The Wizard of Oz (****)
review by Jon Waterman

Dorothy lives in Kansas. If that’s not enough reason to want to escape (just kidding people of KS), a mean lady wants to take her cute little doggie away. That can’t happen. So, she packs her dog Toto in a basket and runs away. When her mind changes, so does the weather. She rushes home to beat the approaching tornado. Inside the house, she’s whisked away and transported to a fantastical land called Oz. Now, to return home, she’ll need the help of several new friends.

We all pretty much know the movie. It’s a musical that starts off in a sepia tone then switches to color once Oz is involved, then back to sepia. Along the way, Dorothy gathers new friends in the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Together they must find the Wizard of Oz who has the power to bring her back home.

The movie has a huge production value. The costumes and makeup needed for hundreds of characters (mostly munchkins – good citizens of Oz, flying monkeys – the wicked witch’s henchpets and the witch’s castle guards). All of that combined with the thorough suits designed for all the main characters equals one extravagant production. It seems overly ambitious in many respects, but it’s all worth it. I doubt something as adventurous as that would be approved today. Of course it doesn’t stop there. The special effects look great. The tornado moving in the background across the painted backdrop. The witch appearing and leaving magically behind a wall of flame. The set design looks incredible. I’m not only talking about the magical, decked out cities within Oz, but also the built sets and landscapes of Kansas. The farm in which the Gale family resides shows great detail as they try to avoid any stage look or feel. And despite the painted backgrounds (which I still prefer over contemporary green screen effects most of the time), they accomplish their goal.

In fact, the only stagy aspect of the movie is the acting. Acting in the thirties tended to be overdone and overly projected. It was a transitional period where actors were slowly learning to tone it down. But in this particular movie, the roles were played in full force. Making sure the dialogue was heard took precedence over how it was delivered. Just as long as the jokes had their zing and the songs made you listen, the rest was secondary.

And the songs do make you listen. Not only do they further the plot, but they’re fun and whimsical and easy for kids to learn. Since the film has become a childhood classic, that’s an important aspect to keep in mind. The musical is successful, because whenever a kid hears a song, they relate it to the movie and may want to see it again. The two become inseparable. This film also incorporates existing classical pieces at certain moments as well, which seems unusual today, but also sounds like a pretty good idea.

It’s a great children’s story full of great characters (good and evil). Parents can enjoy it with their kids. Adults can enjoy it on its own joyful merits. Filmmakers can enjoy it for its techniques and surprisingly dynamic and well framed cinematography. Most of us have seen it, but for those who haven’t…why not? It’s a classic for a reason. Sit back and enjoy the whirlwind. For those that know the film well, I ask you this. Where does the red brick road lead?

respond to jon@filmbrats.com