the films of 1939: The Wizard Of Oz

the films of 1939: The Wizard Of Oz by ric gustafson


On May 7 1898, L Frank Baum led his children and some neighbor children into his den. Then he began to tell them a tale of a little girl who found herself in a strange land. She was accompanied by two men, one made of straw and the other of tin. This day, the children asked him a question what was the name of this strange land?. He glanced over at a filing cabinet and noticed that the bottom cabinet said ' O-Z'. He told the children that the strange land was called Oz.
Baum grew up outside of Syracuse New York and was a daydreamer. He told tall tales to family and friends and he loved telling stories to children. When he grew up he did several things for jobs including a retail shop owner, traveling salesman and started a minor league baseball team. Baum met an artist named William Denslow and together they published many stories including Father Goose. Baum's original story was called ' The Emerald City' and Baum came up with the major characters. The expanded story became ' From Kansas to Fairyland'. Publisher George H Hill did not like the title so in September of 1900, the title became ' The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz'. By the end of 1901, the novel had sold over thirty seven thousand copies and became the best selling children's book in America. Baum wrote a stage version of his story and it toured for at least ten years.
In 1925, Baum's son, L Frank Baum Jr and filmmaker Larry Seamon produced a silent film of the story. Sam Goldwyn purchased the film rights to the story for $40,000. Then in 1938, he sold the rights to MGM for $75,000. Louis B Mayer assigned producer Mervyn Leroy to develop it. Several writers worked on a film script including Herman Mankiewicz, Ogden Nash and Noel Langley.
The finished script differed from the original story. In the film, she is older than in the novel. The Wicked Witch Of The West becomes a major character than in the novel. Over the years, critics have found at least fifty ways that the movie departs from the original story. The studio at first wanted Shirley Temple to portray Dorothy but the role went to Judy Garland. For the Wizard, MGM thought about W.C. Fields and Ed Wynn. They finally decided on a veteran film performer by the name of Frank Morgan. The role of the Cowardly Lion went to Bert Lahr. Ray Bolger was selected to play The Scarecrow. Margaret Hamilton was picked to portray the Wicked Witch Of The West. Billie Burke was picked to play Glinda the Good Witch. After Buddy Ebsen was sent to the hospital because of aluminum dust that caused a severe allergic reaction, MGM contract player Jack Haley won the role of the Tin Woodsman.
There were several directors involved including Richard Thorpe, George Cukor and Victor Fleming.
The film premiered on August 15 1939 and was nominated for six Academy Awards. It won only two for Best Song and Best Original Score.


The End


research help: ' 1939, the making of six great films from Hollywood's greatest year' by Charles F Adams


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric