In the age of “everything’s been done before,” The Wizard of Oz stands a shining testament to the notion that some works of art truly cannot be replicated, they cannot be topped, and they will never, ever go out of style. It is historic in so many ways — for the film technology it so aptly demonstrates, for iconic songs that live rent-free somewhere deep inside all of us, and in the beloved performances of our dearest friends, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto.
A Message of Hope and the Wonderful World of Technicolor
When The Wizard of Oz hit theaters in August 1939, the United States was still recovering from the Great Depression and the world at large was just weeks away from the start of World War II. While I wasn’t there and can’t say for sure, I imagine it was a pretty dark time to be a regular person just trying to get by.
That being said, I truly believe in the importance of inspiring stories during dark times. I think during its time, and in every period of history since, The Wizard of Oz has brought us some beautiful messages of hope. It’s there in the love Dorothy has for Toto right from the very beginning and her willingness to fight to protect him. It’s there in the joy of the Munchkins at being freed from an evil witch and in the willingness of our main characters to face danger to help each other. It’s there in the end, when Dorothy realizes there’s no place like home. And while the plot and dialogue tell the story, the visuals paint the picture in dramatic ways.
By the time I was born in 1982, The Wizard of Oz was over 40 years old. I couldn’t tell you exactly how old I was when I watched it for the first time, but I do recall very clearly how wonderous it felt to see Dorothy step into the colorful world of Oz — like I was truly seeing color for the first time. It has always been one of my mom’s favorite movies, and I have seen it dozens of times over the years. I have never once watched it without having that same feeling.
While it wasn’t the first major motion picture to use the relatively new Technicolor film process, it is certainly one of the most iconic. The transition from dull, sepia-toned Kansas to the vibrant world of Oz not only shows off the technology but also makes it part of the story, visually marking Dorothy’s journey from ordinary to magical.
Timeless Tunes That Transcend Generations
I like some musicals, but generally speaking, I’m not one of the “musicals are life” people. You know the ones I’m talking about. That being said, the songs are easily some of the most fun, memorable scenes of The Wizard of Oz. In fact, the movie won Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.
It’s easy to get lost in Judy Garland’s voice during the melancholy lament of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The munchkins’ bop about the demise of the Wicked Witch of the East is a delightful (and somewhat twisted) jaunt that sets the tone for what is to come in Oz — silly and fun, yet dark and a bit horrifying.
Beloved Characters and Unforgettable Performances
So the story is amazing and the scenes are marvelous, but this movie could easily have been lost to history without the right cast to make these characters unforgettable.
At 16 years old, Judy Garland carries the enormous weight of the movie with vulnerability, charm, and grace. Her performance is the perfect blend of innocence and courage. Her natural warmth and sincerity earn her a place in cinema history as a timeless heroine.
Then, of course, there are Dorothy’s three companions, each one memorable, loveable and distinct. Ray Bolger’s bumbling physicality as Scarecrow is almost incomprehensible. How does he do that? Jack Haley’s Tin Man balances stoic sadness with an endearing sweetness. And, of course, Bert Lahr’s Cowardly Lion is both pitiable and loveable.
But the heroes aren’t the only iconic performances! Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West is a masterclass in villainy. Her sharp cackle has echoed its way through the decades, haunting the dreams of children everywhere nightmares and setting the standard for on-screen witches.
Together, these actors crafted a world where characters were not just figures in a fantasy land but real friends and foes, each with unique charms, quirks, and depth.
The Dark Side of The Wizard of Oz
While it is certainly an iconic movie for all the aforementioned reasons, I would be remiss in not mentioning the darker side of its history. Over the years, many truly terrible stories have emerged regarding the production of The Wizard of Oz.
There have been plenty of accounts of mistreatment on set, especially of young Garland. She was forced to take amphetamines and barbiturates to control her diet and sleep patterns, which ultimately contributed to her lifelong struggles with substance abuse and eventual death at the young age of 47. There were reports of verbal abuse and sexual harassment from crew members and studio higher-ups.
The costumes worn by the cast were not just uncomfortable but dangerous. Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Man but he suffered a near-fatal reaction to the aluminum dust-coated costume. The Cowardly Lion’s costume was made of real lion fur, which was unbearably hot and heavy. Copper in the Wicked Witch’s green makeup caused a painful reaction for Hamilton, who also suffered serious burns due to a malfunction with the trapdoor and pyrotechnics.
The set of The Wizard of Oz also had multiple accidents beyond Hamilton’s burns and Ebsen’s poisoning, like stunt performers getting injured due to the production’s inadequate safety measures. And I’m sure many of us have heard rumors over the years about a crew member’s suicide being captured in the background of a scene in the movie. While that particular story has been debunked, the true stories of the terrible things that happened during filming make it easy to see why the myth has endured.
The Legacy
Despite these controversies, The Wizard of Oz remains a cultural icon. Though its place in history is well-earned, it is a reminder of the difficult realities of Hollywood productions and the price paid by some actors to achieve onscreen magic — a trend that has unfortunately not remained in the past. However, it is also a testament to the power of storytelling and the resilience of the cast and crew who brought this amazing world to life. Its legacy shines not only for its cinematic achievements but for the hope, imagination, and wonder it continues to inspire in each new generation.
What The Wizard of Oz Means to Us
I can’t remember the first time I watched The Wizard of Oz, at least not in full. My mom refused to watch the movie; apparently, the wicked witch and especially the flying monkeys had scarred her in her childhood and those memories stuck with her into her adulthood. I do remember watching my future wife, father-in-law, and sisters-in-law performing in a community theatre production of the film though and it hitting me just how engrained this movie is in our culture with iconic lines including “There’s no place like home,” “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore,” “Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!” and so many others. We recently sat back down to watch it again after having attempted to watch a few other movies from around the same timeframe, and it is simply shocking to see the next level this film was operating on compared to so many of its contemporaries. While clearly fake, the sets are so beautifully detailed and obviously practical that it only adds to the sense of fantasy. To date, no movie has been able to match the magic of technicolor, and few movies make use of it quite like The Wizard of Oz. There’s a reason that this movie has stood the test of time like no other and remains one of the greatest cinematic achievements ever.
–Jacob Holmes
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