wizard of Oz and ask him to help her. Along the way she encounters a scarecrow without a brain, a tin man without a heart, and a lion without courage. Dorothy is also being watched by the Wicked Witch of the West, who is after the magical, ruby slippers that Dorothy is in possession of.


When it comes to movies you watched as a kid, The Wizard of Oz should be one that is present on most lists. For whatever reason, this film is usually introduced to moviegoers at a very early age and offers memories that stay with us throughout childhood and into adulthood. It is a very nostalgic movie, not just for the generation that the movie came out, but for every generation after the film's release. Even if you haven't seen the film, or at least haven't seen it in a while, you should be able to be familiar with it. The Wizard of Oz is often recognized as one of the greatest films of all time, and after re-watching it, it is easy to see why.

The main character of The Wizard of Oz is Dorothy Gale, played by Judy Garland. One thing to note about Garland's performance is that she was older than the original character of Dorothy was written. Because of this, the modern audience could possibly see her performance as overacting or even annoying for her age. But I went into it with the idea that she is supposed to be younger and I didn't mind her performance. Her biggest moment in the film is her singing of "Over the Rainbow," which is regarded as one of the greatest songs in film history. With Garland's wonderful singing voice to accompany the memorable melody and lyrics of the song, the song and character was forever cemented as one of film's finest moments.

Dorothy's companions on her journey are some of the most memorable and lovable characters in film. Dorothy first meets the Scarecrow, played by Ray Bolger. He is trying to acquire a brain because his head is full of nothing but straw. I'm thankful that he wasn't played up as too empty headed, or else he would be less charming and more annoying. Next, they meet the Tin Man, played by Jack Haley. The Tin Man is looking for a heart so he can feel emotions, which he feels will make him feel more cultured. Haley gives the Tin Man his charm through his stiff body language and dancing ability. Finally, we have the Cowardly Lion, played by Bert Lahr, who is my favorite character in the film. In a bit of character irony, he is a proud, majestic lion, labeled the "king of the forest," who is afraid of everything and in need of some courage. The Cowardly Lion gets a lot of the film's best lines and Lahr's comedic timing is impeccable, making him one of the film's true highlights.

Since The Wizard of Oz is a film that we are shown at an early age, The Wicked Witch of the West, played by Margaret Hamilton, is one of the first villains we are ever introduced to. The Wicked Witch is usually the first image people would think about when saying the word "witch." The green skin and pointy black hat is the most common aesthetic that people would associate with a witch. She also has one of the most memorable theme songs in villain history, making her every move feel threatening. What's even more frightening about the Wicked Witch is her motive. She isn't after Dorothy because she dropped a house on the Wicked Witch's sister (a likely motive for any villain), she's after Dorothy simply because she has a pair of shoes that the Witch wants. The Wicked Witch is a villain you love to hate because she is a character that is like the rest of The Wizard of Oz, iconic.

One aspect I often forget about The Wizard of Oz is that it has elements of a musical. I'd label it more as a fantasy adventure film, but it does have memorable music. Besides "Over the Rainbow," The Wizard of Oz has other memorable songs for the characters. The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion all get musical numbers for their introductions. One of the best and worst features about the music is in the lyrics, particularly when Dorothy gets to Oz. The lyrics are written very witty but are performed at a pace that makes it a little difficult to keep up with and fully understand, at least for me. But, the confusing lyrics played a big part in symbolizing the confusing world that Dorothy is in, making it just as foreign to us as it is for her.

The aspect of the film that I am able to appreciate more than I did as a child is the visuals. The integration of color is wonderful. When the film takes place in Kansas, the picture is in black and white, then transitions to Technicolor once Dorothy is in Oz. The make-up and costume department also deserve a great amount of credit for giving every character the proper look. From the farmhands in Kansas, to the Munchkins in Oz, every costume is done to perfection. When looking at the visual scope of the film, it's amazing to see that every set piece, costume and special effect was on a budget of $ 2.7 million. A modern movie usually has a budget of $ 200 million and incorporates just as much as The Wizard of Oz was able to do nearly 75 years prior, proving that the visuals for this movie were ahead of its time.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

The Wizard of Oz is a film that has stood the test of time for almost 75 years as one of film's greatest achievements because of its iconic characters and groundbreaking visuals. Definitely recommend seeing it, if you haven't already, and owning it in your collection.
 
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The Wizard of Oz and movie images are copyrighted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer