The Wizard Of Oz

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

The Movie

Plot

A 16 year old girl and her dog, Toto, get caught in a tornado and are transported to the Land of Oz—a place with magical creatures.

Starring

Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin, Pat Walshe, Clara Blandick, and more.

Review

What can one say that would even come close to giving proper homage to the show, The Wizard Of Oz? What can be said that hasn’t been said a hundred, a thousand, or a million times over the past 70 years? To this day, it still amazes me that the original story was written by L. Frank Baum some 109 year ago, or that it remains so fresh and alive today as the day it was written. To this day, it still amazes me how the film transcends both time and technology and remains forever, a masterpiece!

In 1939, the technology to create such masterpieces as this was very limited. Most of the effects were tedious, time consuming, and very costly. The film itself cost nearly 3 million dollars causing MGM to barely break even on its first release. During it’s re-release in 1947, however, it finally received a nice profit. But the real profits and icon status didn’t begin until 1956 when MGM began airing the film on television as an annual event. (That’s actually how I got hooked on the show myself. Each year, I looked forward to the televised version of the book, and each year I found myself mesmerized by the story, the characters, the magic.)

Like many book to film versions, the screenwriters have taken liberty to alter the book’s original plot—to make Oz a place only found in dreams, thus creating a more magical, universal appeal. Some of the characters and scenes were also altered to move the plot along and keep the public entertained. And some scenes were omitted for no other reason than budget.

The story opens in black and white (or sepia in the new version) to reflect the dreary, slow-paced lifestyle of Kansas. Dorothy is contemplating the meaning of life and sharing her desire to have her life mean more than just working the farm and doing the same mundane tasks day after day. She thinks about leaving the farm and starting an adventure of her own, but quickly puts the thought right out of her mind…that is, until a mean neighbor threatens to put her dog, Toto, to sleep.

Fearing for her beloved dog’s life, Dorothy decides it’s high time to run away from home and start her new adventure. But no sooner does she leave the protection of her family and friends does a tornado hit, transporting Dorothy, along with Toto (and the audience), to a Technicolored world complete with Munchkins, wicked witches, flying monkeys, talking scarecrows, cowardly lions, and walking tin men.

Yet, as much as Dorothy loves the beauty of the landscape, the wonder of Oz, and the fun-loving nature of its citizens, she soon realizes that there truly is no place like home where she can share her life with those that matter most to her and so begins her journey…

In the 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition, you get so much that you can literally spend a week going over all the material. But the UltraResolution restoration of the original film is still—and always will be—the best part of this package! Next up would have to be the documentary, hosted by Angela Lansbury, followed by Campaign Book, then the watch, and finally, the Behind The Curtains Book.

In the 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition, you get:

A limited edition package. (For instance, mine is labeled 160,238 out of 243,000).
The Complete Campaign Book. This showcases the original 1939 materials designed to draw attention to the film. This is so much fun to look through. You get to view original advertisements, contest gimmicks, press releases, comic strips, press clippings, and coloring pages.
Behind The Curtains Book. This is a 52 page book with colored photos of the cast, studio memos, script pages, and behind-the-scenes footage.
Exclusive Wizard Of Oz Watch. The watch is breathtaking and comes in a grey tin holder with the image of Oz. There’s a green leather band that resembles an alligator or snake skin pattern. Four genuine crystals replace the numbers: 12, 9, 6, and 3. The background image is of the four main characters: Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. (There’s a fifth person but I cannot make out who it is.) The words written on the watch are: The Wizard of Oz, 70th Anniversary.
A digital disc version of the film.
A four-disc package complete with hours upon hours of bonus features.

Disc one includes a totally re-mastered version of The Wizard of Oz which, in my opinion, is like watching the film for the very first time. The film is crisp and clear and full of details you never noticed before—and it is more magical than ever. It also includes a sing-a-long track (which my daughter could not get enough of), a featurette on how the 2005 restoration process was done, a commentary with vintage cast interviews, a reading by Angela Lansbury, and a supporting cast profile gallery.

Disc two includes a documentary on the making of a classic (which is hosted by Lansbury), a tribute to Oz, the legacy of Oz, outtakes and deleted scenes, home movies from composer Harold Arlen, tornado tests, an audio vault, and the theatrical trailer.

Disc three includes a tribute to the actors who played the Munchkins; documentary shorts on Victor Fleming, the director, and L. Frank Baum, the author; a movie on the life of Baum; and cartoon skit and a black and white silent film version of The Wizard of Oz.

Disc four includes four black and white silent film versions of The Wizard of Oz.

Watching the revitalized version, you’ll fall in love with the characters all over again. And just like the cowardly lion (who received courage), the tin man (who received a heart), and the scarecrow (who received a brain), you just might learn a thing or two about believing in yourself—about realizing that everything you need is right there inside you, just waiting to come out and be set free. Or, like Dorothy, you may realize that there truly is “no place like home” and home is where your family is.

If you have never seen The Wizard of Oz, or watched it ages ago, I encourage you to pick up a copy today! You will be amazed at how much the restoration of this version has revitalized the film.

Order The Wizard Of Oz Today!