How Many Oz in a Tube of Ground Beef
From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special effects and makeup tricks that brought some of the world's favorite film characters to life, The Wizard of Oz (1939) had and then much going on behind the emerald curtain and the Technicolor gloss of an amazing fantasy world.
In accolade of the 80th anniversary of the film, follow the yellowish brick slideshow to peek behind that pall and larn more about the secrets and fun facts that make the beloved flick a timeless classic.
Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Earlier the Film
As a cocky-proclaimed lifelong fan of L. Frank Baum's Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to be considered for a function in the 1939 film adaptation. Hamilton called her amanuensis 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 fourth dimension. Three days before filming began, the studio agreed to a five-week deal. In the terminate, Hamilton was on gear up for iii months, but many of her scenes were cut for being too scary for audiences.
Dorothy'due south Original Look Was More Moving-picture show Star Than Farm Girl
Sure, Dorothy Gale doesn't need prosthetics or aluminum makeup, but that doesn't mean Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was immature at the time, the 16-year-old Garland had to wearable a corset-like device so she looked more like a preadolescent child.
Director Richard Thorpe suggested Garland habiliment a blonde wig and loads of "baby-doll" makeup (as whatsoever preadolescent daughter would…). Luckily, that vision of the character changed. Later MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate director George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to be herself. Smart motility.
The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Slap-up Movie Magic
The Wizard of Oz employs a lot of bully moving-picture show 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 smoke.
Using a hypodermic needle, the special effects team spread black ink beyond the bottom 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 ended with the ominous "Or Die — W Westward W."
The "Snowfall" in the Poppy Field Was Actually Unsafe
I of the Wicked Witch's last-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy'due south quest to encounter the Wonderful Wizard of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical slumber-inducing snow. 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 connection than that.
All that magical snowfall? It'southward really 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. Even though the health risks associated with the material were known at the fourth dimension, it was still Hollywood's preferred pick for fake snow. Our advice to Dorothy? Don't catch any snowflakes on your tongue.
Scarecrow'south Makeup Stuck Around for Awhile
In the end, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful in more means than ane for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Human being'southward) willingness to trade parts with him. The Can Man'due south aluminum makeup caused a huge amount of problems for Ebsen, who was replaced by Jack Haley.
Although Bolger'southward makeup experience was amend than Ebsen'south, he even so had some problems. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a safe prosthetic, complete with a woven pattern that mimicked the look of burlap. After the moving-picture show wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger's face that took more than a year to fade.
Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Set up
In a outburst of flames and cerise smoke, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, information technology may accept instilled more fear for Hamilton. On the start take, the smoke rose from a hidden trapdoor too early on.
For the second have, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, but her cape snagged on the platform when the burn down flared up. Her copper-containing makeup heated up instantly, causing 2nd- and tertiary-degree burns on her hands and confront. To make matters worse, the crew 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 as they're called 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 — thanks 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 assistance populate the sky.
"Over the Rainbow" Was Well-nigh on the Cutting Room Floor
To no i'southward surprise, the American Moving picture Institute ranked "Over the Rainbow" #one on a list of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. But what may surprise you? The (arguably) virtually iconic song of Judy Garland'due south career was nearly cutting from the flick.
Studio execs at MGM thought the song made the Kansas scenes too long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't understand the song's meaning. Luckily, this unfounded concern melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland'south tearful reprise of the song was left on the cut room flooring.
The Tin can Human being Costume Didn't Allow Jack Haley to Rest Piece of cake
Although Bert Lahr had to schlep effectually in a xc-pound lion costume, Jack Haley didn't accept it piece of cake either. From the lingering concerns about the aluminum paste-based makeup on his face 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 remainder 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. Information technology seems even fantasy and sci-fi tin't aid folks escape all their problems.
The Original Can Human Was Rushed to the Infirmary
Initially, Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Scarecrow, just traded parts with Ray Bolger. Even so, Ebsen's new character, the Tin Man, caused him a world of issues. Namely, the character's silver 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), merely didn't explicate why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't appear in the final moving-picture show, his vocals tin be heard in "Nosotros're Off to See the Wizard."
A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave Us the Tornado
The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is full of practical special effects that really hold up. The funnel itself was really a 35-pes long stocking made of muslin. The special furnishings team spun it around miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Confronting the painted backdrop, the tornado looks menacing.
The Gale house, which falls from the sky and into Oz, is simply a miniature house that was dropped onto a heaven painting. Filmmakers then reversed the footage to get in look similar the house was falling out of the clouds.
Hollywood Didn't Pay Up And so Either
Pay inequality has always been an issue in Hollywood. For example, Adriana Caselotti, vox of the titular character in Walt Disney'southward Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), made $970 for her functioning. The film went on to make roughly $8 1000000.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland'southward pay was meliorate than Caselotti'due south — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a week — merely information technology withal didn't reflect the film's success. Even more discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $l per week. (Meanwhile, Terry the canis familiaris earned $125 per calendar week equally Toto. A real yikes.)
Bert Lahr's Lion Costume Was Taxing
Originally, MGM thought information technology might cast its mascot — the actual king of beasts used in the studio's championship card — equally the cowardly character. Fortunately, for the safety of the actors and the animal, the filmmakers decided to bandage actor Bert Lahr every bit the anthropomorphic character instead.
To make a disarming brute, the costume department fashioned Lahr a xc-pound outfit made from existent lion skin. However, 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 graphic symbol's nerves. Each night, 2 stagehands dried the costume for the next twenty-four hour period.
The Initial Box Office Returns Were Uneven
The movie started shooting in October of 1938 but didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking upwardly an unheard of $2,777,000 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 part — well-nigh $51.8 million past today's standards.
Although that seems impressive for a Depression-era picture, remember that Disney made $8 one thousand thousand with Snow White and the Vii Dwarfs (1937). The Sorcerer of Oz'southward modest success in the U.South. barely covered production and film rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — only success overseas fortunately bolstered the picture's returns.
The Night Side of Oz in a Time Earlier "Me Too"
Judy Garland was just 16 years old when she was cast as Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were often given to young actors to assist them sleep later studios shot them up with adrenaline so they could work long hours.
The spotlight — and her damaging contract with MGM — didn't assistance, leading to her lifelong struggles with an eating disorder and alcoholism. Co-ordinate to a writer for Express, "[Garland] was molested by older men, including studio chiefs [and head Louis B. Mayer], who considered her piffling more than their 'property.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy diet of cigarettes, coffee and chicken soup.
The Voice of Snow White Had a Cameo
A few years earlier The Wizard of Oz debuted, Walt Disney's feature-length blithe motion-picture show Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) became a smash-hit. Not merely did the motion picture revolutionize the animation industry, it also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.
Disney wanted to follow upwards Snow White — and so the most successful film of all time — with an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, merely MGM owned the rights. By happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited role in Oz. During the Tin Man's "If I Just Had a Heart," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore fine art thou Romeo?"
The Cherry Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts
Keeping in line with the book, Dorothy'due south iconic footwear was originally silver, merely screenwriter Noel Langley felt the ruby color would really pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed by MGM's primary costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in near two,300 sequins.
I of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Since the display is and then heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the carpet in that location 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 One Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"
The Magician of Oz is your archetype take a chance story, and Dorothy'southward quest leads her from a Kansas farm to some other world — complete with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. However, despite all these breathtaking locations, nearly all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.
As was customary at the fourth dimension, immense, detailed backdrops were painted by studio artists, making it possible for filmmakers to transport audiences to far away places without filming on location. In fact, the only location footage in the film is the opening title sequence — those clouds are 100% the real deal.
A Second Toto Was Brought In
Toto, played primarily by Terry, is i of the most love dogs in moving-picture show history. Terry was famously non a huge fan of special effects and tin frequently be 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 two weeks. Filmmakers went through ii doubles to find one that resembled the original canine actor more closely.
Fun fact: Judy Garland was so addicted of Terry that she wanted to adopt the dog.
Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch
In addition to existence a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton also believed her grapheme was more than than just your run-of-the-factory evil villain. More than 35 years later the film debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to show kids it was brand-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her nearly the character.
Co-ordinate to Hamilton, the and then-called Wicked Witch relished everything she did, but she was besides a sad, lonely figure. In short, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly plenty, the Broadway musical Wicked likewise takes this approach to the Witch's character.
The "Equus caballus of a Different Color" Was Made Possible Thanks to a Food Product
In 1939, audiences were simply as amazed as Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Panthera leo when the horse in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "horse of a unlike color" was fabricated possible thanks to a surprising nutrient particular…
Clot-O crystals were used to colour the horses, which meant filmmakers had to move quickly — the animals were eager to lick upward the sweet treat. Just the colorful steed isn't the only interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-drawn carriage was one time owned by President Abraham Lincoln and now resides at the Judy Garland Museum.
The Makeup Department Hired on Extra Hands
From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald City to the Witch's flying monkeys, so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in lodge to requite life to this fantasy film. To keep upwardly with the daily demands, MGM called 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 associates line. Nearly actors had to arrive earlier v:00 in the morning — six days a calendar week! — to begin the intensive procedure.
Memorable (& Often Misquoted) Lines Fill up the Film
The film is clogged of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the great fortune of beingness responsible for some of the about quoted lines in movie history also. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Flick Lines" and placed a whopping three of the motion picture's lines on the list.
"Pay no attending to that human backside the mantle" was voted #24, while "In that location's no identify like habitation" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the oftentimes misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling we're non in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.
The Witch's Burn down Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)
Conspicuously, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the movie is incredible. Like the "equus caballus of a different color" sequence, another iconic, special furnishings-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 young girl's anxiety. Nonetheless, burn down strikes the Witch's easily, repelling her. This "burn down" is actually apple juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-upwards clip to make it expect more flame-like.
Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Section
Experimenting with Technicolor was part fun and part problem-solving for filmmakers. In social club to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor camera, the soundstage needed to be lit with arc lights, which often heated the set up to a toasty 100 degrees.
Afterward the lights were set up, the experts experimented with what would await best on film, specially in colorized form. For case, the white function of Dorothy'due south dress is actually pink — but because it filmed meliorate. And the oil the Can Man is so excited about? Information technology'southward actually chocolate syrup.
The Wicked Witch of the East Makes More Than I Appearance
Part of the Wicked Witch of the West's beefiness with Dorothy is that the young daughter dropped a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the E, who was the curt-lived owner of the ruddy slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch, she as well plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if only briefly.
During the tornado sequence, an befuddled Dorothy looks out her bedroom window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch exterior the window is wearing the crimson slippers. The restored version of the film makes that shimmer even more noticeable.
The Film'southward Running Time Was Cut Down Several Times
The first cut of the motion-picture show clocked in at a running time of 120 minutes. Although that seems similar nothing by today's Marvel movie standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt it was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off 20 minutes.
After cutting the famed "Jitterbug" number (acme right) and an extended Scarecrow dance sequence, the film was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a 2d preview screening, and, afterwards, nixed Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald Metropolis reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead," a scene where the Tin Homo becomes a human beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.
Then Much for a "Wicked" Witch
Filmmakers deemed Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West functioning as well frightening for audiences and cutting or trimmed many of her scenes. But not everyone thought her performance was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch's nemesis, Dorothy Gale.
Off-screen, the film'due south starring foes were really 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 bout the 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," as opposed to the more apt "Color Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes information technology seem every bit though the unabridged film was shot in color. Was this done deliberately, or was it a minor syntactical imitation pas?
Information technology's widely believed this was a bit of a stunt done to heighten the surprise of the picture turning into total 3-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters made at the time of the pic'due south debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "blackness-and-white"), adding acceptance to this theory.
One of History'south Near-Watched Films
Although The Wizard of Oz proved pop in theaters, some other film released the same year, besides directed by Victor Fleming, actually topped the box role. (You may have heard of that little movie — it's called Gone with the Air current.) Nevertheless, MGM's musical fantasy may have more staying power than other films of the era, cheers in function to re-releases.
The motion-picture show was first broadcast on television on November three, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 1000000 viewers. It's believed that The Sorcerer of Oz is 1 of the 10 most-watched feature-length movies in film history, largely due to the number of annual tv set screenings, theater viewings and various format re-releases.
Source: https://www.ask.com/tvmovies/wizard-of-oz-facts?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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