The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Genre

Adventure | Fantasy | Musical

Director

Victor Fleming

Country

USA

Cast

Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Clara Blandick, Charley Grapewin, Pat Walshe, Mitchell Lewis, Charlie Becker, Meinhardt Raabe, Jakob Gerlich, Jerry Maren, Billy Curtis, Harry Monty, Mickey Carroll, Karl Slover, Olga C. Nardone, Margaret Pellegrini, Ruth Duccini, The Doll Family, The Singer Midgets

Storyline

Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up in the land of Oz. Here she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan) who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage.

Opinion

"We're off the see the Wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz. We hear he is a whiz of a wiz, if ever a wiz there was..." is still stuck in my head - and now hopefully in yours too - as I'm trying to find the words to describe this classic.

Full of heart, life, and energy, "The Wizard of Oz" is an excellent, enchanting, timeless masterpiece for everybody to love and enjoy.

I've never seen this film as a kid - I've actually watched it last night for the first time - so I won't be able to make comparisons of what I liked then, and what I'm able to appreciate now, considering all the stuff - sets, costumes, special effects, etc. - kids usually take for granted.

I still can say I've been completely shocked by the sheer quality of the sets, the costumes, the make-up and... drumroll... special effects. The film does look old but you'd never say it's almost 80-year-old. Also, going from black and white to colour when Dorothy enters in the land of Oz is pure genius. 

Hidden behind the esthetic delights of this masterpiece there is a deep meaning. Dorothy represents a naive American public, the yellow brick road is the gold standard, Emerald City is the money factory aka Washington, the Wizard is the selfish acts of elites, and so on.

There are many hidden messages of friendship, loyalty, love, and hope, and some satire to criticize medals and certificates.

Along with a remarkable soundtrack there is Judy Garland, whose performance is extraordinary and singing is unforgettable.

Quotes

Dorothy: How do you talk if you don't have a brain?

Scarecrow: Well, some people without brains do an awful lot of talking don't they?

Wizard of Oz: A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.