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Wizard of Oz Facts

Wizard of Oz Facts
The Wizard of Oz is an American movie that was made in 1939 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was adapted from the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. The Wizard of Oz was a musical, comedy, drama and fantasy that starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, and Terry the dog as Toto. Other major characters included Glinda the Good Witch of the North, the Wicked Witch of the East, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. The film was noted for its use of Technicolor, a motion picture process that incorporated highly saturated color to create beautiful motion pictures. The Wizard of Oz was nominated for six Academy Awards and it won two of them.
Interesting Wizard of Oz Facts:
The script that was eventually used for the film The Wizard of Oz had gone through many rewrites and changes before it was given the green light. The final draft was completed on October 8th, 1938.
It is rumoured that the character of Dorothy was to be played by Shirley Temple at one point, and that Deanna Durbin was also considered, but Judy Garland was cast for the role.
W. C. Fields was originally cast to play the Wizard, but after fee issues, the role went to Frank Morgan.
The Wicked Witch was originally to be played by Gale Sondergaard but she didn't want to be portrayed as an ugly witch so she left the role. Margaret Hamilton took on the role three days prior to the beginning of filming.
Frank Morgan was as the Wizard but he also played Professor Marvel, the Doorman, the Cabbie, the Guard, and the Doctor.
The Scarecrow, and Hunk, was played by Ray Bolger.
The Cowardly Lion, and Zeke, was played by Bert Lahr.
The Tim Man, and Hickory, was played by Jack Haley.
Aunt Em was played by Clara Blandick and Uncle Henry was played by Charley Grapewin.
Dorothy was 12 years old in the script, but Judy Garland was 16.
The Wizard of Oz became one of its decade's highest grossing films, raking in $3 million and placing it third place. Gone With the Wind made millions more.
The Wizard of Oz won two Academy Awards including Best Original Score, and Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow".
Judy Garland won a special Academy Juvenile Award for her work in The Wizard of Oz and Babes in Arms.
The Wizard of Oz has been named on greatest movie lists by Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, The Village Voice, Total Films, and many others.
The Munchkins on set were paid only $50 a week. Toto the dog was making $125 a week.
Judy Garland became very attached to Toto and asked to adopt the dog. But the owners did not agree to do it. Toto lived until 1945.
The ruby red slippers used in The Wizard of Oz film were silver in the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Jack Haley, who played the Tin Man had a son that eventually married Judy Garland's daughter Liza Minnelli, in the 1970's.


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