The Wizard of Oz

Though I was always aware of the film as a classic, and I’m sure had seen several clips at random points in my life, I didn’t grow up watching The Wizard of Oz in my home. My mother detested most fantasy films, and had a particular dislike for this one.  It wasn’t until I was cast as Dorothy in my school’s production of The Wizard of Oz, in the eighth grade, that I finally sat down to watch the film in its entirety. Though I had an enjoyable time watching the movie, I knew the story very well, so there were no real surprises when I sat down to  watch it as a whole. I can only imagine what it must have been like to have seen this movie, as many did, as a young child and to have grown up with it, the way I did with so many other classic musicals. Nevertheless, I think that my particular distance from this movie serves me well for current viewings. Now that I have a few film history classes under my belt, and am more than well-versed in the production of this movie, I can appreciate the film in my own way.  Here are some things that stood out to me when viewing the film this time around.

Other than a couple of stellar performances, I find the most impressive element of The Wizard of Oz to be the costuming. Not only is nearly every costume now remembered as an iconic part of film history, but the care and detail put into those costume pieces and makeup really brings the characters to life. The two most impressive works of costuming are the Tin Man (played by Jack Haley) and the Scarecrow (played by Ray Bolger). The hints of rust on the Tin Man’s shiny silver costume and makeup, paired with the darkness of the eye shadow and lipstick, as well as the funnel hat, to me, evoke Pagliacci the Crying Clown (recall the Tin Man’s propensity for tears), and make the character truly sympathetic.  The Scarecrow’s prosthetic makeup blends wonderfully with the rest of his makeup and natural skin, and the varied ways by which the Scarecrow ‘falls apart’ are endlessly clever and entertaining. This masterful work is an example of brilliance in an art form that is quickly dying in Hollywood. You just have to look at Tom Hooper’s upcoming Cats adaptation to realize how desperately the creators of blockbuster films long to take the easy way out when it comes to makeup and prosthetics.

The other standout element in the film was the performances. While the entire cast worked to create timeless and beloved characters, my two favorite performers in this most recent viewing were Frank Morgan and Judy Garland.  I recall Shirley Temple writing of her own work with Frank Morgan, stating that he was an unapologetic scene stealer, constantly waving his hands and fidgeting to bring the audience’s eye to him in any given shot. How overjoyed he must have been to learn that he would be playing five separate roles in The Wizard of Oz (though, on this latest viewing I can’t help but wonder if all of the Emerald City characters he portrays were actually just ‘The Wizard’ himself?). Morgan overflows in charisma in each of the roles he plays, exuding the nervous confidence of a con man just a hairsbreadth away from being found out.

Lastly, I was intrigued with the performance of Judy Garland, whose acting talent I’m not sure I’ve really appreciated until this viewing of the film. Though well into her teens during the filming of The Wizard of Oz, Garland’s behavior, line delivery, and facial expressions capture a childlike innocence that I think even Shirley Temple wouldn’t have been able to match. The subtleties in Garland’s face in “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” best illustrate her capabilities. This film, as a whole, did wonders in showcasing Garland as a dramatic actress, since she is set as the authentic emotional core among the otherwise cartoonish characters in the story. It’s heartbreaking to watch the film, realizing how bullied and broken she would become by MGM, and (even as successful as she was), the potential that was quashed by industry pressures. It is Garland’s performance above all that keeps the film alive in audiences’ hearts to this day.

- Bailey 🧠💓🦁

 It has been a long time since the last time that I watched The Wizard of Oz (1939). I must have been in the eighth grade and watched the film as a point of inspiration while performing in a school play. Our performance recreated the film, and I believe that I played several bit parts, including a munchkin and an apple throwing tree… While listening to my fellow middle-schoolers rehearse and rehearse the iconic songs from the film, over and over, day after day, I became desensitized to the whole experience, merely waiting for the day when the performance could be over and I would no longer hear off-key snippets of “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” swirling around in my head. 

  After that play wrapped, I avoided The Wizard of Oz like the plague. The film had been a childhood favorite, but living, breathing, singing, and performing in the show made me distance myself from the story, music, and film as much as humanly possible. Even when taking film classes in college and grad school, having become many years removed from that middle school performance, I managed to avoid the film, limiting my exposure to it by only viewing the occasional short clip. 

  When I saw that the film would be celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, I knew it was time for a complete revisit. Sitting down and watching the film was like having a conversation with an old friend, and a welcome break from the plethora of unwatchable Disney live-action movies (Dumbo 2019, anyone?) and dull Marvel superhero films (like Captain Marvel, also 2019). Regardless of how much has changed within the filmmaking world, all the CGI elements and uninspiring acting of more recent films has nothing on the wonder and cinematic magic that can be found in classical Hollywood cinema.

 This time, I found myself watching The Wizard of Oz with a very different eye. The history of the film suddenly smacked me in the face, given the fact that in 1939 the United States was just beginning to come out of the Great Depression, following the stock market crash of 1929, which allows the opening sequence to become all the more powerful. The sentiment of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” the sepia toned film, the destructive ‘dust-bowl-esque’ qualities to the tornado scenes, and the utterly magical reveal as Dorothy, portrayed by Judy Garland, emerges from the wreckage of her fallen house to the technicolor wonderment that is Oz, all hold greater meaning when you acknowledge the hardships that viewers in the 1930’s endured throughout the better part of a decade. 

  Setting the history aside, it is easy to be swept up by the charm of the film. The performances of Ray Bolger, aka Scarecrow/Hunk, Jack Haley, aka Tin Man/Hickory, and Bert Lahr, aka the Cowardly Lion/Zeke, are sheer perfection. Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Almira Gulch is just as sinister as I remember her and Billie Burke as Glinda, the Good Witch, was not nearly as saccharine or cutesy. Plus, I had way too much fun identifying Frank Morgan in his many roles, including Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz/the Emerald City Doorman/Coachman/Guard/and (finally) the ‘Oz’ angry projection face. The performances, including the singing and dancing, the mise-en-scène, and heartfelt narrative arc, for me, re-solidified this film as a true cinematic masterpiece. 

  While writing this review, I just happened to have begun watching the most recent season of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix (which is currently releasing new episodes of the series every Friday), and began chortling when the judges and hosts opened the first episode of the seventh season with an ode to The Wizard of Oz, by being decked out in delightful costumes depicting Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. The film’s influence, and enduring legacy, which all started through the imagination and many books by L. Frank Baum, is sure to continue delighting audiences of all ages, for many generations to come.

- Sarah 🌈👠🧹

We hope you enjoyed watching this cinema classic! What are your favorite moments from the film? Any fond ‘Wizard of Oz’ themed memories? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Plus, check back with us next Friday to find out the September Film of the Month pick!

Copyright © 2019 Sarah Crane & Bailey Lizotte