The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film directed by Victor Fleming based on the 1900 children's novel of the same name by L. Frank Baum, who died twenty years before this film was released. It features Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Frank Morgan, with Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charles Grapewin, Clara Blandick and the Singer Midgets as the Munchkins. Notable in its use of special effects, use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling and unusual characters, The Wizard of Oz has become one of the best known of all films.
Dorothy Gale, a 12-year-old Kansas farmgirl, is knocked unconscious during a tornado. She, her dog Toto, and the farmhouse are apparently transported to the magical Land of Oz, where she sets out on the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard of Oz to return her to Kansas. During her journey, she meets a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion, who join her, hoping to receive what they lack themselves (a brain, a heart and courage, respectively). They are pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West, who wants her dead sister's magic ruby slippers, now worn by Dorothy. At the end of the film, Dorothy finds herself back in her own bed at the farmhouse, but in Kansas, where her aunt tries to convince her that she dreamt her adventures in Oz.
Create Your Own Storyboard
Click below to access images of the opening scene of The Wizard of Oz to help you create your own storyboard:
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The Wizard of Oz -Original Trailer 1939Click to view the original trailer for the film The Wizard of Oz released in 1939. |
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The Wizard of Oz - Key Scenes
Below are a few of the key scenes in the narrative structure for The Wizard of Oz. These scenes should aid your analysis for the writing of your essays. Choose an essay question and make notes as you watch the clips - focus on features of author's craft and link it to the main themes of the film.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow...This clip is of a very important scene in the film where Dorothy is dreaming of fleeing her life and escaping to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". This has become one of the most famous songs in film history. |
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There's No Place Like Home...This short clip is where Dorothy discovers that she had the power to return home to Kansas all along, just by clicking her Ruby Slippers together and chanting "There's no place like home..." |
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You Were There...This scene continues from the clip above and sees Dorothy wake from her slumber, to thankfully realise that she is home again. As her friends, family and neighbours call by, she recognises that they too were in the Land of Oz. |
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The Wizard of Oz
- Behind the Scenes Footage
Click below to access some behind-the-scenes footage from the making of The Wizard of Oz. You will be able to get some interesting facts that will help you in the writing of your essays. As you watch the clips, make notes on the author's craft in relation to Victor Fleming's decisions, and the production techniques used to bring the characters to life, and the world of Oz to the big screen.
Behind the Scenes - Casting DorothyClick here to see some footage of how the actress Judy Garland won the main role of Dorothy ahead of other actors. |
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Behind the Scenes -Casting The Wicked Witch of the WestClick here to see footage explaining how Margaret Hamilton was chosen to play the Wicked Witch of the West, and how the image of the witch was changed as a result. |
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Behind the Scenes - Make-Up and Special EffectsClick to view a clip of behind the scenes footage during the making of The Wizard of Oz. This is an interesting piece of video that allows you an insight into how the actors were transformed by the make-up artists into the characters of Oz. |
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Advertising Posters and Images
Click on the images below to see enlarged versions of the advertising posters through the years for The Wizard of Oz. There are also some key images from the film.