The story in this glorious technicolour musical is actually an often told one but this is the definitive version most people seem to recognise. We all know the story I'm assuming but a quick re-cap is needed.
The film starts in black and white. Dorothy's dog is going to be taken away because of an alleged injury to the horrible Miss Gulch. She is a right old hag! Aunt Emily (Em) says that Toto will be safe and there's really nothing to worry about. However, Toto is taken and the old woman has the law on her side.
Some time later, when Toto has escaped, there's a tornado in Kansas soon and then when Dorothy wakes up from being hit, she's in the miraculous and also often dangerous Land of Oz. Cue the transformation to colour!
With lots of songs including "Over The Rainbow", this has been a favourite for years and is often on TV at Christmas.
I like this film but as a young child I found the Witch of the West rather frightening. It may not be suitable for very small children, I think. Or maybe I was just too soft!
What's often startling about "The Wizard of Oz" is the change from black and white to colour and back again. At the time this version was made, black and white signified reality as used in documentaries and colour meant fantasy. This is how we know Oz isn't real but we wonder how Dorothy will get back.
As I said earlier, the story has been made lots of times but this is the one everyone remembers, not least because of Judy Garland's performance. She looks like a woman but again, is playing someone supposedly much younger. It's worth putting it into context as well. In 1939 trouble was brewing in Europe with the Second World War and the US were worried. Kansas is basically America in this film and maybe Oz can be seen as Europe. Clearly, there's no place like home in troubled times!
It is actually a very dark film in lots of places but this is good as it appeals to all ages and isn't just a fun time musical.
Having said that, it is great fun and the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion are hilarious.
I'm not sure why anyone would need to buy the video when the film seems to be on at least once a year but I've seen the video for £13 in HMV. I'm sure there must be Special Editions available as well. Amazon also sell a "Wizard of Oz" set which has "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory" with it as well for about £12 which is good value.
If you like this you may also like to watch "The Wiz" if you can find it. Michael Jackson is the best thing in it and Diana Ross was too old to play Dorothy in my opinion but it's quite a good film.
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Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
One of the earliest adaptations of L Frank Baum's compelling children's book, it was ... more
directed by and starred Larry Semon, one of his few feature length films. It's revival however owes much to the presence of Oliver Hardy in the role of a farmhand/tin ...
Advantages: Timeless classic to be enjoyed by all, great story, beautiful sets, rousing musical sequences Disadvantages: The moral seems to be (in addition to "There's no place like home") that Dorothy should kill Miss Almira Gulch
Advantages: Fun for all the family Disadvantages: Not as popular as the original
charlottehammond 09.04.2007 (10.04.2007)
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