Luminarc Glasses 13 1/2 Oz Double Old Fashioned
From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special effects and makeup tricks that brought some of the world'southward favorite flick characters to life, The Wizard of Oz (1939) had so much going on backside the emerald curtain and the Technicolor gloss of an amazing fantasy earth.
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the film, follow the yellow brick slideshow to peek behind that curtain and learn more about the secrets and fun facts that make the beloved film a timeless classic.
Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Before the Film
As a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of L. Frank Baum's Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to be considered for a office in the 1939 moving-picture show accommodation. Hamilton called her amanuensis to inquire which character 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 work fourth dimension. Three days before filming began, the studio agreed to a five-calendar week deal. In the end, Hamilton was on set for three months, but many of her scenes were cut for existence too scary for audiences.
Sure, Dorothy Gale doesn't demand 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 wear a corset-similar device so she looked more similar a preadolescent child.
Director Richard Thorpe suggested Garland wear a blonde wig and loads of "baby-doll" makeup (as any preadolescent girl 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 exist herself. Smart movement.
The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Great Movie Magic
The Wizard of Oz employs a lot of great moving-picture show tricks, and some of the virtually unique were used in the skywriting scene. In information technology, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies above the Emerald Urban center, leaving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" in her wake in black smoke.
Using a hypodermic needle, the special furnishings team spread black ink across the bottom of a glass tank that was filled with a thick, tinted liquid (some speculate milk). They wrote the phrase in contrary and filmed the scene from below. Initially, the skywriting ended with the ominous "Or Die — W Due west Westward."
The "Snow" in the Poppy Field Was Actually Unsafe
1 of the Wicked Witch's last-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy'south quest to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical sleep-inducing snow. While many similar 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? It'due south actually 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. Even though the wellness risks associated with the textile were known at the time, information technology was still Hollywood's preferred choice for simulated snowfall. Our communication to Dorothy? Don't catch whatever snowflakes on your tongue.
Scarecrow'south Makeup Stuck Around for Awhile
In the end, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful in more than means than one for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Man's) willingness to trade parts with him. The Tin Man's aluminum makeup acquired a huge amount of problems for Ebsen, who was replaced past Jack Haley.
Although Bolger'southward makeup experience was ameliorate than Ebsen'southward, he still had some issues. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a rubber prosthetic, complete with a woven pattern that mimicked the look of burlap. After the picture wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger'south confront that took more than a yr to fade.
Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Prepare
In a burst of flames and carmine fume, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, it may accept instilled more than fearfulness for Hamilton. On the starting time take, the smoke rose from a hidden trapdoor likewise early.
For the second take, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, but her greatcoat snagged on the platform when the fire flared upwards. Her copper-containing makeup heated up instantly, causing second- and third-caste burns on her hands and face up. To make matters worse, the crew tried to remedy her burns with (an fifty-fifty more than painful) acetone solvent.
The Flight Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys
The Wicked Witch's legion of flying monkeys — or Winged Monkeys as they're chosen in the source material — have certainly been a source of terror for generations. Almost every bit scary equally 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 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 made miniature rubber monkeys to assistance populate the heaven.
"Over the Rainbow" Was Almost on the Cutting Room Floor
To no one's surprise, the American Film Found 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 thought the song fabricated the Kansas scenes as well long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't understand the vocal'southward meaning. Luckily, this unfounded concern melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland'south tearful reprise of the song was left on the cut room floor.
The Tin can Man Costume Didn't Permit Jack Haley to Balance Easy
Although Bert Lahr had to schlep effectually in a xc-pound lion costume, Jack Haley didn't have it easy either. From the lingering concerns about the aluminum paste-based makeup on his face and easily to the minimal flexibility of the "tin can" torso and arms, Haley faced some challenges.
Reportedly, his costume was and then potent that he had to lean against a lath to rest properly. Many years later, histrion Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the same issue with his rigid costume. It seems even fantasy and sci-fi can't help folks escape all their problems.
The Original Tin can Man Was Rushed to the Infirmary
Initially, Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Scarecrow, just traded parts with Ray Bolger. However, Ebsen's new grapheme, the Can Man, caused him a globe of issues. Namely, the character's silver makeup contained a harmful aluminum dust that coated Ebsen's lungs.
To brand matters worse, Ebsen had an allergic reaction, and, unable to breathe, he was rushed to the infirmary. 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 final pic, his vocals can be heard in "We're Off to See the Wizard."
A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave United states the Tornado
The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is total of practical special furnishings that really concur up. The funnel itself was really a 35-foot long stocking made of muslin. The special furnishings team spun it effectually miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Against the painted backdrop, the tornado looks menacing.
The Gale firm, which falls from the sky and into Oz, is but a miniature house that was dropped onto a sky painting. Filmmakers then reversed the footage to make it look similar the house was falling out of the clouds.
Hollywood Didn't Pay Up Then Either
Pay inequality has always been an result in Hollywood. For example, Adriana Caselotti, vocalisation of the titular character in Walt Disney'due south Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), fabricated $970 for her performance. The film went on to brand roughly $eight million.
Co-ordinate to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland's pay was better than Caselotti's — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a calendar week — merely it withal didn't reflect the picture show'southward 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'south Lion Costume Was Taxing
Originally, MGM idea it might cast its mascot — the actual panthera leo used in the studio'due south championship carte — equally the cowardly graphic symbol. Fortunately, for the rubber of the actors and the animal, the filmmakers decided to bandage histrion Bert Lahr every bit the anthropomorphic grapheme instead.
To make a convincing creature, the costume department fashioned Lahr a 90-pound outfit made from real lion 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's fretfulness. Each dark, two stagehands dried the costume for the adjacent twenty-four hour period.
The Initial Box Office Returns Were Uneven
The film started shooting in October of 1938 but didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking up an unheard of $2,777,000 in costs. That'south nearly $50 million adjusted for inflation. Upon its initial release, the movie just earned $3 million at the box office — about $51.viii 1000000 past today's standards.
Although that seems impressive for a Depression-era flick, retrieve that Disney made $8 1000000 with Snow White and the Vii Dwarfs (1937). The Wizard of Oz'due south minor success in the U.Southward. barely covered production and moving-picture show rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — but success overseas fortunately bolstered the picture show's returns.
The Night Side of Oz in a Time Before "Me Too"
Judy Garland was just 16 years erstwhile when she was cast as Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were oftentimes 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 help, 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 head Louis B. Mayer], who considered her little more than than their 'property.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy diet of cigarettes, coffee and craven soup.
The Voice of Snow White Had a Cameo
A few years earlier The Magician of Oz debuted, Walt Disney's feature-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) became a boom-hit. Not but did the film revolutionize the blitheness industry, it also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.
Disney wanted to follow up Snowfall White — then the most successful film of all time — with an accommodation of The Wizard of Oz, but MGM owned the rights. By happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited function in Oz. During the Tin Man'south "If I But Had a Heart," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"
The Ruby Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts
Keeping in line with the volume, Dorothy's iconic footwear was originally silver, but screenwriter Noel Langley felt the crimson colour would actually pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed past MGM's chief costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in nearly 2,300 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 carpeting there several times. Another pair were stolen from Minnesota'due south Judy Garland Museum in 2005, but the FBI recovered the slippers for the institution in 2018.
But One Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"
The Wizard of Oz is your archetype run a risk story, and Dorothy's quest leads her from a Kansas farm to another globe — complete with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. However, despite all these scenic locations, nigh all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.
As was customary at the time, immense, detailed backdrops were painted past studio artists, making it possible for filmmakers to send audiences to far away places without filming on location. In fact, the only location footage in the flick is the opening title sequence — those clouds are 100% the real bargain.
A 2d Toto Was Brought In
Toto, played primarily by Terry, is ane of the nearly dear dogs in film history. Terry was famously not a huge fan of special effects and can often be seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Tin Human spouts out all of that steam.
Afterwards 1 of the Witch'southward guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for 2 weeks. Filmmakers went through two doubles to find one that resembled the original canine actor more closely.
Fun fact: Judy Garland was and so fond of Terry that she wanted to adopt the canis familiaris.
Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch
In improver to being a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton also believed her grapheme was more than merely your run-of-the-mill evil villain. More than 35 years subsequently the flick debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch'due south costume to evidence kids it was make-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her nigh the character.
According to Hamilton, the so-called Wicked Witch relished everything she did, merely she was also a sad, solitary figure. In brusque, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly plenty, the Broadway musical Wicked also takes this arroyo to the Witch's character.
The "Equus caballus of a Different Colour" Was Made Possible Cheers to a Food Product
In 1939, audiences were only every bit amazed every bit Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Human and the Cowardly Lion when the horse in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "horse of a different color" was fabricated possible cheers to a surprising food item…
Jell-O crystals were used to colour the horses, which meant filmmakers had to motility quickly — the animals were eager to lick upwardly the sweet treat. But the colorful steed isn't the only interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-drawn carriage was once 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 City to the Witch's flying monkeys, and so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in social club to give life to this fantasy film. To keep up 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. Most actors had to get in earlier 5:00 in the forenoon — six days a week! — to brainstorm the intensive process.
Memorable (& Often Misquoted) Lines Make full the Moving picture
The film is clogged of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the bully fortune of being responsible for some of the most quoted lines in movie history likewise. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Picture show Lines" and placed a whopping 3 of the film'south lines on the list.
"Pay no attention to that homo behind the curtain" was voted #24, while "There'due south no identify like home" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the often misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.
The Witch'south Burn Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)
Conspicuously, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the movie is incredible. Similar the "horse of a different colour" sequence, some other iconic, special effects-heavy scene harnessed the power of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.
Shortly after Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the ruby-red slippers from the young girl's feet. However, burn down strikes the Witch'southward easily, repelling her. This "burn" is actually apple juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-up clip to make it wait more flame-similar.
Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Section
Experimenting with Technicolor was office fun and part problem-solving for filmmakers. In society to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor camera, the soundstage needed to exist lit with arc lights, which often heated the fix to a toasty 100 degrees.
Afterward the lights were set, the experts experimented with what would await best on film, peculiarly in colorized form. For example, the white part of Dorothy's dress is really pink — simply because it filmed amend. And the oil the Tin can Human is so 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 immature girl dropped a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who was the short-lived owner of the reddish slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas analogue Almira Gulch, she also plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if only briefly.
During the tornado sequence, an addled Dorothy looks out her chamber window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch outside the window is wearing the ruby slippers. The restored version of the film makes that shimmer even more noticeable.
The Picture show's Running Fourth dimension Was Cut Down Several Times
The first cut of the motion picture clocked in at a running time of 120 minutes. Although that seems like null by today's Marvel movie standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt it was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off xx minutes.
After cutting the famed "Jitterbug" number (top correct) and an extended Scarecrow dance sequence, the film was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a 2nd preview screening, and, afterwards, nixed Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald Metropolis reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Expressionless," a scene where the Tin can Man becomes a homo beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.
Then Much for a "Wicked" Witch
Filmmakers deemed Margaret Hamilton'due south Wicked Witch of the Due west performance too frightening for audiences and cutting or trimmed many of her scenes. But not anybody thought her operation was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch's nemesis, Dorothy Gale.
Off-screen, the motion picture'south starring foes were really friends. 1 story that emerged from the gear up described Garland excitedly showing off a wearing apparel to Hamilton, declaring she was going to clothing it for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM's Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a printing 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 "Color Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes it seem as though the entire motion-picture show was shot in color. Was this done deliberately, or was it a small syntactical faux pas?
It'south widely believed this was a scrap of a stunt washed to enhance the surprise of the picture turning into full iii-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 credence to this theory.
I of History's Most-Watched Films
Although The Wizard of Oz proved popular in theaters, another movie released the aforementioned year, also directed by Victor Fleming, really topped the box function. (You may have heard of that little movie — it's chosen Gone with the Wind.) Nonetheless, MGM'south musical fantasy may have more staying power than other films of the era, cheers in part to re-releases.
The film was first broadcast on television on November 3, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 million viewers. It's believed that The Magician of Oz is one of the 10 about-watched feature-length movies in film history, largely due to the number of annual tv set screenings, theater viewings and various format re-releases.
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