MGM wanted 10-year-old Shirley Temple instead. Completely untrue. A look at, say, The Adventures of Robin Hood was sufficient to convert many naysayers. "We assembled and trained a staff with the appropriate skills and film sensibilities, plus the dedication needed to do the job properly," Feiner says. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, arrives and slides the evil witch's magic ruby slippers on Dorothy's feet. Later, Hamilton's stunt double, Betty Danko, was badly injured while riding (on wires) the witch's smoke-spitting broomstick. He wanted to produce and direct Wizard, but was informed he was assigned to produce but not direct the high-budget project. The tale begins in Kansas, where Dorothy lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and enjoys the friendship of three farmhands: Hunk, Zeke and Hickory. Phil Feiner, president of the optical division of Pacific Title/Mirage, reminds us that the first two reels of Oz, as well as the last, are black-and-white. The fine-grain intermediate provided by The Library of Congress showed no visible signs of vinegar syndrome or shrinkage, and it had a stable base. In late October, Ebsen became seriously ill from breathing the powdered aluminum dusted over his Tin Man makeup. This does not influence our choices. The highest paying actor from the cast seems to be Ray Bolger, the Scarecrow, and Jack Haley, the Tin Man, earning $3,000 per week. They were flown on piano wires and their wings were made to flap by means of small hidden motors. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. There's no magic bullet with digital technology you can only scan in the image quality on the source material. With Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney hosting screenings at Loew's Capitol Theater, it set house records. All of the original three-strip Technicolor film from that period was recorded on a potentially flammable nitrate-based emulsion. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. That led to his employment by D. W. Griffith for America (1923) and, in 1925, the start of his long career at MGM. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, This article originally ran in AC, December, 1998. Movie studios used asbestos because it was fireproof, unlike cotton, which they previously used. Other writers involved were Herman J. Mankiewicz, Irving Brecher, Robert Pirosh, George Seaton, Herbert Fields, Jack Mintz and Ogden Nash. Aside from the added expense, many patrons claimed that color films gave them headaches the same complaint they had lodged against talkies a decade earlier. When Jack Haley replaced him, they started using a safer aluminum paste as makeup. Feiner opted to make a contact liquid-gate dupe negative of the fine-grain IP, which eliminated the worst of the abrasions and emulsion digs. Maren, now 94, is the last surviving Munchkin actor. During the process, one of the trap doors was stuck; consequently, Hamilton received second-degree burns on her face and third-degree burns on her hands. After several takes, the pyrotechnics ignited too soon and she was seriously burned on the face and hand. The film opened in New York on Aug. 17, 1939. Harry Earles, Jerry Maren, and Jackie Gerlich, who became the Lollipop Guild kids in Munchkinland. He was 98. With a final cost of $2,777,000, it was one of the most expensive pictures ever made. The main camera, mounted on a huge crane, was kept moving, tracking with the subjects in most shots. The only way to do that is to compare the processed images on the computer screen to a matching frame of the source material. She previously played the role of Dorothy in the WebLearn more about the full cast of The Wizard of Oz with news, photos, videos and more at TV Guide. The story exerts warmth and thrills, making it a masterpiece and a must-see film for the young and the old. "When we scanned our dupe at full film resolution, there was no loss in image quality. This last epic was one of the few instances that Curtis was cast as a good guy; many of his ( more) I. E. Chadwick produced a silent Wizard in 1925 which also flopped, despite featuring Larry Semon as the Scarecrow, Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodsman, and Charlie Murray as the Wizard. However, another tall dancer, Ray Bolger, wanted the part so badly that he replaced Ebsen, who was then assigned to play the Tin Woodsman. Dorothy and her friends take the broomstick and return to face the Mighty Oz. The Wizard of Oz 1939 movie based on the book by L. Frank Baum Billy Curtis; Heritage designation: Memory of the World (2007) Publication date: 25 August The Technicolor photography for Oz was difficult because of the vastness of the sets. WebThe Wizard of Oz (1939) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by However, they were immediately bailed out so production wouldn't be stalled: "You couldn't lock them up for long because they were needed on the set. The final cost was $2,777,000. An oft-told legend maintains that the tornado was created by manipulating a windblown silk stocking through a tabletop set. In his palace, Toto pulls aside a curtain, revealing a man operating levers that create the illusion of the Wizard. The walls of the spout consisted of a circle of painted muslin, 35' in diameter. Even so, Rosson was astonished at the number of big arcs required to light the picture. Release Date: Tuesday, August 15 1939 83 years ago . This was back in the 1930s, so the only reason Hamilton returned to the production and didn't sue MGM's entire studio after the incident was because she knew it would ruin her acting career: "I know how this business works, and I would never work again. Temple was signed to 20th Century Fox, and for years she was expected to star in some type of Oz film series. Tornado shots were used alone and as process plates to be projected behind Dorothy during her attempt to elude the funnel. In 1984, a copy was struck from one of those intermediates. Apparently they spent most of their time after work at bars and "were disorderly as hell, yelling and screaming." That's presuming that the original black-and-white separations have not been scratched or damaged in other ways and that the base on which it is coated has not shrunk. Paul Adams: stand-in for Frank Morgan Stafford Campbell: stand-in for Ray Bolger Betty Danko: stand-in and stunt double for Margaret Hamilton Jimmy Fawcett: stand-in for Bert Lahr It was as though someone had taken the top of her hand and peeled it like an orange. You might have misheard her because she yells out, "Fly, Fly, fly.". The film's director slapped Judy Garland. Some of it splashes on the Witch, destroying her. All Rights Reserved. The McDonalds character, Mayor McCheese, was played by Billy, from its creation until his death in 1988. The result was that there were scratches, embedded dirt and other anomalies copied onto the fine-grain master in 1960. However, by the late 20th century the 1939 film The last of these books is Glinda of Oz, published in 1920. Danko made only $35 for completing the broomstick stunt and $790 for everything else she did in the movie. Webscottbdoug. WebCurtis' big movie season was 1938-39: he was cast in The Wizard of Oz (1939) (albeit with voice dubbed by Pinto Colvig) and as the cowboy hero of the all-dwarf western The The expensive gantry and its perambulating car saw further service in getting the witch's flying monkeys airborne. The Harold Arlen/E. Aug. 15, 1939: The west-coast premiere of The Wizard of Oz at Grauman's Theater in Los Angeles. And in the 2010 film Dahmer vs Gacy, he played a mime. WebHeck, even midget Billy Curtis (THE WIZARD OF OZ, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER) shows up to give his thoughts on pot. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly American setting, a delightfully levelheaded and assertive heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature. Judy Garland Dorothy Gale. Jerry Maren, the last surviving adult Munchkin from 'The Wizard of Oz' who also appeared in Marx Brothers movies and on 'Seinfeld,' has died. There's a moment in the movie where smoke comes out of the Wicked Witches' broomstick. The famous song 'Over the Rainbow' almost did not make it to the final cut. 1961. | The process was also used in other pictures of the era, such as Ziegfeld Girl, Tarzan Finds a Son! Ebsen claimed to have breathing problems for the rest of his life because of "that damned movie.". Jimmy the Crow (uncredited) Jimmy the Crow was: 5. "For nearly 40 years this story has given faithful service to the Young in Heart; and Time has been powerless to put its kindly philosophy out of fashion. Fleming was one five directors who worked on Oz, but he left before it finished to take over Gone With the Wind. He had a regular gig throwing confetti at the end of each Gong Show; had recurring roles on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Sid and Marty Kroffts Lidsville; and guest-starred on such series as The Odd Couple, The Beverly Hillbillies, Get Smart, The Wild Wild West and Seinfeld (in the 1997 The Yada Yada episode). The movie rights were fought over between several studios, but MGM ultimately got the rights. Born June 27, 1909 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. WebThe Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical comedy-drama fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! George E. Turner American Cinematographer This article originally ran in AC, Don't Lie. "We test scanned the original fine-grain and the dupe to see if there were discernible differences in resolution, sharpness and overall image quality," he says. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. He was perfect for the Cowardly Lion. The Beverly Hillbillies was initially cast as the Scarecrow, but he swapped roles with Ray Bolger. Anything WebTHE WIZARD of Oz Review Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer A Victor Fleming Production with: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Buddy Ebsen, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin and the Munchkins ", MGM Labs had set up a production line to copy the nitrate film onto CRIs, recording from the emulsion side rather than the base side. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. The original look involved a blonde wig and makeup, but this was soon changed. Chances are that no film has been seen by more people than The Wizard of Oz. Curiously, her signature song, ''Somewhere Over the Rainbow,'' was nearly cut from the. The farmhouse, which was about 3' high, was swept aloft on piano wires. Because you don't take chances with green. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 27 June. is 4 2 . Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice was first considered for the Good Witch, but the final choice was Billie Burke, Ziegfeld's widow. They tried several different alternatives, including food coloring, but "the colors were not subtle enough." Wizard also presented many problems not previously encountered in three-strip photography because of its numerous special effects scenes. She made, The "snowstorm" that took place in the poppy field scene was actually, Betty Danko, the Wicked Witch's stunt double, spent, Hal Roach Studios / Wikipedia/ Public Domain /, Shirley Temple was originally promised the role of Dorothy, but the deal ultimately, According to Judy Garland's biographer, her, The studio executives at MGM treated Judy Garland so terribly that they often, And the head of the studio forced Judy on a, 23 Shocking And Unexpected Movie Facts You Didn't Know Until Now, 23 Shocking And Unexpected Christmas Movie Facts You Didn't Know Until Now. The bottom of the funnel was anchored in a hidden slot that ran the length of the stage. To make this happen, a pipe was attached to the bicycle seat saddle on the broomstick, but during one of the practice runs the pipe exploded: "I felt as though my scalp was coming off. Louis B. Meyer, the co-founder of MGM, often referred to Judy Garland as "my little hunchback." TelevisaUnivision Taps Becky G for Upfront Performance (Exclusive), Former ABC News/Disney Exec Marie Nelson Named Hot Docs Fest President, James Gunn Created 600 Unique Versions of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 For Various Types of Cinemas (Exclusive), Sylvester Stallone Sets Cliffhanger Reboot With Angel Has Fallen Director, GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to The First Slam Dunk, Wes Anderson Directing Star Wars? The prop exploded, sending her to the hospital for 11 days and leaving her with permanent scars. and the Hollywood premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theater was lavish. The arrival of Glinda the Good Witch in Munchkinland is a deft bit of fantasy. The Wizard of Oz | Ray Bolger was initially approached to play the Tin Man, but he lobbied hard to play the rubber-legged Scarecrow. Munchkinland Mayor. We all know that the film Wizard of Oz is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's book titled 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900, its illustrator was W.W Ever wonder how he would have thought of the name 'Oz'? Ebsen was hospitalized and forced out of The Wizard of Oz's production because of the costuming and makeup. When Feiner inspected the Scarecrow scene, the image seemed slightly off. Behind the Curtain: The Wizard of Oz - The American Society of Cinematographers (en-US) Historical April 25, 2023 Behind the Curtain: The Wizard of and Girl of the Golden West. Throughout the next few years, MGM started prescribing Garland even more pills to "control both her weight and her energy levels. WebCurtis "The Pimp" Bennett (Prisoner #01B624) is an African American inmate featured in Oz. The most interesting fact is he framed the pencil that L. Frank Baum used to write the book. Fleming was one five directors who worked on Oz , but he left before it finished to take over, The Wizard of Oz | Fleming with actors Billy Curtis (left) and Charlie Becker (right). The vivid colors came from dyes added during this process. Jack Young, one of the movie's makeup artists, revealed that the green paint that was used to cover Hamilton's body was actually toxic because it had copper in it: "Every night when I was taking off the Witch's makeup, I would make sure that her face was thoroughly clean. Judy Garland, 16, was initially considered too old and too tall for Dorothy. Many have claimed that Pink Floyd's album, 'Dark Side of the Moon,' was made with the film in mind and is synchronized with the scenes in the classic film. To those of you who have been faithful to it in return and to the Young in Heart we dedicate this picture.". WebLollipop Guild Members - Billy Bletcher, Lorraine Bridges, Jon Dodson, Jackie Gerlich, Bud Linn, Jerry Maren Mayor - Billy Bletcher Winged Monkies - Buster Brodie, Harry Cogg, Sid Dawson, Sig Frohlich, Harry Monty, Lee Murray, George Noisom, Jack Paul Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Jerry Maren, the last surviving adult Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, has died. But the costumes were so unhandy.". Half of the time we were hanging from the ceiling, but it was a way of life for us., Billy Curtis, one of the Munchkin actors, remembered the event, saying, "They had to clean him off like he was a baby." They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. After reciting this magical mantra, Dorothy awakens in her bed, surrounded by her aunt and uncle, the three farmhands who bear an uncanny resemblance to the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion and Professor Marvel, whom we realize is the Wizard. Pacific Title/Mirage converted it to digital format with a Kodak digital film scanner at full film resolution. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. The Wizard of Oz | Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Your privacy is important to us. Dye fading is not inherent to the Technicolor three-strip process. The studio's next choice was W.C. Fields a mind-boggling concept! The big cloud of dust that surrounds the bottom of a twister was made by blowing Fuller's earth and compressed air in from underneath. Instead, the camera moved to make the ball appear to describe the path it was to follow. Next, the Tin Man's suit, Buddy Esben wore a metal suit, making it hard for him even to sit. Because today at least, it washes off. ", Garland told biographer Paul Donnelly that they'd give her and Mickey Rooney, with whom she made several movies, the pills to "keep us on our feet long after we were exhaustedthen knock us out with sleeping pillsthen after four hours theyd wake us up and give us the pep pills again so we could work 72 hours in a row. He was replaced by Victor Fleming, a hard-boiled former cinematographer. For instance, the cowardly Lion costume worn by Bert Lahr was authentic, meaning it was made from a real lion and weighed approximately 90 lbs (40.8 kg). Oscars honor classic on Sunday; take a trip back in time with historic vintage pics, Credit: Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio. They had to work fast between each take, though, because "the horses invariably managed to lick off most of the Jell-O between shots.". Did you know that Frank Morgan played the title role of Wizard of Oz in the movie? Did the Wicked Witch of the West have toxic makeup on? Based on the book by L. Frank Baum, it tells of Dorothy and her fantasy trip to the land of Oz where witches, scarecrows, lions and talking trees all exist. Still, it took me about a day to discover what had happened. Gillespie was also called in to photograph scenes in the poison poppy field, for which it was necessary to have the camera move along the ground surrounded by flowers. That figure surprises those who only remember the black-and-white footage from the scene in which Dorothy opens the door of her Auntie Em's house to discover that a tornado has transported her to a Technicolor universe. A. Arnold Gillespie was in charge of miniatures, projection process, and mechanical effects. One would think it to be Judy Garland, but she only made $500 per week. A subsequent version made of muslin whipped around satisfactorily, but it quickly tore loose at the bottom. The Adventures of Superman. McDonalds retired the character when Billy died in 1988. Fleming was one five directors who worked on Oz, but he left before it finished to take over Gone With the Wind. But you will be surprised to know Frank Morgan played five characters in the movie, including the wizard's guard. And then I said, 'I'm going to have to scream. Some of the best remembered 'beauty shots' in Oz are Newcombe composites, such as scenes in which the towering buildings of the Emerald City loom in the distance as Dorothy and her friends follow the yellow brick road. To make this happen, a pipe was attached to the bicycle seat saddle on the broomstick. The huge camera moved smoothly and quietly over the well-lubricated tracks. What follows is a long journey in search of a wizard who grants wishes, accompanied by a Scarecrow in need of a brain, the Tin Woodman who wishes for a heart and a Cowardly Lion, longing for courage. While filming the scene, the actor Judy Garland kept giggling, and, frustrated, the director Victor Flemming took Judy aside and slapped her for real. The Wizard of Oz | Blanche Sewell edited The Wizard of Oz , an enormous responsibility considering all the scenes that were ultimately discarded. 1966. Just 4 feet 11.5 inches, she could be underweight and still appear heavy or out of proportion on screen.. Billy Curtis' career thrived into the 1970s, notably with solid parts in the Clint Eastwood western High Plains Drifter (1973) and the crime-caper melodrama Little Cigars (1973), in which he had second billing as a diminutive criminal mastermind. It's easy to imagine any of these actors performing the role beautifully, but the final choice, Frank Morgan, proved to be the perfect Wizard.

Why Does My Chin Smell Bad When I Rub It, Street Kings Filming Locations, How Much Does A 150000 Annuity Pay Per Month?, Articles W