The Wizard of Oz
Movie Details:
| Based on | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genres | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical |
| Release date | August 10, 1939 (Green Bay) August 25, 1939 (United States) |
| Running time | 1hr 42min |
| Age rating | G |
| Starring | Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin |
| Directed by | Victor Fleming |
| Screenplay by | Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allan Woolf, Adaptation by, Noel Langley |
| Produced by | Mervyn LeRoy |
| Cinematography by | Harold Rosson |
| Edited by | Blanche Sewell |
| Music by | Herbert Stothart |
| Casting by | Leonard Murphy |
| Production Design by | Malcolm Brown, William A. Horning, Jack Martin Smith |
| Art Direction by | Cedric Gibbons, George Gibson, Wade B. Rubottom , Elmer Sheeley |
| Set Decoration by | Edwin B. Willis |
| Costume Design by | Adrian |
| Production Company | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Distributor | Loew’s Incorporated |
Cast & Characters:
- Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale
- Frank Morgan as Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz, the Gatekeeper, the Carriage Driver, and the Guard at the Wizard’s door
- Ray Bolger as “Hunk”, a farmhand, and the Scarecrow
- Bert Lahr as “Zeke”, a farmhand, and the Cowardly Lion
- Jack Haley as “Hickory”, a farmhand, and the Tin Man
- Billie Burke as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North
- Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West
- Charley Grapewin as Uncle Henry
- Pat Walshe as Nikko
- Clara Blandick as Aunt Em
- Terry as Toto
- The Singer Midgets as The Munchkins (See Munchkin § Actors and actresses)
Uncredited
- Mitchell Lewis as the Winkie Guard Captain
- Adriana Caselotti as the voice of Juliet in the Tin Man’s song “If I Only Had a Heart”
- Candy Candido as the voice of the angry apple tree
Storyline:
When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, are whisked away from their house to the magical Land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and on the way, they meet a Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. The Wizard asks them to bring him the Wicked Witch of the West’s broom to earn his help.
About The Wizard of Oz Movie:
The Wizard of Oz is an American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Directed primarily by Victor Fleming, the film features an iconic cast including Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Frank Morgan as the Wizard, and supporting performances by Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, and Margaret Hamilton. The screenplay was credited to Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf, with music composed by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Edgar “Yip” Harburg.
Plot Summary
The story begins in Kansas, where young Dorothy Gale lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. After her dog Toto is threatened by a neighbor, Dorothy runs away to protect him. However, a tornado sweeps her and her farmhouse away to the magical Land of Oz. Upon arrival, she discovers that her house has landed on the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the Munchkins from her tyranny. The Good Witch of the North gives Dorothy the witch’s magical silver shoes and instructs her to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to seek help from the Wizard of Oz.
Along her journey, Dorothy meets three companions: the Scarecrow (who desires a brain), the Tin Man (who longs for a heart), and the Cowardly Lion (who seeks courage). Together, they face various challenges and ultimately confront the Wicked Witch of the West, who tries to thwart their plans and steal Dorothy’s shoes.
After defeating the witch with water that causes her to melt away, Dorothy and her friends return to the Wizard. However, they discover that he is just an ordinary man using tricks to appear powerful. Despite this revelation, he helps fulfill their desires symbolically: he gives the Scarecrow a head full of bran (representing brains), provides the Tin Man with a heart made of silk and sawdust, and gives the Lion a potion for courage.
In the end, Dorothy learns from Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, that she always had the power to return home using her silver shoes. After bidding farewell to her friends, she taps her heels together three times while repeating “There’s no place like home,” which transports her back to Kansas.
Reception and Legacy
The Wizard of Oz premiered on August 15, 1939, and was released theatrically on November 12 of that year. Although it was not initially a box office success—earning only $3 million against a $2.7 million budget—it became immensely popular after its 1949 re-release. The film received critical acclaim and won two Academy Awards: Best Original Song for “Over the Rainbow” and Best Original Score.
The film has since become a cultural touchstone in American cinema and is celebrated for its use of Technicolor, memorable characters, and musical score. It was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1989 for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”
Today, The Wizard of Oz is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time and continues to influence popular culture through its iconic quotes and themes. Its legacy endures as it remains a beloved classic during holiday seasons and beyond.
Budget & Box Office Collection:
| Budget | $2,777,000 |
| Domestic Collection | $24,668,669 |
| International Collection | $969,000 |
| Worldwide Collection | $25,637,669 |