THE WIZARD OF OZ
Did you know
. . . ?
*Judy Garland at age 16 played
a 12 year old Dorothy, who was originally almost 7 years old in Baum's 1900 novel!
*During the filming of Munchkinland scene
Margaret Hamilton's Hat,Broom & Cloak caught fire & she suffered severe 2nd & 3rd degree burns on her hands &
lower face.
*Ray Bolger was oringinaly
cast as the Tin Man but asked to play the Scarecrow because his childhood hero was Fred A. Stone who played the Scarecrow
in the 1902 play.
*After only a few weeks of
production Buddy Ebsen (Tin Man) became very ill from his "allumieum dust" make-up & was replaced by Jack Haley.
*The Wizard of Oz had 4 directors,
Richard Thorpe(Fired after 2 weeks), George Cukor(Temporary director designed Dorothy Final Costume/Make-Up), Victor Fleming(Primary),
& King Vidor(Kansas Scenes)
*Shirley Temple was wanted
for Dorothy, but Mervyn LeRoy did not believe she had the singing talent & 20th Century Fox would not loan her to MGM.
*Gale Sondergaard was hired
to play a "Slinky & Seductive" Wicked Witch, the sequinced gown did not pass as a Witch & she was given "The Ugly
Treatment" at that time she happily left Oz behind & later quoted, "I was not about to make myself look ugly. I have no
regrets, absolutley no Regrets." Note, she starred in Shirley Temple's THE BLUEBIRD a rib on OZ.
*THERE IS NO HANGING PERSON
IN THE WIZARD OF OZ IT IS A LARGE BIRD FLAPPING ITS WINGS WHILE THE BIRD TRAINER TRIES TO CATCH IT!
Deleted Scenes:
The Scarecrow Dance-A longer
version of Ray Bolger's dance that was greatly directed by Busby Burkley & Ray Bolger had some hillarious moments, but
the scene was scrapped after a few preview showings. The clip is now available in its entire form on the 2000 Warner Bros.
Wizard of Oz DVD & Video.
The Jitterbug-On the way to
the Witch's castle, the Witch sent the Jitterbug after Dorothy & Friends. The bug sent them in a dancing frenzy which
weakened them against the Winged Monkeys. The film still includes an indication of the scene in which the Witch state "I sent
a little insect on a head to take the fight out of them!". Clips from Harold Arlens home videos are the only clips of the
scene available to the public. The clips are on the 50th Anniversary Video release as well as the 2000 Warner Bros. Edition.
Over the Rainbow(Reprise)-Dorothy was
to sing another verse of Over the Rainbow while prisoner of the Witch, but was so sad it was scrapped. It is unknown if clips
exist.
Triumphent Return-The triumphent
return to the Emerald included a reprise of Ding-Dong the Witch is Dead as the heroes parade through the Emerald City. Footage
for this scene no longer exist.
Bloopers
*When attempting to escape
the Witch's Castle Dorothy & the Tin Man switch places after the Witch's door slams shut.
*Dorothy's hair changes length
throughout the film.
*Dorothy's dress appears to
be fuller & fluffier after the Emerald City scene.
*After the Witch leaves Munchkinland,
Glinda knocks her wand into her crown.
*The sewer lid in which one
of the Munchkins emerges from during "Come Out, Come Out" does not appear in any other scenes.
*After slapping the Lion,
you can see Judy use Terri(Toto) to cover her face so you couldn't see her giggling.
*The Tin Man smashes a flowerpot
to make a crown for the cowardly Lion, but when the crown is dropped it does not break.
