It was one of the first musicals where I had the songs almost completely memorized. I still have the 50th anniversary VHS and to this day I can’t watch the DVD without missing the cute Downy commercial of the kids putting on their own production of Oz that played before it. Like I said before, The Wizard of Oz was one of the earliest movies I remember watching. Heck, I didn’t learn until I was older that the film was even based on a book (because what kid actually reads the opening credits of a movie, even one they’ve seen a thousand times before they learned how to read?) But I’m not here to talk about the differences between the book and the movie (except for when they’re relevant), I’m looking at the movie itself. In terms of popularity it has all but eclipsed the book it was based on, wonderful as it is. Frank Baum), and there are numerous stage, television and film adaptations, but the most beloved of them all is the 1939 musical from MGM. The original book has no less than 52 sequels (13 of which were originally penned by L. France has the works of Charles Perrault, Germany has the Brothers Grimm, England has J.M. Over one hundred years later, The Wizard of Oz is still considered America’s fairy tale. Had Baum not payed any attention to the latter, we may never have gotten the land so surreal and imaginative as Oz. While going through a file cabinet Baum noticed that everything was organized from A – N and O – Z. Then one day, his wife convinced him to write a story based on the ones he told his children, where ordinary people are whisked to magical lands, where men made of tin come to life, where the world is ruled by wise and powerful women (Baum’s wife and her family were suffragettes, so that was a big influence). He was a bright and creative fellow but for one reason or another could never stay employed for long. In the late 1800’s, Lyman Frank Baum was a family man down on his luck and out of a job. “Toto…I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” I do not claim ownership of this material.) All images and footage used below are property of their respective companies unless stated otherwise. (DISCLAIMER: This blog is not for profit.
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