A wonderful story: Not long after seeing The Wizard of Oz, a little girl named Natalie Norris fell ill and was hospitalized. Her mother wrote to MGM and relayed her daughter's wish that she could get a visit from Dorothy. They called Judy, who was of course delighted to do it, and sent Natalie a letter telling her that they had a date. She wanted to come in full Dorothy kit, but by that time everything had been put away in storage, so Judy wore a simple frock and her own short hair, and Natalie didn't mind a bit. Judy chatted with her a while and even sang "Over the Rainbow" to her, bringing Natalie's mother to tears. Later, Natalie showed rapid improvement, and not only recovered, but later in life became a singer herself!

@shirleyminassian1547

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing, that's so beautiful 🧡

@MaskedMan66

5 ай бұрын

@@shirleyminassian1547 You're welcome! The story is told in greater detail in the book "The Road to Oz: The Evolution, Creation, and Legacy of a Motion Picture Masterpiece" by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman.

@shirleyminassian1547

5 ай бұрын

@@MaskedMan66 ok, Thank you.

@MaskedMan66

5 ай бұрын

@@shirleyminassian1547 Welcome once again! 🙂

Honestly it makes a lot of sense that the Kansas and Oz scenes were directed by two different people. They feel different plus it makes sense narratively to have such different directing styles and tones for those scenes.

@Tolstoy111

Жыл бұрын

The King Vidor Kansas stuff is the best filmmaking in the film!

@jesustovar2549

Жыл бұрын

@@Tolstoy111 The twister scene aged very well, it served as an inspiration for other disaster films such as Twister which contained several references to Oz.

@Tolstoy111

Жыл бұрын

@@jesustovar2549 Oh I'm not saying it's bad. Just the artistry of the Kansas scenes is the most "Auteurist" stuff in the film. It made by an artist as opposed to the twister scene which was made by technicians.

@williamseaverii1579

Жыл бұрын

Well spoken.

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

Victor Fleming is reported to have been very impressed by Vidor's work.

Its pretty common knowledge to Oz fans that Over the Rainbow was almost cut from the movie because it was thought to have slowed down the movie and that it was seen as undignified for an MGM star to be seen singing in a barnyard, but less known is that when Little Mermaid was going through test screenings Jeff Katzenberg apparently wanted to do the same thing with Part of Your World, and had to be convinced by Howard Ashman and Glen Keane to not do it, and they apparently invoked Over the Rainbow as an example of how an "I Want" song that had a slower pace relative to the rest of the film's action but conveyed alot of meaning and power in just a short period of time. So I guess in some way we have Oz to thank for Part of Your World staying in TLM lol

@jamesa.romano8500

Жыл бұрын

Well Snow White begat Wizard of Oz and then Oz begat Rainbow which begat Part of Your World so its full circle haha

@TheJillers

Жыл бұрын

I think among fans of each movie these are, nowadays, pretty well known. But could you imagine either movie without their (arguably) most iconic songs?

@RLucas3000

Жыл бұрын

@@TheJillers I had no clue about Katzenburger, though a new fact about Oz would shock me at this point, as I was obsessed with that movie for years, especially once I heard that there was a 1904 musical of it.

@padminimayur4049

Жыл бұрын

Goes to show the continued lack of imagination on the business side of movie making!

@davidwh2653

Жыл бұрын

am i the only one who thinks ballads are better than uptempo numbers especially in musicals? sure they have a lower tempo but they aren't boring because of it

My son discovered The Wizard of Oz quite early on. I think he was nearly 3 when he first saw it. From that day forward, he insisted on watching it at least once a day for two solid years. Although today he swears he has absolutely no memory of ever having seen the movie, he nevertheless named his firstborn son Oz. :)

@oliverbrownlow5615

Жыл бұрын

The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

Has he ever read the book?

@MaskedMan66

11 ай бұрын

The Wizard's full name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambrois Diggs!

I was born in 1965 and grew up watching The Wizard of Oz once a year and it was an EVENT. That rainbow logo and music would send chills up my spine. And EVERYONE was watching -- the streets of my suburb would be empty that night. When VHS became a thing, it was one of the first I bought.

@merricat3025

Жыл бұрын

Taped movies and shiws took away from the magic. We only used to see them once a year, and it was an occasion.

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

@@merricat3025 Those were the days, eh? 🙂

@grsnider

Жыл бұрын

I was born in 1970, and it was a yearly event for us, and TWOO usually played around Easter. These were the days when the only cable channel we had was HBO, so it was mostly network TV (and a few NYC local channels).

@erestube

Жыл бұрын

Ha ha. I remember my classmates were divided into two groups: those who watched and those who didn't!

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

@@erestube I'm guessing those who didn't were a far smaller number.

I was so happy to hear you started the year by declaring you’re a Full time KZreadr. Also, delighted to see this topic being covered.

I love that you pick specific areas of film history and have a unique take on widely known films

@coreyham3753

Жыл бұрын

Very interesting discussion on the making of the Wizard of Oz.

When I read Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland, I really appreciated the context in which the author referenced the impact of the film: "Oz speaks to the feelings of the audience, not their intellects. That message, which they find comforting and inspiring....is that if a poor little girl from Kansas can walk down a perilous path, slay wicked witches, and stand up to mighty wizards, so too can they confront the threats, real and imagined, to their own emerging futures. Dorothy's pilgrimage ends when the movie ends.....when she realizes that she does not need protection. She can take care of herself, face the future, and determine her own destiny."

@divatalk9011

Жыл бұрын

What a wonderful comment. I must get this book

@grumpyotter

Жыл бұрын

. . . As long as she has her friends. 🙂

@Medusa0999

Жыл бұрын

Get happy is a great book!

@JessicaC8486

Жыл бұрын

I found this book at a thrift store a couple months ago and seriously need to start reading, it seems so good!

@kittiwhieldon4329

Жыл бұрын

Great book. I really enjoyed it.

Fun Fact: Margaret Hamilton - the Wicked Witch herself - was the kindest to Judy out of everyone onset & thats so heartwarming to me.I fully believe that many of the cuts were made to the film (such as The Jitterbug scene, Dorothy's return to the Emerald City, some of the extended dance scenes, and even Rainbow) were done just fully out of sheer disrespect that they had for the poor girl at the time that they didn't want her to shine anymore than she had to because she was LB Mayer's "little Hunchback" and not Lana Turner or Deanna Durbin. I remember Judy was on some talk show and Margaret called in and Judy was ecstatic and emotional and couldn't stop praising her for how kind she had been to her (or maybe it was the other way around and Judy called in to Margaret I honestly can't remember). Just goes to show how KINDNESS goes a very long way in this world - you NEVER know how just small gestures will make all the difference ❤❤

@benjaminjackson9449

Жыл бұрын

Most of Judy's deleted scenes would have overcrowded the narrative and removed the film's cohesion. It's definitely true that LB was not Judy's biggest fan, but I don't think that spilled into the screenwriter's and director's decisions to cut specific scenes. But the way the studio and many other plays at MGM treated Judy is a crime because she really was and is one of the greatest talents we have and will ever witness.

@jamesa.romano8500

Жыл бұрын

@@benjaminjackson9449 I feel like they could have at least kept the Over the Rainbow reprise in, as it would have driven the message home just a little more. Also I've heard that Victor Fleming or one of the other directors went to some pretty extreme measures to get tears out of Judy and to listen to THAT specific audio of her singing the reprise those sound like real tears. Just sayin

@benjaminjackson9449

Жыл бұрын

​@@jamesa.romano8500 I actually agree, the reprise would have worked really well in the last half of the movie because it moves so quickly, the central message can sometimes get lost in the action.

@nickyoude2694

Жыл бұрын

That fact reminds me of Harry Secombe being one of the more gentle souls having beed worried about hurting Mark Lester's ear despite potraying the tyrannical Mr Bumble.

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

The only person who ever claimed that Mayer called her a "hunchback" was Judy herself at the time in her life that she had become famous for telling tall tales. Nothing has been presented to substantiate that story. Nobody had any disrespect for Judy. Jack Haley said she was "born to brilliance." Margaret Hamilton flatly stated, "Judy kept us all going." Meinhardt Raabe spoke on behalf of his fellow Munchkins when he said, "We were treated as equals by her." She had already worked with Haley, Buddy Ebsen, and Billie Burke, so she was among friends, and made more friends. Ray Bolger in particular was blown away by her massive intelligence and the fact that she liked to learn three new words every day. Even the acerbic Noel Langley, who never had a kind word for anyone, told interviewers that she was an extraordinary girl, and always polite. And the whole reason she was cast was that Mervyn LeRoy thought she was the most talented juvenile performer he'd ever seen, and wanted his movie to be a showcase for her talents.

"She wasn't going to look like a Dorothea Lange photograph." And now suddenly that is all I want to see in a new Wizard of Oz adaptation.

@bkrewind

Жыл бұрын

Genuinely same

‘The Wizard of Oz’ was such a moment in Movie History. A great spectacle of Colour Movies.

@eamonndeane587

Жыл бұрын

And the source of some of the Most Memorable Lines in all of Cinema.

Growing up in the '60s, when there were only three networks (and no cable, streaming, home video or Internet) the annual sole airing of OZ during the Thanksgiving season in late-November was a culture-wide event... Those things, for better or worse (or for both), are gone today.

Its weird I almost thought there was gonna be some Puss in Boots The Last Wish joke somewhere in this vid, because its ALL over the internet right now and its clear that the Wizard of Oz was a blueprint of sorts for it,with a VERY similar message of "you've always had what you wanted all along" - even right down to Jack Horner mock quoting the Wicked Witch ("I'll get you my kitties and your little dog too"). Wizard was for me one of the first introductions to the idea that movies could be genuinely "scary," and I think Snow White, Pinocchio and Oz were generations of kids' intros to that idea as well. I honestly do think that Last Wish is one day going to be seen in the same light, and while I know that sounds crazy anyone who has seen it can get what I'm saying. Its THAT kind of film that is unafraid to be openly sentimental and yet can scare the hell out of adults and kids alike (the theater I was in several kids had to leave because the Wolf was "too scary").

@darrylvarney9837

Жыл бұрын

I can get what you're saying... that Death Wolf was crazy as cat$**

@youngkc866

Жыл бұрын

@@darrylvarney9837 I kno rite 🐺🐺

@jamestyler7697

Жыл бұрын

I haven't seen it yet but I've seen it all over Tik Tok and I had to check to see if it was the right film. Something about the Wolf being Death or the Grim Reaper or something?? geez lol

@youngkc866

Жыл бұрын

@@jamestyler7697 "And I don't mean it rhetorically or metaphorically or poetically or theoretically or any other fancy way. I'm DEATH. Straight. Up. And I've come for YOU." 😆☠💀🤣

@nickyoude2694

Жыл бұрын

Almost every generation had that 'scary' kiddie pic. Wizard of Oz, Oliver!, Labarynth, Some might say Hunchback in the 1990s

this is fascinating, as a devout Wizard of Oz and Garland fan I can never tire of learning about the "behind the scenes" from one of the greatest films ever made. The Wizard of Oz was such a sparkling component of my complicated childhood. This movie means more to me than I could ever articulate through words. The vivid contrasting colors, the stunning costumes, and Judy Garland's groundbreaking performance will forever place a stamp on my heart, mind, and continue to inspire me with courage throughout my own journey down life's yellow brick road. No surprise I ended up to be a shoe girl ;) We would all be remised, if we failed to acknowledge that a large part of Oz's enduring success is solely because of Judy Garland's tremendous performance. This was the perfect breakout vehicle for Garland's blossoming star in that it fully displays her wide range of other worldly talents. Her acting is so utterly sincere, that as a little girl I felt her gut wrenching pain and fear as though her trails and tribulations were my own. Her awe inspiring vocal ability and innate musicality are perfectly captured in the song and dance sequences which were exquisitely choreographed. The musical numbers are never "fussy" but appear naturalistic, and lend the audience to believe all the more. Garland's performance is timeless and not only captures the imagination, yet lights it on fire, in a ruby red technicolor hue that could only be created by a true genius of her craft. Judy WAS Dorthy.

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

Remiss.

One of the many projects influenced by WoO: Midsommar. Dani journeys from a dark (almost black and white) grim world to a bright fantasy land with three companions, each of whom are lacking in certain personal qualities. I'm counting Pelle as a guide, almost a Glinda figure. Drugged, she wakes up in a field and makes her way to a place where she is eventually treated like a queen. There's even a picture from the Wizard of Oz in Dani's room.

Speaking of noticing and appreciating different things with time, for me with this movie, it was 10 years ago- observing 20 Chinese 7th graders in Shanghai who were watching it for the first time. I was teaching an afterschool theater program, and I adapted the book into a 1-hour play. None of the members of the cast had ever seen the movie, so I showed it to them, in the original English with Chinese subtitles. I sat in the back of the room and observed the kids watching the movie. They were totally entranced. They laughed, they cried, they made vocal reactions, and when it was over, it took a couple of minutes for them to adjust back to being in a plain ol’ room. This movie had worked its magic on a group of kids born over 60 years after it was released, and raised in a completely different culture. And it took them on a journey. It made me love the movie not just because we watched it every year on TV in the 1970s and ‘80s when I was growing up. But rather because it truly is one of the greatest films of all time.

@denisesudell2538

Жыл бұрын

What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it. Do you still work with Chinese students?

@larrydirtybird

Жыл бұрын

@@denisesudell2538 , no, but I miss them so much. I taught in China for six years. One of the best experiences of my life. And I have a framed photo of the kids who played Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion, posing for the camera in full costume. It’s such a cute photo.

@Redmenace96

Жыл бұрын

I love it! Great story!! WoOz is timeless.

@oliverbrownlow5615

Жыл бұрын

A friend described to me a similar experience he had showing *Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs* (1937) to a group of people in rural Thailand.

I still cry when I hear “Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

my favorite film of all time. i’ve just recently been championing it again to others too (literally just like you said, “y’all, we are so accustomed to this movie, but it’s such a weird movie and it’s so good”) so this is perfect timing! love all your videos. thank you 🖤

@padminimayur4049

Жыл бұрын

It's one of my earliest and favorite films, too!

@MaskedMan66

11 ай бұрын

It's fantasy! Of course it's weird!

The idea that Dorothy was very nearly played by Shirley Temple I think gets a laugh, and there continues to be this misinformation surrounding how that actually went down (I think the timeline of the Clark Gable-Jean Harlow trade for Shirley falling through due to Jean's death doesn't line up with the production history, but it even gets depicted in Shirley's TV biopic), but ironically Shirley was closer to the age of Dorothy in the actual book than Judy was. There's no doubt that Roger Edens was correct that she didn't have the vocal chops for the part, but she was after all just a kid, and it would have been interesting to see if she could have pulled it off had they made it around the time she did Since You Went Away. As it is, The Blue Bird was basically Fox's answer to Wizard and was everything people thought would be wrong with Wizard and irreparably damaged her career, but she DID get a chance to do an Oz project for her 1950's television show, and it was arguably much closer to the source material. (interestingly both Judy and Shirley had close ties to the books and loved them since childhood, as both their parents loved to read it to them when they were little).

@lindindotson1992

Жыл бұрын

The Blue Bird was a good movie

@jamesa.romano8500

Жыл бұрын

@@lindindotson1992 It was ok. It was beautifully shot anyway. I think part of it was bad timing. Shirley and her mother wanted to break from her little miss sunshine image by having her character be selfish and nasty but considering that America was on the precipice of entry into WWII I think they were looking more than ever to the Bright Eyes/Curly Top version and that just wasn't what Shirley wanted to be anymore (understandably mind you).

@ZoraTheberge

Жыл бұрын

I heard once, (I think from Andrea McArdle) that the right age for a girl to play Annie is right when she’s about to look too old. I think Judy has that. It brings a “wise beyond her years” quality that’s needed for Over the Rainbow to work.

@jesustovar2549

Жыл бұрын

When you think about it, the role of Dorothy was designed for Shirley Temple, she was talented, could sing and dance and was the highest paid child star, but I'm glad that Judy Garland took on the role, she was purely talented, a phenomenal actress and singer since an early age, she had one of the best and most beautiful voices I've ever heard, Dorothy Gale is certainly her most iconic role.

@girliboi

Жыл бұрын

Definitely, the casting of Shirley Temple has become overblown over the years. It's true she was briefly considered once Mayer began looking at the cost of production and thought Temple more "bankable", but Freed and LeRoy always had Garland in mind from the very beginning.. . i think it just began as one of those irresistible little behind-the-scenes tidbits to pass along, that's now taken on a life of it's own with people acting like Temple was on the MGM lot being fitted for the ruby slippers (spoiler: she wasn't). However, I don't think it would be fair to say 'Blue Bird' killed her career either. I think her superstar days were numbered regardless of what role(s) she'd been given (too old to remain a "child star", while still another 5-10 years out from "leading lady" potential.. 'Blue Bird' has its flaws, but I admire both Temple and her mother for recognizing that it was time for her to attempt a different type of role, and she's honestly not bad in it. So many elements need to come together to have a hit (everything from writing to directing to editing, etc) it's basically capturing lightning in a bottle.

Well done on becoming a full time KZreadr, that's an amazing feat!! It's a staggering achievement to create a cinematic classic given the absolute chaos of this production

@LucyLioness100

Жыл бұрын

If you want something even crazier than this film’s production, just read up on 1963’s Cleopatra. Fox ended up bankrupt due to the ballooning cost of the film including issues with Liz Taylor (both her health and her affair with Richard Burton) & the various location changes that led to delay after delay. Not to mention the trimming down it underwent

@divatalk9011

Жыл бұрын

@@LucyLioness100 I watched a documentary on that chaos, what's amazing about The Wizard of Oz is inspite of the madness it's become a classic

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

It was not chaos. It was well-ordered as any movie, except for a few accidents which, all told, would take up less than a day out of the five-month principal photography period.

@divatalk9011

Жыл бұрын

@@MaskedMan66 Drugging barely legal actors, accidents resulting in severe burns and accusations of sexual abuse don't appear that orderly

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

@@divatalk9011 Get a clue; nobody was drugged, there were no accusations of sexual abuse, and as you say, Margaret Hamilton's accident was an *accident.* And I already mentioned the accidents. So on your bike.

I only recently discovered your channel, and I am so impressed and delighted. I am not a big fan of Wizard of Oz (probably a reaction to the ubiquity you refer to at the beginning), but I may revisit it now. I had certainly heard all the disaster stories many times, but this breakdown of the strengths and weaknesses of these directors is a fascinating new view I'd never heard before. Keep up the wonderful work!

@unfabgirl

Жыл бұрын

Perhaps you might like the book the movie is based on? It often gets overlooked by how big the movie is, but is equally weird and amazing

@padminimayur4049

Жыл бұрын

It is a weird, wonderful delight! Try it, you'll like it!

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

@@unfabgirl More so!

@MaskedMan66

11 ай бұрын

@@unfabgirl Scope-wise, the book is much bigger.

@unfabgirl

11 ай бұрын

@@MaskedMan66 True, but there are advantages to the movie over the book (snd vice-versa, one of which is the scope)

Always thought the Kansas scenes in The Wizard of Oz were so well done for their time. The use of matte paintings of expansive prairie and farmlands, the realistic yet unearthly farmhouse/barn compound, and despite the reddish-brown sepia color, this part of the film had an almost psychedelic feel to it.

This is one of those channels that really begs the question “Why on earth don’t you have over a million subscribers?”. Your content is so polished and your presentation is always on point. You always find a new way of looking at an artist or movie and provide deep dive info that even hard core movie buffs find fresh and surprising. It always makes my day when you upload a new video. Thanks for all the great content!

@TheListenerCanon

Жыл бұрын

Well I could ask the same as to why trash KZreadrs like SSSniperwolf and the Paul Brothers get over 20 million subscribers.

The cutting out of the weathervane character was probably the biggest reason the movie didn’t the award for best picture. His wanting of a new apartment was so admirable and inspirational and yet they left all of it on the cutting room floor.

I've said for years they should do a Feud-like series that's Wizard of Oz production vs Gone with the Wind production.

Hello BKR I just wanted to say I found your channel recently and I have binged the majority of your content in the last week! I really love how you focus on film from the female perspective a perspective often disregarded in the history of film. You have really made me appreciate so many women who had been sadly ignorant of and made me gain a deeper appreciation of some that I already adored. I have no clue if you’ll see this but I needed to say this. You make great content and I hope you know how people really appreciate it.

@Redmenace96

Жыл бұрын

Yeah. 100% dude. Women are not represented enough. Barbara Stanwyck, Betty Davis, Garbo, Katherine Hepburn.... they have been ignored. Joan Crawford was just short of 100 films! Their films don't get enough credit. Nobody listens to Pauline Kael, either. Marcia Lucas is not even considered as an editing genius. [sarcasm] But stick with your narrative of victim-hood. Women have been part of movie making since the beginning, and nobody (but you) thinks they are ignored. Dingbats think they have to educate the public about what they have recently discovered. right?

I went to see the 3D version in the theater about 10 years ago. I wasn't expecting much but the result was a really new experience. It was really like seeing it for the first time.

I love how you describe taking The Wizard of Oz for granted until a revisit really blew you away. It's such a delight when that happens.

I was one of those kids who eagerly looked forward to CBS's annual telecast. It wasn't until years later, watching it as an adult, that I realized what a profoundly weird and brilliant film it actually is. I think it suffers from being a childhood favorite. It's so much more subversive and existential than children can credit it for. I love this movie!

Thank you. This was a total eye-opener. I’ve watched and read everything about the filming of Wizard of Oz but never have seen this insight into the fact that this film had FOUR directors and so much pre-production chaos. It is a testament to the performers - and especially Judy Garland - that the focus of the film so tight and clear. We know that she paid a price, but your explanation describes how it happened, out of her control of course, and this is news. What a tenacious performer she was. I am of the generation that watched this film as a child from 1960 onwards through CBS, where it became iconic. Your reporting is excellent.

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

Careful saying things like Judy "paid a price." There is a lot of nonsense talked about the time she had making the movie, and to hear some of it, you'd think that the people who tell it wanted her to have suffered.

@deborahklinlger8565

8 ай бұрын

​@MaskedMan66 Of course not. The studio executives were responsible for getting a young Judy addicted to pills ( diet pills) and other drugs which set her up to addictions for the rest of her life which led to an early death b'4 age 50. To keep her weight down for one. Judy was so talented & it's so sad what they did to this lady for money. Granted it is an iconic film much loved by the public. I was born in '57 & remember watching it once a year on TV & then owning it on DVD. The story is about power & courage & love & bravery & music & great storytelling & gratitude & great actors & other good character traits to aim for. IT'S so sad that such abuses happened during it's creation.

I have a friend who’s totally colorblind and he recently said he remembers watching this as a kid with friends and everyone else gasping at the transition or Oz while he couldn’t see what the big deal was 😂

What a wonderful video. As a long time watcher of your content, I'm thrilled to see what else you'll focus on now that you're full time. I think another reason this film is "weird" in its time is that it focuses on a female protagonist and antagonist, but they're not vying for anything that would normally be a woman's purpose in film at the time. There's no romance, and in fact there's only one married woman in the whole film, Auntie Em. I also think Cukor was right about the tone, because at the end you're not supposed to know if she actually traveled to Oz or it was all a dream, and in dreams we accept the weird and fantastical as completely ordinary.

@colinneagle4495

Жыл бұрын

Such a good point about the non-traditional female roles in Oz!

@MaskedMan66

11 ай бұрын

Females battling each other is an old, old scenario, going back to most of the world's mythologies and folklore. And besides, Dorothy's not "vying" with the Wicked Witch for anything, she just wants to get home. The Wicked Witch is basically an obstacle to be overcome. Dorothy is of course too young to get married, so that's not really an issue. And the fact that Dorothy did dream her experience is made blatantly clear by the whole setup in the first part of the film, particularly because of the five characters who were not even in the book and who became the templates for the characters she met in her dream. Producer Mervyn LeRoy was in fact under orders NOT to make the fantasy real.

@hamilcross

8 ай бұрын

@@MaskedMan66 you're the most annoying type of person LMAO

@MaskedMan66

8 ай бұрын

@@hamilcross Truth annoys you?

Being of a certain age, watching films many times was not part of my childhood experience. We went to see them once in the theater, or maybe saw them once on TV, but rarely was it possible to see them even twice, let alone endlessly as is the case today. The sole exceptions were Mary Poppins (which my sister and I loved so much that our parents took us to see it a second time in the theater) and The Wizard of Oz, which was on TV every Easter weekend throughout my childhood. I loved it, although when I was 5, I got so frightened when the Wicked Witch cackled right into the camera that I ran into the kitchen and had to be coaxed out from under the table by my mother. And my parents only splurged on a color TV when I was a teenager, so until then I never experienced the full wonder of Dorothy’s emergence into Oz. The power of the film for me is deeply rooted in those childhood experiences of it.

This was amazing! I like how you explored the different directors and their impacts on this classic film.

My heart hits behind my EYES every time I see there’s a new BKR video!! I love this channel so GD much. I hope someone gives you a million dollars someday so you can make these like no ones got a tomorrow.

I’m glad Cukor was ultimately tasked with directing The Women. Great movie.

I know so much about The Wizard of Oz that I watched this to see if it could offer anything new. I was pleasantly surprised by this video's analysis. I enjoyed learning about the directors and why they were brought on to the project. I didn't know I could still learn so much about one of my favorite movies:)

@MaskedMan66

Жыл бұрын

How much of what you know is true?

The Wizard Of Oz is fun and freaky and I haven't seen it in decades. The scenes are so memorable you don't forget them.

I’ve been researching the making of the movie for years and have always thought that the fact it was ever made at all, was a miracle. It was refreshing to see it from a different angle ! Great job !

Thanks for this very lovely look at the serendipity of the directors involved with "Wizard of Oz" - not for the first time, I had a chance, too, to reflect on the weird connections between "Oz" and "Gone With the Wind". I'm old enough to remember growing in the 60s and anticipating "Oz" broadcasts on our black and white tv - it was a long time before I understood the impact of the transition to color in the movie, and I think it's a tribute to the movie itself that it played so strongly in B&W. (I also remember that there was a periodic showing of Mary Martin in "Peter Pan" that we also always looked forward to).

I've always been amazed at how the magic of the Wizard of Oz survived all the turnmoil behind it. Thanks for taking on that question and providing more insight that what had already been discussed or written about. Your channel is great!

You may only glance at this, but I love your videos. I’ve been subscribed for a very long time and I’ve never regretted waiting for your next video because they are so well pieced together and researched. They’re always worth the wait. I hope you continue these videos for many years to come.

I am of the age (almost 60) where the airing of TWOZ was indeed an event. We used to schedule slumber parties around it! It was a real treasure to look forward to. ❤️

Would you do a video on Babylon with historic context, or about Clara Bow? I’d love to hear your take!

I was just watching What's My Line? Feat. Judy Garland, and you dropped this. Made my day 😍😍

This film was an absolute treat when I was a child. My family and I would watch it every year! Years later, I bought it on VHS and then on DVD. I watch this film often, I never tire of it & never will. Thanks for this amazing video. I am a new subscriber, and look forward to watching more of your videos!

it'd be amazing if you did a little series on the wizard of oz, i'd die for a video from you on shirley temple's experiences, her film career ending movie the blue bird made as fox's compromise for her contractually not being allowed to be MGM's dorothy, and how they eventually cast judy garland. this video came out at a great time because i was having a rough day and i love your channel AND i love deep dives into the wizard of oz's production so this is like medicine ❤ great video

The Wizard of Oz is without a doubt my favorite movie. It absolutely holds up. I also think it’s an accessible entry point for modern fans to watch other old Hollywood movies. It’s short, concise, mostly in color, and Judy Garland grounds it in a reality that feels plausible.

@tomasiobermudez2588

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Um the whole thing is in colour actually . The beginning and “ Kansas “ scenes are actually colour 😅 : Vox goes over it in their Technicolor myth busting video that I highly appraise. The beginning of the film was purposefully chosen to have a sepia toned set and even a Judy Garland / Dorothy stunt double in sepia costuming

@MaskedMan66

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@@tomasiobermudez2588 The Kansas sequences were shot in black and white and then treated to look sepia.

BABE WAKE UP NEW BKR JUST DROPPED

1956? My life. The first time I watched this, I cried at the flying monkeys and ran to my room. A year later, I had to man up and finish the film. And I became a veteran.

every time i watch a bkr video i feel so inspired to watch movies. specifically to watch indie films, older films, foreign films, under-appreciated, forgotten, or otherwise out-of-the-mainstream movies. it's honestly a beautiful feeling to be motivated to seek out and engage with art. it's a rare thing and so special.

I think the film that truly points out why Vidor was great for the Kansas scenes is his masterpiece “Hallelujah” with the beautiful Nina Mae McKinney.

Your observations are so top-tier. BKR, you care about films, you *KNOW* films and it is endearing to see this kind of content, something which the oscar historians(lol) & 'who will/should win' channels could never pull off.

Something I do want to point out that wasn’t mentioned here is that Judy Garland was actually not the first choice to play Dorthy originally the role was supposed to go to Shirley Temple but the reason they ended up going with Garland was because they felt that Shirley’s voice was too high for Over The Rainbow

I wonder if you might find it interesting to do a sister video on the GWTW production. (Though totally understandable if you want to avoid… all of that!) the Cukor/Clark Gable situation was a bit nastier than what you mention in this video. “Woman’s director” didn’t just mean he directed women - it was a reference to his sexuality. Cukor was openly gay. Gable threw a hissy about being directed by a gay man and insisted a “masculine” director be brought in to direct him. Fleming actually directed every scene with Clark Gable. That movie had its share of drama!!

I have adored this movie ever since I was a kid. There’s just something so incredible and unique about it and I don’t think another movie has ever come close to capturing the magic this movie has.

This woman's narration is incredible! Her speech, the eloquence how she pronounces words, her tone. Has to be one of the most moving and seductive voices I have ever heard. Once again Incredible!🤩😘 🌬💀🏴‍☠️

One of my favorite movies, and I’m so happy that my three year old is now just as obsessed as I was.

Having been born in 1957, I missed the first showing. The next, you would think, I would not remember either. I can only tell you that by the time I was 6, this was my favorite movie and favorite music. Of course, I saw it every year on a black and white TV. We didn't know anyone with a color TV. However, when I was 9, neighbors who had a color TV invited us to watch it with them. I remember what I felt when Dorothy lands and the technicolor is revealed. It's a reaction that I love to see with people watching it for the first time. The biggest thing I remember was the first look at the Wicked Witch of the West. I had no idea she was green. I remember my jaw dropping and it sealed me into a lifelong love of the film. As an adult I love it for loads of reasons. I love the snappy dialogue. I went to see the Tim Rice stage version about 10 years ago and I was (and still am) put off because they had eliminated ALL of Professor Marvel/Oz's bloviated dialogue. It's a treat to the eyes and the makeup and special effects are great. I have analyzed it endlessly since the advent of the VHS. When I married my husband, he couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about until I pointed out so much. I was so glad to hear someone talk about all of the issues beyond the accidents, etc. A whole video could be dedicated JUST about the evolution of the script. If filmed the way it was originally written, it would have been a disaster. And yes, it is an industry in of itself. I have read many books, watched many films and collect, although not obsessively so. Thanks for making the average person aware of this part of the behind the scenes drama.

The Wizard of Oz is an undisputed masterpiece. One of the greatest movies ever made, and maybe the best pure fantasy ever put on film. I was one of those kids who saw it for the first time on TV. I was maybe five or six, and Margaret Hamilton scared me so bad I had to put on my Batman Halloween costume to keep watching. Many years later, as a grown man, I saw it on the big screen, and my advice to you is if you get a chance to see it that way, do so. I left that theater with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face. One of the greats.

I was born in 1999 and I watched The Wizard of Oz as an event every year as a kid. I cant believe it wasnt more celebrated in its time, its one of the most incredible, surreal films ever. I love it! And The Wiz is also an incredible remake.

I found your channel yesterday on Nebula and immediately followed after watching the video on Dolly Parton. And now you've come out with one about Wizard of Oz?? Ahh I love it!!! Thank you for wonderful videos!

For me, regardless of what went on in the making of this film, it is the greatest movie ever made. I remember when I saw it that one time and the message of home came through to me. I cried like a baby watching the film end with that message. It is such a simple, simple thing. But, we're so obsessed with anything of value being something grand and extreme, we miss the profound and important things that surround us hidden in whispers. And, Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" is guaranteed to make me start crying again out of the sheer beauty of the song and her performance.

My aunt Amy was the one who showed this along with Errol Flynn’s Robin Hood to me and my cousins when we were young. I don’t really count this as a favorite of mine, but I agree it has cultural significance and is a special film for many

I first saw this movie on TV and only in black & white. Years and years later imagine my surprise to see it in actual color after so many B&W viewings!

Thank you for your terrific analysis of the making of The Wizard of Oz. What an interesting comparison of the directors on the picture, and done in your engrossing and well-researched style. Such a beautiful film deserves to be seen in a movie theater but as you mentioned, most of us saw it for the first time on TV in our living rooms. You really illuminated why this film has such resonance long after childhood. Cheers~

What a delightfully refreshing take on this movie. I've seen many videos on the shitshow that was The wizard of Oz. I appreciate seeing a video on why it worked.

I feel like the measure of a classic film is not only how it stands the test of time, but how many great behind-the-scenes stories there are.

My parents loved classical music and watching Warner Brothers cartoons gave me an appreciation of music

I had watched Oz probably four or five times before I discovered that all of the Oz sequences were in color. When we got a color television I was surprised to see the beautiful colors of Oz.

The song "The Jitterbug" was filmed and removed from the movie. I guess it slowed down the action, but I was delighted to see it in the live stage production. It's a fun number.

I have to say, I’ve skipped this video quite often because I thought I saw just about every documentary on “Oz”. But today I caved and watched. Thank you for teaching me a few new things! This video is so well done!

No one knowing how Thorpe got the job is Exactly the same as my parents engagement! Neither of them remember it happening just one day they had already sent out invites and we're arguing over the engagement ring. (Dad wanted to get a diamond ring, mom preferred amethyst, they ended getting nothing)

Out of all the background gossip I've heard about the Wizard of Oz over my 65+ years, *HOW* did I not know until this video that it involved 4 Directors and 12 Screenwriters!?! What a recipe for disaster, and yet... Well done, BKR!

the amount of time and effort you put into these videos is incredible! i’m so glad to have found such a channel ❤

I remember watching The Wizard of Oz once a year and it was our highlight. Now kids watch whatever they want and have no appreciation or patience. So sad.

Whow two of the most famous and important Hollywood films as Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz were both released by MGM in 1939 being the two most expensive productions of the time, both were based on classics of american literature, both were filmed in Technicolor which still looks amazing for it's time, both had Geroge Cukor and Victor Fleming as directors, and both had many screenwriters to rewrite the script. I have seen many videos about the disastrous production of The Wizard of Oz but this is the most optimistic I have seen, I like that you have focused on each director and on the parts that each one worked on, it is not the first time that a disastrous filming has given birth to one of the best films in history (Apocalypse Now was even more arduous to film), even the visual effects aged well, the twister scene served as an inspiration for disaster films like Twister (which contains several references to Oz), or when the Wicked Witch of the West flies on her broom and writes "Surrender Dorothy" in the sky, It's a children's musical fantasy that will continue to captivate generations, this video even made me want to see the movie again :) I am a young fan of Classic Hollywood and this channel is perfect, they must have told you this several times but I like your voice and how you narrate as well as the editing of the videos, this is an ideal channel for all of us who like classic cinema and even for young people who may be interested. Thanks for the video and great content.

Wizard's Name: "Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs" reduced to name initials was OZPINHEAD (OZ-Pinhead), further shortened to simply Oz, or Wizard of Oz.

You are so ridiculously talented at what you do. The research you do, the editing, the focus on people or movies that don't typically get a lot of attention (at least on youtube.) I'm such a fan of your work and wish you so much success! Thanks for another great video.

I was shocked to see that rotating the room to make it appear someone is walking up the wall and on the ceiling was pioneered in 1919. I always thought the musical with Fred Astaire made in the 50s was the first to do it.

This is my favorite film -- you never forget your first -- and you absolutely nailed why, especially in winnowing it down to the directors. The Greatest Entertainer in Show Business History ought to have been nominated for Best Actress, not just Juvenile, because her performance is without spot or blemish -- perfect. It's so easy to dismiss "Oz," but it remains the most influential Hollywood film in the history of the medium. Thank you, BKR,, for so telling, researched and insightful a take.

approx. 8 min- thank you for explaining the primacy of producers pre-War 1930's. It is critical to explain to younger film fans.

Oz scared the living heck out of me as a child!!

a surprise bkr upload is the best way to turn a day around!

Another film that MGM did with scenes that go from black and white (though Wizard of Oz's non-color scenes were in sepia) to color, but more in fragments, was The Secret Garden (1949). I agree that Thorpe was harshly referred to as second-rate. Yes, his ideas were not good for this film, but he was not entirely to blame for its delay. In fact, while there is nothing remaining of his work visually, audibly some of his work remains; Buddy Ebsen's vocals The Tin Man are still in the soundtrack during the song We're Off to See the Wizard. In regards to his filmography, I have seen a number of his films, a couple of them are musicals (my favorite of his being On an Island With You), and some fabulous historical or adventure films. It is really a shame that he is not more appreciated. Apparently, he even did some uncredited work on the 1959 version of Ben-Hur, specifically the galley sequence.

Isabel, I really enjoy the connection between this movie and Pink Floyd's "The dark side of the moon" album, even though it's a very debatable theory of conspiracy, the coincidences between the movie scenes and the lyrics are just striking! Kisses from Brazil

Nothing reminds me more of Thanksgiving than going with my Dad to pick up my Noni and watching "The Wizard of Oz" on our "new" Curtis Mathis color television! Im 73 years old and remember it like it happened yesterday !💖

I need to watch this film. I haven't seen it since becoming an adult... (Watching it while listening to Dark Side of the Moon doesn't count 😂)

@abrahamaytemo

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*opens door* $$$$ 😅😅

I was just watching a doc about Wicked and you're coming up with a video about The Wizard of Oz. That's good timing.

That was absolutely incredible. Brilliant work. Diggin' the longer form.

Super adore Yip Harburg as the editor, key script writer, and bringing-it-all-together glue to the entire film. Highly recommend checking out his son's documentary about his work.

Great job putting this together! I love all of the little details. There are so many movies that you mentioned that I have never seen. They are definitely going on my watch list. I love seeing big production scenes from the past.

Remember seeing this when color TVs were still a rarity so the first OZ scene was really special for me. One of the first times seeing a movie in color. B/W seemed so normal to that point.

I love your videos but hesitated to click on this one, as I expected it to focus on the same aspects nearly any other video out there recalling the making of this movie does. I'm glad I gave in though - you actually chose a different frame from which to analyze it than I've yet seen, sharing nuance of detail that was actually new to me! Thanks for providing new insight into one of my favorite movies!

Wow, this was so interesting! I didn't know any of this about the film and you explained the events and people involved so well. Another wonderful video, thank you!

I've always loved this movie. I can't think of another movie with such artistry built in to each set. This was before special computerized effects and it has a set quality that has never really been reproduced. The tornado made from a sock, each flower and leaf made and painted by hand, the terrifying flying monkeys and the grand beauty of the emerald city. The film has touched the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world and will continue to brighten the lives of many millions more in the future. Truly a masterpiece!

Great essay! I would listen/watch to deep dives on Wizard of Oz, for hours!

i love your videos so much.. a big part of it is the subject matter of course, but the way you tell these stories is so interesting and entertaining and effective. i just love it

Hi, just wanted to pop in to say I appreciate how much depth and context your reviews always provide 😊. I can't imagine how much time and clarity that must take, and so glad I discovered your channel...❤ it!

I recently listened to the podcast What Went Wrong's episode about the making of this film. It was a fantastic episode, but that show just makes me love your channel even more! And, it definitely had me thinking "I need to see BKE's coverage of this!" Yay!