Art From the 1930s the Wizard of Oz 1939
From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special effects and makeup tricks that brought some of the world's favorite movie characters to life, The Wizard of Oz (1939) had so much going on backside the emerald pall and the Technicolor gloss of an amazing fantasy world.
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the picture, follow the yellowish brick slideshow to peek behind that mantle and learn more about the secrets and fun facts that make the honey film a timeless archetype.
Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Before the Moving-picture show
As a cocky-proclaimed lifelong fan of L. Frank Baum'due south Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to be considered for a role in the 1939 film accommodation. Hamilton called her agent to ask which character the producers wanted her to play, and her agent famously said, "The witch — who else?"
Hamilton, a single mother, fought MGM for an agreed upon amount of guaranteed work time. Three days before filming began, the studio agreed to a five-week bargain. In the finish, Hamilton was on set for three months, just many of her scenes were cut for being too scary for audiences.
Dorothy'southward Original Look Was More Movie Star Than Farm Girl
Certain, Dorothy Gale doesn't need prosthetics or aluminum makeup, simply that doesn't mean Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was young at the time, the sixteen-year-old Garland had to wear a corset-like device so she looked more like a preadolescent kid.
Director Richard Thorpe suggested Garland wear a blonde wig and loads of "baby-doll" makeup (equally any preadolescent girl would…). Luckily, that vision of the character changed. Later MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate managing director George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to exist herself. Smart move.
The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Great Movie Magic
The Wizard of Oz employs a lot of slap-up film tricks, and some of the most unique were used in the skywriting scene. In information technology, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies above the Emerald City, leaving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" in her wake in black fume.
Using a hypodermic needle, the special effects squad spread black ink across the bottom of a drinking glass tank that was filled with a thick, tinted liquid (some speculate milk). They wrote the phrase in opposite and filmed the scene from below. Initially, the skywriting ended with the ominous "Or Die — West W Westward."
The "Snow" in the Poppy Field Was Really Dangerous
One of the Wicked Witch's concluding-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy'southward quest to meet the Wonderful Sorcerer of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical sleep-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 blatant toxic connectedness than that.
All that magical snow? It's really 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. Even though the wellness risks associated with the material were known at the fourth dimension, information technology was yet Hollywood'due south preferred choice for faux snowfall. Our advice to Dorothy? Don't grab whatever snowflakes on your tongue.
Scarecrow's Makeup Stuck Around for Awhile
In the end, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful in more ways than one for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Man's) willingness to merchandise parts with him. The Tin Man's aluminum makeup caused a huge amount of problems for Ebsen, who was replaced by Jack Haley.
Although Bolger'south makeup experience was better than Ebsen's, he yet had some problems. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a prophylactic prosthetic, consummate with a woven pattern that mimicked the expect of burlap. Subsequently the pic wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger's face up that took more than than a year to fade.
Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Set
In a burst of flames and cerise fume, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, it may have instilled more fright for Hamilton. On the first have, the smoke rose from a hidden trapdoor too early.
For the second take, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, merely her cape snagged on the platform when the fire flared up. Her copper-containing makeup heated up instantly, causing second- and 3rd-degree burns on her hands and face up. To make matters worse, the coiffure tried to remedy her burns with (an even more painful) acetone solvent.
The Flying Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys
The Wicked Witch's legion of flying monkeys — or Winged Monkeys every bit they're called in the source material — have certainly been a source of terror for generations. Well-nigh every bit scary as the Witch herself, these henchmen soar onto the scene to kidnap Dorothy and Toto — cheers to the magic of piano wires.
However, the aerial stunt went awry when several of the piano wires snapped, sending actors plummeting a few feet to the soundstage floor. To create such a vast troupe of monkeys (and cutting down on human marionettes), filmmakers made miniature rubber monkeys to help populate the sky.
"Over the Rainbow" Was Almost on the Cutting Room Floor
To no 1'due south surprise, the American Moving-picture show Establish ranked "Over the Rainbow" #one on a list of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. But what may surprise you? The (arguably) about iconic vocal of Judy Garland's career was almost cut from the film.
Studio execs at MGM thought the song made the Kansas scenes too long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't understand the song'south meaning. Luckily, this unfounded business organisation melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland's tearful reprise of the song was left on the cutting room floor.
The Tin can Human Costume Didn't Allow Jack Haley to Rest Easy
Although Bert Lahr had to schlep around in a 90-pound lion costume, Jack Haley didn't have it easy either. From the lingering concerns about the aluminum paste-based makeup on his confront and hands to the minimal flexibility of the "tin" torso and arms, Haley faced some challenges.
Reportedly, his costume was so strong that he had to lean confronting a board to rest properly. Many years afterward, actor Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the same event with his rigid costume. It seems even fantasy and sci-fi tin can't assistance folks escape all their problems.
The Original Tin can Man Was Rushed to the Infirmary
Initially, Buddy Ebsen was cast every bit the Scarecrow, merely traded parts with Ray Bolger. However, Ebsen's new grapheme, the Tin Human, caused him a world of issues. Namely, the graphic symbol's silverish makeup contained a harmful aluminum dust that coated Ebsen's lungs.
To make matters worse, Ebsen had an allergic reaction, and, unable to breathe, he was rushed to the infirmary. MGM recast the function with Jack Haley (and changed up the makeup), but didn't explicate why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't announced in the concluding film, his vocals can exist heard in "We're Off to Meet the Sorcerer."
A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave United states the Tornado
The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is full of applied special furnishings that actually hold up. The funnel itself was really a 35-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 house, which falls from the sky and into Oz, is just a miniature house that was dropped onto a sky painting. Filmmakers then reversed the footage to arrive look similar the house was falling out of the clouds.
Hollywood Didn't Pay Up Then Either
Pay inequality has always been an event in Hollywood. For example, Adriana Caselotti, voice of the titular character in Walt Disney's Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs (1937), made $970 for her performance. The film went on to make roughly $8 million.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland's pay was better than Caselotti's — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a calendar week — merely information technology nonetheless didn't reverberate the moving picture'southward success. Even more discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $50 per calendar week. (Meanwhile, Terry the dog earned $125 per week as Toto. A real yikes.)
Bert Lahr'south Lion Costume Was Taxing
Originally, MGM idea it might bandage its mascot — the actual lion used in the studio's title card — every bit the cowardly grapheme. Fortunately, for the safety of the actors and the animate being, the filmmakers decided to cast thespian Bert Lahr as the anthropomorphic character instead.
To make a disarming creature, the costume department fashioned Lahr a 90-pound outfit made from existent lion skin. Yet, 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's nerves. Each night, ii stagehands stale the costume for the next 24-hour interval.
The Initial Box Office Returns Were Uneven
The film started shooting in Oct of 1938 simply didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking upwards an unheard of $2,777,000 in costs. That'south nearly $50 1000000 adjusted for inflation. Upon its initial release, the movie simply earned $3 1000000 at the box office — near $51.8 million by today's standards.
Although that seems impressive for a Depression-era motion-picture show, remember that Disney fabricated $8 million with Snowfall White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The Wizard of Oz'south modest success in the U.S. barely covered production and moving-picture show rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — but success overseas fortunately bolstered the film's returns.
The Nighttime Side of Oz in a Time Before "Me Too"
Judy Garland was only xvi years quondam when she was bandage equally Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were oftentimes given to young actors to help them slumber subsequently studios shot them upwardly with adrenaline so they could work long hours.
The spotlight — and her dissentious contract with MGM — didn't help, leading to her lifelong struggles with an eating disorder and alcoholism. According to a writer for Limited, "[Garland] was molested by older men, including studio chiefs [and head Louis B. Mayer], who considered her niggling more than their 'property.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy nutrition of cigarettes, coffee and craven soup.
The Vocalization of Snow White Had a Cameo
A few years before The Magician of Oz debuted, Walt Disney's feature-length animated picture Snowfall White and the 7 Dwarfs (1937) became a nail-hit. Not only did the film revolutionize the animation industry, information technology also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.
Disney wanted to follow up Snow White — then the well-nigh successful film of all time — with an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, simply MGM owned the rights. By happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited part in Oz. During the Tin Man'south "If I But Had a Eye," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
The Ruby Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts
Keeping in line with the volume, Dorothy'southward iconic footwear was originally silvery, only screenwriter Noel Langley felt the ruby-red color would actually pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed by MGM's master costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in about two,300 sequins.
One of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Since the display is so heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the carpet at that place several times. Some other pair were stolen from Minnesota'southward Judy Garland Museum in 2005, but the FBI recovered the slippers for the institution in 2018.
Only I Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"
The Wizard of Oz is your classic adventure story, and Dorothy'due south quest leads her from a Kansas farm to some other globe — complete with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. However, despite all these breathtaking locations, most all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.
Every bit was customary at the time, immense, detailed backdrops were painted past studio artists, making it possible for filmmakers to transport audiences to far away places without filming on location. In fact, the merely location footage in the movie is the opening title sequence — those clouds are 100% the existent deal.
A Second Toto Was Brought In
Toto, played primarily by Terry, is i of the well-nigh beloved dogs in film history. Terry was famously non a huge fan of special effects and tin often be seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Tin Man spouts out all of that steam.
Later 1 of the Witch's guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for two 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 canis familiaris.
Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch
In addition to existence a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton also believed her character was more than just your run-of-the-manufactory evil villain. More than 35 years after the motion-picture show debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to show kids information technology was make-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her about the character.
According to Hamilton, the so-called Wicked Witch relished everything she did, but she was too a sorry, alone effigy. In brusque, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly enough, the Broadway musical Wicked also takes this approach to the Witch's character.
The "Horse of a Different Color" Was Made Possible Thanks to a Food Production
In 1939, audiences were just as amazed as Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Human and the Cowardly Lion when the horse in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "horse of a unlike color" was made possible cheers to a surprising food item…
Jell-O crystals were used to colour the horses, which meant filmmakers had to movement quickly — the animals were eager to lick up the sweet treat. But the colorful steed isn't the only interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The equus caballus-fatigued carriage was in one case owned by President Abraham Lincoln and now resides at the Judy Garland Museum.
The Makeup Department Hired on Actress Easily
From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald Metropolis to the Witch'southward flying monkeys, so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in lodge to give life to this fantasy film. To go along upward with the daily demands, MGM chosen upon workers from the studio mailroom and courier service to manage makeup stations.
Since most of the Ozian ensemble required prosthetics, makeup artists — and "makeshift" artists — formed a kind of costuming assembly line. Most actors had to arrive before 5:00 in the morning — half dozen days a week! — to begin the intensive process.
Memorable (& Often Misquoted) Lines Fill the Film
The film is brimming-full of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the great fortune of existence responsible for some of the well-nigh quoted lines in moving-picture show history also. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" and placed a whopping three of the film's lines on the list.
"Pay no attention to that human backside the curtain" was voted #24, while "There'south no place like 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 down Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)
Clearly, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the movie is incredible. Like the "equus caballus of a dissimilar color" sequence, another iconic, special effects-heavy scene harnessed the ability of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.
Shortly later on Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the ruby slippers from the immature daughter'south anxiety. However, fire strikes the Witch's hands, repelling her. This "fire" is actually apple juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-up prune to brand it await more flame-like.
Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Department
Experimenting with Technicolor was role fun and part problem-solving for filmmakers. In order to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor photographic camera, the soundstage needed to be lit with arc lights, which frequently heated the ready to a toasty 100 degrees.
After the lights were set, the experts experimented with what would wait best on film, especially in colorized form. For case, the white part of Dorothy's dress is actually pink — simply because it filmed ameliorate. And the oil the Tin Man is so excited about? It'south really chocolate syrup.
The Wicked Witch of the East Makes More than Than One Advent
Part of the Wicked Witch of the West'south beef with Dorothy is that the young girl dropped a firm on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who was the brusk-lived owner of the cherry 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 Due east — if only briefly.
During the tornado sequence, an addled Dorothy looks out her bedroom window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch outside the window is wearing the red slippers. The restored version of the moving picture makes that shimmer even more than noticeable.
The Flick'southward Running Fourth dimension Was Cut Downward Several Times
The kickoff cut of the film clocked in at a running time of 120 minutes. Although that seems like nada past today'due south Marvel movie standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt it was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off 20 minutes.
After cut the famed "Jitterbug" number (pinnacle correct) and an extended Scarecrow trip the light fantastic sequence, the film was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a second preview screening, and, subsequently, nixed Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald City reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Expressionless," a scene where the Tin can Man becomes a man beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.
So Much for a "Wicked" Witch
Filmmakers deemed Margaret Hamilton'south Wicked Witch of the W performance besides frightening for audiences and cutting or trimmed many of her scenes. Simply not everyone idea her performance was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch'southward nemesis, Dorothy Gale.
Off-screen, the film'southward starring foes were actually friends. I story that emerged from the set described Garland excitedly showing off a clothes to Hamilton, declaring she was going to clothing it for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM's Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a press tour the 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," as opposed to the more apt "Colour Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes it seem equally though the entire film was shot in colour. Was this washed deliberately, or was it a minor syntactical fake pas?
It's widely believed this was a bit of a stunt done to enhance the surprise of the pic turning into full three-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters made at the time of the film's debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "black-and-white"), adding acceptance to this theory.
Ane of History's Most-Watched Films
Although The Sorcerer of Oz proved popular in theaters, another film released the same year, likewise directed by Victor Fleming, actually topped the box office. (You may have heard of that little movie — it's called Gone with the Wind.) Nonetheless, MGM'south musical fantasy may accept more staying ability than other films of the era, thanks in part to re-releases.
The moving picture was first broadcast on television on November 3, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 1000000 viewers. It's believed that The Wizard of Oz is one of the 10 almost-watched feature-length movies in picture show history, largely due to the number of annual television screenings, theater viewings and various 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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