How Any Oz Does a Baby Eat in 8 Hours
From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special furnishings and makeup tricks that brought some of the globe's favorite flick characters to life, The Wizard of Oz (1939) had and so much going on backside the emerald curtain and the Technicolor gloss of an amazing fantasy earth.
In honour of the 80th anniversary of the film, follow the yellow brick slideshow to peek behind that mantle and learn more than well-nigh the secrets and fun facts that make the dear picture a timeless classic.
Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Before the Flick
As a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of L. Frank Baum's Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to exist considered for a function in the 1939 motion-picture show accommodation. Hamilton called her agent to enquire which graphic symbol the producers wanted her to play, and her agent famously said, "The witch — who else?"
Hamilton, a single mother, fought MGM for an agreed upon corporeality of guaranteed work time. Three days before filming began, the studio agreed to a five-calendar week bargain. In the end, Hamilton was on fix for three months, merely many of her scenes were cut for beingness besides scary for audiences.
Certain, Dorothy Gale doesn't demand prosthetics or aluminum makeup, but that doesn't mean Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was young at the fourth dimension, the 16-year-onetime Garland had to article of clothing a corset-like device then she looked more like a preadolescent child.
Managing director Richard Thorpe suggested Garland clothing a blonde wig and loads of "baby-doll" makeup (as whatever preadolescent girl would…). Luckily, that vision of the grapheme inverse. After MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate managing director George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to be herself. Smart move.
The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Keen Movie Magic
The Wizard of Oz employs a lot of corking movie tricks, and some of the most unique were used in the skywriting scene. In information technology, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies above the Emerald City, leaving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" in her wake in black fume.
Using a hypodermic needle, the special effects team spread black ink across the lesser of a glass tank that was filled with a thick, tinted liquid (some speculate milk). They wrote the phrase in contrary and filmed the scene from beneath. Initially, the skywriting ended with the ominous "Or Die — West W Westward."
The "Snow" in the Poppy Field Was Actually Dangerous
I of the Wicked Witch's last-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy'due south quest to meet the Wonderful Sorcerer of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical sleep-inducing snow. While many like to joke that the poppies and their drowsiness are the result of opium (a component of poppies), the scene has a much more than blatant toxic connection than that.
All that magical snow? It's actually 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. Even though the health risks associated with the material were known at the time, it was notwithstanding Hollywood'southward preferred choice for imitation snowfall. Our advice to Dorothy? Don't grab any snowflakes on your tongue.
Scarecrow's Makeup Stuck Around for Awhile
In the end, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful in more ways than one for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Man'southward) willingness to trade parts with him. The Tin Man's aluminum makeup acquired a huge amount of issues for Ebsen, who was replaced by Jack Haley.
Although Bolger'due south makeup experience was better than Ebsen'south, he still had some issues. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a rubber prosthetic, complete with a woven pattern that mimicked the expect of burlap. After the film wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger's face that took more than a year to fade.
Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Prepare
In a burst of flames and red smoke, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, it may take instilled more fear for Hamilton. On the showtime take, the fume rose from a subconscious trapdoor too early on.
For the 2d take, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, but her greatcoat snagged on the platform when the fire flared up. Her copper-containing makeup heated upwardly instantly, causing second- and tertiary-caste burns on her hands and face. To make matters worse, the crew tried to remedy her burns with (an even more painful) acetone solvent.
The Flying Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys
The Wicked Witch'due south legion of flying monkeys — or Winged Monkeys equally they're chosen in the source textile — have certainly been a source of terror for generations. Almost equally scary as the Witch herself, these henchmen soar onto the scene to kidnap Dorothy and Toto — thanks to the magic of piano wires.
However, the aerial stunt went awry when several of the pianoforte wires snapped, sending actors plummeting a few feet to the soundstage floor. To create such a vast troupe of monkeys (and cut downwardly on human being marionettes), filmmakers fabricated miniature rubber monkeys to help populate the sky.
"Over the Rainbow" Was Nigh on the Cutting Room Floor
To no one's surprise, the American Motion picture Institute ranked "Over the Rainbow" #1 on a list of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. But what may surprise you? The (arguably) most iconic song of Judy Garland's career was nearly cutting from the film.
Studio execs at MGM thought the song made the Kansas scenes also long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't understand the song's meaning. Luckily, this unfounded business organisation melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland'southward tearful reprise of the song was left on the cutting room floor.
The Tin Human being Costume Didn't Permit Jack Haley to Rest Piece of cake
Although Bert Lahr had to schlep around in a 90-pound panthera leo costume, Jack Haley didn't take information technology easy either. From the lingering concerns about the aluminum paste-based makeup on his confront and hands to the minimal flexibility of the "can" trunk and arms, Haley faced some challenges.
Reportedly, his costume was so stiff that he had to lean confronting a board to rest properly. Many years later, histrion Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the aforementioned issue with his rigid costume. Information technology seems fifty-fifty fantasy and sci-fi can't help folks escape all their problems.
The Original Tin Man Was Rushed to the Infirmary
Initially, Buddy Ebsen was bandage equally the Scarecrow, just traded parts with Ray Bolger. Still, Ebsen's new character, the Tin can Man, acquired him a world of problems. Namely, the character'southward silver makeup contained a harmful aluminum grit that coated Ebsen's lungs.
To make matters worse, Ebsen had an allergic reaction, and, unable to breathe, he was rushed to the infirmary. MGM recast the role with Jack Haley (and changed up the makeup), merely didn't explain why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't appear in the terminal film, his vocals tin be heard in "We're Off to Encounter the Wizard."
A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave Us the Tornado
The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is total of practical special effects that really hold up. The funnel itself was really a 35-foot long stocking made of muslin. The special effects team spun information technology around miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Against the painted backdrop, the tornado looks menacing.
The Gale house, which falls from the sky and into Oz, is simply a miniature business firm that was dropped onto a sky painting. Filmmakers then reversed the footage to brand it wait like the house was falling out of the clouds.
Hollywood Didn't Pay Up So Either
Pay inequality has always been an issue in Hollywood. For example, Adriana Caselotti, vocalization of the titular character in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Vii Dwarfs (1937), fabricated $970 for her performance. The film went on to make roughly $8 million.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland's pay was improve than Caselotti's — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a week — but it still didn't reverberate the picture show's success. Even more discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $50 per week. (Meanwhile, Terry the dog earned $125 per week every bit Toto. A real yikes.)
Bert Lahr'south Lion Costume Was Taxing
Originally, MGM thought it might cast its mascot — the actual king of beasts used in the studio's title bill of fare — every bit the cowardly character. Fortunately, for the safety of the actors and the fauna, the filmmakers decided to cast actor Bert Lahr equally the anthropomorphic character instead.
To make a convincing animate being, the costume department fashioned Lahr a ninety-pound outfit fabricated from real panthera leo skin. Withal, the arc lights used on set made things a steamy 100 degrees during filming, which meant Lahr did a lot of sweating unrelated to his graphic symbol'southward fretfulness. Each night, two stagehands stale the costume for the next twenty-four hours.
The Initial Box Role Returns Were Uneven
The moving-picture show started shooting in Oct of 1938 just didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking up an unheard of $2,777,000 in costs. That's nearly $fifty million adjusted for inflation. Upon its initial release, the picture show only earned $3 million at the box office — about $51.viii million by today's standards.
Although that seems impressive for a Depression-era film, call up that Disney made $8 million with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The Magician of Oz'southward minor success in the U.S. barely covered product and film rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — but success overseas fortunately bolstered the movie'due south returns.
The Dark Side of Oz in a Time Before "Me Besides"
Judy Garland was just 16 years former when she was bandage every bit Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were often given to young actors to help them sleep afterward studios shot them up with adrenaline so they could work long hours.
The spotlight — and her damaging contract with MGM — didn't help, leading to her lifelong struggles with an eating disorder and alcoholism. According to a writer for Limited, "[Garland] was molested by older men, including studio chiefs [and head Louis B. Mayer], who considered her little more than than their 'property.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy diet of cigarettes, coffee and chicken soup.
The Phonation of Snowfall White Had a Cameo
A few years before The Magician of Oz debuted, Walt Disney'south feature-length animated picture Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs (1937) became a smash-hit. Non only did the film revolutionize the animation industry, it also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.
Disney wanted to follow up Snow White — then the most successful film of all time — with an accommodation of The Wizard of Oz, but MGM owned the rights. By happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited role in Oz. During the Can Man's "If I Only Had a Heart," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore art grand Romeo?"
The Cherry Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts
Keeping in line with the book, Dorothy'south iconic footwear was originally silver, but screenwriter Noel Langley felt the red color would really pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed by MGM'due south master costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in about 2,300 sequins.
One of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Since the display is so heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the rug there several times. Another pair were stolen from Minnesota's Judy Garland Museum in 2005, but the FBI recovered the slippers for the institution in 2018.
Just Ane Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"
The Wizard of Oz is your classic risk story, and Dorothy's quest leads her from a Kansas farm to another earth — consummate with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. Still, despite all these scenic locations, nearly all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.
As was customary at the time, immense, detailed backdrops were painted by studio artists, making it possible for filmmakers to transport audiences to far abroad places without filming on location. In fact, the only location footage in the picture show is the opening championship sequence — those clouds are 100% the real bargain.
A Second Toto Was Brought In
Toto, played primarily by Terry, is one of the most dear dogs in film history. Terry was famously not a huge fan of special effects and tin frequently be seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Tin Man spouts out all of that steam.
Afterward one of the Witch'due south guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for two weeks. Filmmakers went through ii doubles to find one that resembled the original canine actor more closely.
Fun fact: Judy Garland was and so fond of Terry that she wanted to adopt the dog.
Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch
In addition to being a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton likewise believed her character was more than than just your run-of-the-manufactory evil villain. More than than 35 years after the moving-picture show debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to show kids it was make-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her about the character.
According to Hamilton, the so-called Wicked Witch relished everything she did, but she was also a sad, lonely figure. In short, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly plenty, the Broadway musical Wicked likewise takes this approach to the Witch'southward character.
The "Horse of a Different Color" Was Made Possible Thanks to a Food Product
In 1939, audiences were simply as amazed equally Dorothy, Scarecrow, Can Man and the Cowardly Panthera leo when the horse in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "equus caballus of a unlike color" was made possible cheers to a surprising nutrient item…
Jell-O crystals were used to color the horses, which meant filmmakers had to move speedily — the animals were eager to lick upwardly the sweetness treat. Merely the colorful steed isn't the only interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-drawn carriage was once owned by President Abraham Lincoln and at present resides at the Judy Garland Museum.
The Makeup Department Hired on Extra Hands
From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald City to the Witch's flying monkeys, then many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in order to give life to this fantasy moving-picture show. To keep upwardly with the daily demands, MGM chosen upon workers from the studio mailroom and courier service to manage makeup stations.
Since most of the Ozian ensemble required prosthetics, makeup artists — and "makeshift" artists — formed a kind of costuming assembly line. Most actors had to arrive before 5:00 in the morning — six days a week! — to begin the intensive process.
Memorable (& Often Misquoted) Lines Fill up the Motion-picture show
The film is chock-full of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the neat fortune of being responsible for some of the most quoted lines in film history likewise. In 2007, Premiere compiled a listing of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" and placed a whopping three of the picture's lines on the listing.
"Pay no attention to that human behind the curtain" was voted #24, while "At that place's no place like home" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the frequently misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.
The Witch's Fire Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)
Clearly, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the movie is incredible. Like the "horse of a dissimilar color" sequence, some other iconic, special effects-heavy scene harnessed the power of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.
Before long afterwards Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the ruby slippers from the young girl's feet. However, fire strikes the Witch'due south hands, repelling her. This "burn down" is actually apple juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-up clip to make information technology look more than flame-like.
Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Department
Experimenting with Technicolor was function fun and office trouble-solving for filmmakers. In social club to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor photographic camera, the soundstage needed to be lit with arc lights, which ofttimes heated the ready upwards to a toasty 100 degrees.
After the lights were set, the experts experimented with what would wait all-time on film, especially in colorized form. For example, the white part of Dorothy's dress is actually pink — simply considering it filmed better. And the oil the Tin can Man is and so excited about? Information technology'southward really chocolate syrup.
The Wicked Witch of the East Makes More than Than I Advent
Office of the Wicked Witch of the West'south beef with Dorothy is that the young girl dropped a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who was the brusque-lived possessor of the ruby slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the Due west and her Kansas analogue Almira Gulch, she also plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if only briefly.
During the tornado sequence, an befuddled Dorothy looks out her bedroom window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch outside the window is wearing the ruby slippers. The restored version of the motion-picture show makes that shimmer fifty-fifty more than noticeable.
The Film's Running Time Was Cut Down Several Times
The first cut of the film clocked in at a running time of 120 minutes. Although that seems like naught past today's Marvel movie standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt it was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off 20 minutes.
Afterwards cut the famed "Jitterbug" number (top right) and an extended Scarecrow dance sequence, the film was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a 2nd preview screening, and, subsequently, nixed Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald Urban center reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead," a scene where the Tin can Man becomes a homo beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.
So Much for a "Wicked" Witch
Filmmakers accounted Margaret Hamilton'south Wicked Witch of the Westward performance too frightening for audiences and cutting or trimmed many of her scenes. Merely not everyone thought her functioning was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch's nemesis, Dorothy Gale.
Off-screen, the film's starring foes were actually friends. 1 story that emerged from the gear up described Garland excitedly showing off a clothes to Hamilton, declaring she was going to article of clothing it for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM's Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a press tour the day of her graduation. Upset, Hamilton phoned Mayer and chewed him out.
Giving Credit to Technicolor
In the opening credits, the text reads "Photographed in Technicolor," as opposed to the more apt "Color Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes information technology seem as though the entire film was shot in color. Was this done deliberately, or was it a minor syntactical simulated pas?
It'due south widely believed this was a bit of a stunt done to enhance the surprise of the picture show turning into full three-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters made at the fourth dimension of the picture'south debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "black-and-white"), adding credence to this theory.
Ane of History's Most-Watched Films
Although The Wizard of Oz proved popular in theaters, another picture show released the same yr, also directed by Victor Fleming, actually topped the box office. (You may have heard of that piddling movie — information technology's called Gone with the Current of air.) All the same, MGM'southward musical fantasy may take more staying power than other films of the era, thanks in part to re-releases.
The film was first broadcast on television receiver on Nov iii, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 million viewers. It'south believed that The Magician of Oz is one of the 10 most-watched feature-length movies in motion picture history, largely due to the number of almanac television screenings, theater viewings and various format re-releases.
Source: https://www.ask.com/entertainment/wizard-of-oz-facts?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740004%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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