{"id":3361,"date":"2015-05-16T12:01:45","date_gmt":"2015-05-16T19:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3361"},"modified":"2021-02-01T18:08:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T01:08:11","slug":"wizard-of-oz-the-1939","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3361","title":{"rendered":"Wizard of Oz, The (1939)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>NOTE: This re-posting of an older review is part of the My Favorite Classic Movie Blogathon in celebration of National Classic Movie Day (May 16th). Click <a href=\"http:\/\/www.classicfilmtvcafe.com\/2015\/03\/a-blogathon-in-celebration-of-inaugural.html\">here<\/a> to view the schedule listing all the great posts in this blogathon.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8220;Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Wizard-of-Oz-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Wizard-of-Oz-Poster-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Wizard-of-Oz-Poster-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Wizard-of-Oz-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Wizard-of-Oz-Poster.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA misunderstood Kansas farmgirl (Judy Garland) dreams that she has been transported to the wonderful world of Oz, where she meets a scarecrow with no brain (Ray Bolger), a tin man with no heart (Jack Haley), and a cowardly lion (Bert Lahr).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coming-of-Age<\/li>\n<li>Fantasy<\/li>\n<li>Frank Morgan Films<\/li>\n<li>Judy Garland Films<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Victor Fleming Films<\/li>\n<li>Witches, Wizards, and Magicians<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nOne of the all-time great cinematic fantasies, <em>The Wizard of Oz<\/em> (a cult favorite) has become a part of our collective consciousness; as Peary notes, &#8220;The effect this Hollywood classic has had on Americans cannot be overestimated.&#8221;   It&#8217;s a rare children&#8217;s film which holds equal appeal for adults &#8212; indeed, adults will enjoy it on a completely different level &#8212; and bears multiple, repeat viewings. In addition to the stunning Technicolor cinematography, creative set designs, clever special effects, and classic songs, the acting in <em>Oz <\/em>is top-notch: watch young Garland&#8217;s face as she reacts to the characters around her; she&#8217;s genuinely scared or delighted or angry, not merely pretending to be. Margaret Hamilton earns instant kudos in dual performances as both Miss Gulch (who represents every unreasonable, child-hating adult we&#8217;ve ever known) and the Wicked Witch (poor Hamilton had the perfect features for this role). Equally enjoyable are Bolger (what a dancer!), Lahr (what facial expressions!), and Haley as Dorothy&#8217;s friends; their camaraderie together never seems forced. <\/p>\n<p>Rewatching <em>Oz <\/em>for the first time recently as an adult, I was struck by how skillfully the filmmakers managed to blend comedy (as when Professor Marvel convinces the naive  Dorothy that he knows all about her life back on the farm), terror (the over-sized hourglass in the witch&#8217;s castle still fills me with anxious fear), and surrealism (what in the heck is a Lollipop Guild?!) into a colorful musical. The narrative never lags, moving smoothly from one phase of Dorothy&#8217;s journey to the next &#8212; and, even when we think the denouement has arrived (Dorothy and her friends successfully snag the witch&#8217;s broomstick and bring it to the Wizard), there&#8217;s more to (over)come.  <\/p>\n<p>While <a href=\"http:\/\/www.premiere.com\/best\/3268\/20-most-overrated.html\">some have argued that it&#8217;s overrated<\/a>, and Peary asserts that the film&#8217;s &#8220;There&#8217;s no place like home&#8221; theme &#8220;is nonsense&#8221;, there&#8217;s more going on here than meets the eye. As noted so succinctly in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/london\/film\/the-wizard-of-oz\">Time Out&#8217;s review<\/a>, <em>Oz<\/em> &#8220;exposes our childhood anxieties about abandonment and powerlessness and brings to light the tension between the repressive comforts of home and the liberating terrors of the unknown marking all our adult lives.&#8221; After her successful venture into the strange, magical, terrible land of Oz, Dorothy ultimately learns that she&#8217;s in control of her own destiny &#8212; no small feat for a young girl (or boy) coming of age. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Judy Garland&#8217;s sensitive, heartfelt portrayal as Dorothy (Peary nominates her for an <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=2606\">Alternate Oscar<\/a> as best actress of the year)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Garland.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Garland.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Garland.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Garland-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Garland-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Garland-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ray Bolger as Dorothy&#8217;s first friend in Oz, the Scarecrow<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Bolger.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Bolger.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Bolger.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Bolger-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Bolger-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Bolger-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Burt Lahr as the Cowardly Lion<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lahr.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lahr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lahr.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lahr-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lahr-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lahr-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jack Haley as the Tin Man<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Haley.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Haley.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Haley.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Haley-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Haley-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Haley-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Margaret Hamilton as Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton2.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton2-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Hamilton2-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Terry&#8221; as the most famous dog in cinematic history: Toto<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Toto.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Toto.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Toto.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Toto-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Toto-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Toto-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Frank Morgan in a plethora of amusing roles<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Marvel.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Marvel.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Marvel.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Marvel-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Marvel-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Marvel-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Role.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Role.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Role.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Role-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Role-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Morgan-Role-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Dorothy being reunited with Toto after he&#8217;s run away from Miss Gulch<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Reunited.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Reunited.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Reunited.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Reunited-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Reunited-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Reunited-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The frightening tornado scene<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Tornado.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Tornado.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Tornado.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Tornado-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Tornado-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Tornado-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The talking apple trees<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Apple-Trees.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Apple-Trees.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Apple-Trees.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Apple-Trees-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Apple-Trees-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Apple-Trees-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Many genuinely scary moments in the witch&#8217;s castle<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Flying.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Flying.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67851\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Flying.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Flying-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Flying-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Flying-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Magical costumes and sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Costumes-Sets.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Costumes-Sets.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Costumes-Sets.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Costumes-Sets-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Costumes-Sets-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Costumes-Sets-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The simple yet effective special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Special-Effects.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Special-Effects.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Special-Effects.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Special-Effects-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Special-Effects-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Special-Effects-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Luminous technicolor cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Cinematography.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Cinematography.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67854\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Cinematography.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Cinematography-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Cinematography-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Cinematography-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Consistently clever lyrics:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;The wind began to swish \/ The house, to pitch \/ And suddenly the hinges started to unhitch \/ Just then the Witch \/ To satisfy an itch \/ Was flying on her broomstick, thumbing for a hitch \/ And oh, what happened then was rich!&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lyrics.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lyrics.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lyrics.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lyrics-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lyrics-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Lyrics-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>The enjoyable musical score, including such favorites as &#8220;Over the Rainbow&#8221; (nearly cut), &#8220;Ding Dong the Witch is Dead&#8221;, &#8220;We&#8217;re Off to See the Wizard&#8221;, and many more<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Over-Rainbow.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Over-Rainbow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67856\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Over-Rainbow.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Over-Rainbow-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Over-Rainbow-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Over-Rainbow-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Countless memorable, classic lines:<br \/>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Toto, I&#8217;ve [got] a feeling we&#8217;re not in Kansas anymore&#8230;&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Not-in-Kansas.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Not-in-Kansas.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67857\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Not-in-Kansas.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Not-in-Kansas-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Not-in-Kansas-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Wizard-of-Oz-Not-in-Kansas-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nOf course &#8212; multiple times. Peary awards it an <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=2606\">Alternate Oscar<\/a> as best picture of the year. Discussed at length in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?page_id=5986\">Peary&#8217;s <em>Cult Movies<\/em> (1981)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Genuine Classic<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/1001-Movies-Must-Before-Die\/dp\/0764159070\/sr=1-1\/qid=1159196959\/ref=pd_bbs_1\/104-6436211-9375102?ie=UTF8&#038;s=books\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0032138\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/great-movie-the-wizard-of-oz-1939\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1939\/08\/18\/archives\/the-screen-in-review-the-wizard-of-oz-produced-by-the-wizards-of.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/64725.html\">Time Out Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thewizardofoz.info\/\">The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NOTE: This re-posting of an older review is part of the My Favorite Classic Movie Blogathon in celebration of National Classic Movie Day (May 16th). Click here to view the schedule listing all the great posts in this blogathon. &#8220;Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!&#8221; Synopsis: A misunderstood Kansas farmgirl (Judy Garland) dreams that she has been transported to the wonderful world of Oz, where she meets a scarecrow with no brain (Ray Bolger), a tin man&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3361\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3361"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67859,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3361\/revisions\/67859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}