Its Good to See You Again Oz
From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special effects and makeup tricks that brought some of the world'south favorite film characters to life, The Wizard of Oz (1939) had so much going on behind the emerald curtain and the Technicolor gloss of an amazing fantasy world.
In honour of the 80th anniversary of the film, follow the xanthous brick slideshow to peek behind that curtain and learn more about the secrets and fun facts that brand the beloved film a timeless archetype.
Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Before the Picture
As a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of L. Frank Baum'southward Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to be considered for a office in the 1939 film adaptation. Hamilton chosen her agent to ask which graphic symbol the producers wanted her to play, and her amanuensis famously said, "The witch — who else?"
Hamilton, a single mother, fought MGM for an agreed upon amount of guaranteed piece of work time. 3 days earlier filming began, the studio agreed to a five-week deal. In the stop, Hamilton was on fix for three months, but many of her scenes were cut for being too scary for audiences.
Dorothy's Original Look Was More Movie Star Than Farm Girl
Certain, Dorothy Gale doesn't need prosthetics or aluminum makeup, merely that doesn't mean Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was young at the time, the 16-year-old Garland had to wear a corset-like device so she looked more than like a preadolescent child.
Director Richard Thorpe suggested Garland wear a blonde wig and loads of "baby-doll" makeup (as whatsoever preadolescent girl would…). Luckily, that vision of the graphic symbol changed. Afterward MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate manager George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to be herself. Smart movement.
The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Nifty Movie Magic
The Sorcerer of Oz employs a lot of great film tricks, and some of the most unique were used in the skywriting scene. In it, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies higher up the Emerald Urban center, leaving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" in her wake in blackness smoke.
Using a hypodermic needle, the special effects team spread blackness ink beyond the lesser of a glass tank that was filled with a thick, tinted liquid (some speculate milk). They wrote the phrase in reverse and filmed the scene from below. Initially, the skywriting concluded with the ominous "Or Dice — W W Due west."
The "Snowfall" in the Poppy Field Was Actually Dangerous
Ane of the Wicked Witch's last-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy's quest to see the Wonderful Sorcerer of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical slumber-inducing snowfall. While many like to joke that the poppies and their drowsiness are the result of opium (a component of poppies), the scene has a much more than blatant toxic connection than that.
All that magical snow? Information technology's actually 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. Even though the health risks associated with the material were known at the time, it was all the same Hollywood's preferred choice for faux snow. Our communication to Dorothy? Don't catch whatever snowflakes on your tongue.
Scarecrow'due south Makeup Stuck Effectually for Awhile
In the end, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful in more ways than 1 for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Human's) willingness to merchandise parts with him. The Tin Human being's aluminum makeup caused a huge amount of issues for Ebsen, who was replaced past Jack Haley.
Although Bolger's makeup experience was better than Ebsen's, he still had some bug. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a safety prosthetic, complete with a woven pattern that mimicked the expect of burlap. After the picture show wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger's face that took more than than a year to fade.
Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Gear up
In a burst of flames and red fume, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, it may take instilled more fright for Hamilton. On the first take, the smoke rose from a hidden trapdoor as well early.
For the second take, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, but her cape snagged on the platform when the fire flared upwardly. Her copper-containing makeup heated up instantly, causing 2d- and tertiary-degree burns on her easily and face. To make matters worse, the crew tried to remedy her burns with (an fifty-fifty more painful) acetone solvent.
The Flying Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys
The Wicked Witch'due south legion of flight monkeys — or Winged Monkeys every bit they're chosen in the source textile — have certainly been a source of terror for generations. Almost as scary as the Witch herself, these henchmen soar onto the scene to kidnap Dorothy and Toto — thank you to the magic of piano wires.
However, the aerial stunt went amiss when several of the pianoforte wires snapped, sending actors plummeting a few feet to the soundstage floor. To create such a vast troupe of monkeys (and cut down on human marionettes), filmmakers fabricated miniature rubber monkeys to help populate the heaven.
"Over the Rainbow" Was Most on the Cutting Room Flooring
To no one's surprise, the American Flick Institute ranked "Over the Rainbow" #1 on a list of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. But what may surprise you? The (arguably) most iconic song of Judy Garland'southward career was about cut from the film.
Studio execs at MGM idea the song made the Kansas scenes too long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't empathise the song's pregnant. Luckily, this unfounded business organization melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland's tearful reprise of the song was left on the cutting room flooring.
The Tin can Human being Costume Didn't Allow Jack Haley to Residue Easy
Although Bert Lahr had to schlep around in a 90-pound lion costume, Jack Haley didn't have it like shooting fish in a barrel either. From the lingering concerns most the aluminum paste-based makeup on his face up and hands to the minimal flexibility of the "tin" torso and arms, Haley faced some challenges.
Reportedly, his costume was so stiff that he had to lean confronting a board to rest properly. Many years later, actor Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the same upshot with his rigid costume. It seems fifty-fifty fantasy and sci-fi can't help folks escape all their problems.
The Original Tin Man Was Rushed to the Hospital
Initially, Buddy Ebsen was bandage as the Scarecrow, just traded parts with Ray Bolger. Withal, Ebsen's new character, the Tin can Human, acquired him a globe of bug. Namely, the grapheme's silver makeup contained a harmful aluminum grit that coated Ebsen's lungs.
To make matters worse, Ebsen had an allergic reaction, and, unable to breathe, he was rushed to the hospital. MGM recast the role with Jack Haley (and changed upwardly the makeup), but didn't explain why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't announced in the concluding film, his vocals can be heard in "We're Off to Come across the Sorcerer."
A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave Us the Tornado
The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is total of practical special furnishings that really concord upward. The funnel itself was actually a 35-human foot long stocking made of muslin. The special effects squad spun it around miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Against the painted backdrop, the tornado looks menacing.
The Gale business firm, which falls from the sky and into Oz, is but a miniature firm that was dropped onto a heaven painting. Filmmakers then reversed the footage to make it look like the firm was falling out of the clouds.
Hollywood Didn't Pay Up So Either
Pay inequality has always been an outcome in Hollywood. For example, Adriana Caselotti, vocalization of the titular graphic symbol in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), fabricated $970 for her performance. The film went on to make roughly $8 million.
Co-ordinate to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland's pay was better than Caselotti'south — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a calendar week — simply information technology still didn't reverberate the pic's success. Fifty-fifty more discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $50 per week. (Meanwhile, Terry the dog earned $125 per week as Toto. A real yikes.)
Bert Lahr'southward Lion Costume Was Taxing
Originally, MGM thought it might cast its mascot — the bodily lion used in the studio's title card — as the cowardly graphic symbol. Fortunately, for the safety of the actors and the creature, the filmmakers decided to cast player Bert Lahr every bit the anthropomorphic character instead.
To make a convincing creature, the costume department fashioned Lahr a ninety-pound outfit fabricated from real king of beasts skin. Notwithstanding, the arc lights used on set made things a steamy 100 degrees during filming, which meant Lahr did a lot of sweating unrelated to his character'due south nerves. Each night, ii stagehands dried the costume for the next mean solar day.
The Initial Box Office Returns Were Uneven
The movie started shooting in Oct of 1938 just didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking upward an unheard of $ii,777,000 in costs. That's nearly $50 million adjusted for inflation. Upon its initial release, the movie only earned $3 one thousand thousand at the box office — almost $51.8 one thousand thousand by today'southward standards.
Although that seems impressive for a Depression-era pic, remember that Disney made $8 1000000 with Snowfall White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The Magician of Oz's modest success in the U.S. barely covered production and picture show rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — but success overseas fortunately bolstered the film's returns.
The Dark Side of Oz in a Time Before "Me Likewise"
Judy Garland was simply xvi years erstwhile when she was cast as Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became fond to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were oft given to young actors to help them sleep after studios shot them up with adrenaline so they could work long hours.
The spotlight — and her damaging contract with MGM — didn't aid, leading to her lifelong struggles with an eating disorder and alcoholism. According to a writer for Express, "[Garland] was molested by older men, including studio chiefs [and caput Louis B. Mayer], who considered her trivial more than their 'property.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy diet of cigarettes, coffee and chicken soup.
The Vocalism of Snow White Had a Cameo
A few years before The Wizard of Oz debuted, Walt Disney's feature-length animated moving picture Snow White and the Vii Dwarfs (1937) became a smash-striking. Non only did the film revolutionize the animation manufacture, it also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.
Disney wanted to follow up Snow White — then the near successful film of all time — with an accommodation of The Wizard of Oz, but MGM owned the rights. By happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snowfall White, had an uncredited part in Oz. During the Tin Man's "If I Only Had a Middle," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore fine art m Romeo?"
The Reddish Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts
Keeping in line with the book, Dorothy'south iconic footwear was originally silver, but screenwriter Noel Langley felt the scarlet color would really pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed by MGM'southward chief costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in near 2,300 sequins.
One of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Establishment'south National Museum of American History. Since the display is so heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the carpet there several times. Another pair were stolen from Minnesota's Judy Garland Museum in 2005, but the FBI recovered the slippers for the establishment in 2018.
Only One Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"
The Wizard of Oz is your archetype gamble story, and Dorothy'south quest leads her from a Kansas farm to another world — complete with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. However, despite all these scenic locations, nearly all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.
As was customary at the time, immense, detailed backdrops were painted by studio artists, making information technology possible for filmmakers to send audiences to far away places without filming on location. In fact, the merely location footage in the flick is the opening championship sequence — those clouds are 100% the real deal.
A 2d Toto Was Brought In
Toto, played primarily by Terry, is one of the most beloved dogs in film history. Terry was famously not a huge fan of special effects and tin can often exist seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Tin Man spouts out all of that steam.
After one of the Witch's guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for ii weeks. Filmmakers went through two doubles to detect one that resembled the original canine actor more than closely.
Fun fact: Judy Garland was so fond of Terry that she wanted to adopt the dog.
Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch
In addition to beingness a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton besides believed her graphic symbol was more than just your run-of-the-mill evil villain. More than 35 years after the film debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to show kids it was make-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her about the grapheme.
Co-ordinate to Hamilton, the so-chosen Wicked Witch relished everything she did, only she was also a sad, lonely figure. In brusque, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly plenty, the Broadway musical Wicked as well takes this arroyo to the Witch'south character.
The "Horse of a Different Color" Was Fabricated Possible Thanks to a Food Product
In 1939, audiences were just as amazed every bit Dorothy, Scarecrow, Can Human being and the Cowardly Lion when the horse in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "horse of a dissimilar colour" was fabricated possible cheers to a surprising food item…
Clot-O crystals were used to color the horses, which meant filmmakers had to motion apace — the animals were eager to lick up the sweetness care for. But the colorful steed isn't the but interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-fatigued carriage was once owned by President Abraham Lincoln and now resides at the Judy Garland Museum.
The Makeup Department Hired on Actress Hands
From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald City to the Witch's flight monkeys, so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in order to give life to this fantasy film. To go on upward with the daily demands, MGM called upon workers from the studio mailroom and courier service to manage makeup stations.
Since near of the Ozian ensemble required prosthetics, makeup artists — and "makeshift" artists — formed a kind of costuming assembly line. Nigh actors had to arrive before 5:00 in the morn — six days a week! — to begin the intensive procedure.
Memorable (& Oftentimes Misquoted) Lines Fill the Picture
The picture show is chock-full of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the neat fortune of being responsible for some of the most quoted lines in pic history too. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Motion-picture show Lines" and placed a whopping 3 of the picture's lines on the list.
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain" was voted #24, while "At that place'south no place similar home" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the frequently misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.
The Witch's Burn Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)
Clearly, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the movie is incredible. Similar the "horse of a different colour" sequence, another iconic, special effects-heavy scene harnessed the power of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.
Shortly later Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the red slippers from the young girl's feet. However, burn strikes the Witch'south hands, repelling her. This "burn down" is actually apple tree juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-up clip to make information technology wait more flame-similar.
Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Department
Experimenting with Technicolor was part fun and role problem-solving for filmmakers. In society to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor camera, the soundstage needed to be lit with arc lights, which often heated the prepare to a toasty 100 degrees.
Later on the lights were ready, the experts experimented with what would look best on film, especially in colorized form. For example, the white part of Dorothy's wearing apparel is actually pinkish — simply because information technology filmed better. And the oil the Tin Man is and then excited about? It's actually chocolate syrup.
The Wicked Witch of the Eastward Makes More Than One Advent
Part of the Wicked Witch of the West'south beef with Dorothy is that the young girl dropped a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the Eastward, who was the short-lived owner of the blood-red slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the Westward and her Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch, she also plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if only briefly.
During the tornado sequence, an addled Dorothy looks out her bedchamber window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch outside the window is wearing the cherry-red slippers. The restored version of the picture makes that shimmer even more than noticeable.
The Picture show's Running Time Was Cut Down Several Times
The first cutting of the motion-picture show clocked in at a running time of 120 minutes. Although that seems like nil by today's Curiosity movie standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt information technology was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off 20 minutes.
After cutting the famed "Jitterbug" number (top right) and an extended Scarecrow dance sequence, the film was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a second preview screening, and, afterwards, nixed Dorothy'due south "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald City reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead," a scene where the Tin can Human becomes a human being beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.
So Much for a "Wicked" Witch
Filmmakers deemed Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the Westward functioning too frightening for audiences and cut or trimmed many of her scenes. But not everyone thought her performance was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch'south nemesis, Dorothy Gale.
Off-screen, the movie's starring foes were actually friends. One story that emerged from the set described Garland excitedly showing off a wearing apparel to Hamilton, declaring she was going to wear it for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM's Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a press tour the mean solar day of her graduation. Upset, Hamilton phoned Mayer and chewed him out.
Giving Credit to Technicolor
In the opening credits, the text reads "Photographed in Technicolor," every bit opposed to the more apt "Color Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes it seem as though the entire film was shot in color. Was this washed deliberately, or was it a modest syntactical fake pas?
It's widely believed this was a fleck of a stunt done to heighten the surprise of the picture turning into full three-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters made at the time of the picture's debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "blackness-and-white"), adding credence to this theory.
One of History's Most-Watched Films
Although The Sorcerer of Oz proved popular in theaters, some other pic released the same twelvemonth, also directed by Victor Fleming, actually topped the box role. (Yous may accept heard of that trivial movie — it's called Gone with the Wind.) Nonetheless, MGM'south musical fantasy may have more than staying power than other films of the era, thanks in function to re-releases.
The flick was starting time broadcast on television on November 3, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 million viewers. Information technology'due south believed that The Magician of Oz is i of the 10 nearly-watched feature-length movies in film history, largely due to the number of annual boob tube screenings, theater viewings and diverse format re-releases.
Source: https://www.ask.com/entertainment/wizard-of-oz-facts?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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