SummaryAdapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. [Warner Bros.]
SummaryAdapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. [Warner Bros.]
This phantasmagorical fantasy really does represent old-school MGM filmmaking at its best – sets, make-up, costumes and music combining to quite stunning effect.
Like many Hollywood classics, Oz benefited from happy accidents: Happiest of all was the casting, as Dorothy, of MGM teenage songbird Garland, whose wide-eyed emoting and passionate singing make the movie. Behind her is a near-perfect supporting cast. [18 Jun 1999, p.I]
Despite its earnest endorsement of the idea that there's no place like home ... well, frankly there are plenty of places like boring old home, but nothing's like Oz.
Fantasy is still Walt Disney’s undisputed domain. Nobody else can tell a fairy tale with his clarity of imagination, his simple good taste, or his technical ingenuity. This was forcibly borne in on me as I sat cringing before M-G-M’s Technicolor production of The Wizard of Oz, which displays no trace of imagination, good taste, or ingenuity.
I am 16, and I still love this movie. I grew up watching this, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Meet Me in Saint Louis, and I never tire of them. Judy Garland is wonderful as Dorothy, bringing a sense of vulnerability and sadness to the role, making Over The Rainbow more poignant than it already was. Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr are really entertaining as her three friends. Billie Burke as Glinda, and the Munchkins were great fun too. The wicked witch of the west scared the life out of me here and still does, and even Frank Morgan does 5 roles to great comical effect. The songs are just fabulous, and so is the cinematography and the stunning scenery. True, the film isn't completely faithful to the book, but why does it have to be? If I had one minor drawback, it would be the singing voice of the Lion, but apart from that, this movie is a must-see! 10/10. Bethany Cox
The Wizard of Oz is an incredible movie and I have a mixed opinion but my opinion is slightly positive. As a child I liked this movie but now I find the movie a bit silly and has some terrible acting and can even come off as a cheesy and cringe movie but I liked the music, the characters but they had an ugly costume design and sometimes the singing could be obnoxious but overall this movie is a pretty good classic.
Many may find me odd for giving a score lower than a 9 but truthfully I found the movie to be overlong and boring, the cinematography however is the stand-out feature of the movie. Despite my love for classics, this one is somewhat overrated.
I never liked this movie. Even when I was a small child. :/ Sorry it's just overrated in my honest opinion.....................................................................................................................
I can understand why adults like this movie, and maybe young kids, but I cannot stand this movie. It is basically a musical which I cant stand. The story is just another excuse for it to sell its soundtrack. The sound is terrible, no surprise. The only good thing about this movie was that the wicked witch of the west wanted to kill the main character, which never happened. This movie is too kidish for me, and u can go right ahead and hate this review, but it wont change my mind.