Classic fantasy/musical

Rating: 10/10 (8 November 2002)

All-time classic family fantasy film with hundreds of midgets dancing to a Harburg/Arlen score and a smart story with an earthy moral -- there's no place like home (but who wouldn't want to visit a place like Oz?). Garland creates a classic characterization, sings with real emotion, and despite playing a bit too peppy, pulls it off in the end. She's well-supported by a cast of vaudeville legends, including dancer Ray Bolger, comedian Bert Lahr, and Jack Haley and Frank Morgan.
The photography is amazingly vivid, offset to good effect by the sepia-toned b & w sequences at the film's beginning and end. Director Fleming once again shows he's one of the best in the world.
A few notes on the film: As many know, Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the tin man (after having exchanged the part of the scarecrow with the more popular Bolger), and I think he would have made an excellent tin man. Jack Haley does a good job, but his style of comedy is very dry, and I think Ebsen had a better brand of physical comedy, plus he was a very good dancer (anyone who's seen him do his somewhat robotic shuffle can easily imagine him in the part).
A lot of people have commented on the combination of rock band Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wizard of Oz." After trying this several times (in order to do it for oneself, simply begin the CD at the moment the MGM lion roars for the third time), I have become convinced that Pink Floyd did in fact time some of the musical effects with the visuals of the movie. There are numerous instances of this that will be immediately noticeable, but I particularly like the ringing bells on the album which are timed along with Margaret Hamilton's appearance on a bicycle!
For fans of midget movies -- and I'm a big fan myself -- this is one of the all-time delights. There are hundreds of midgets, they get their own theme song, and are showcased in some of the film's most stupendous moments. Having met a few of these little people myself at conventions, I have to say that I doubt the veracity of stories concerning their "riotous" behavior at local hotels, but then everybody WAS a bit younger way back then, so you never know!
A technical note on the DVD -- I thought the quality of the production was excellent, the colors were perfect -- I've had problems with other WB discs which look like second rate laserdisc transfers, but they really put some effort into "The Wizard of Oz" and it shows.... also features fabulous deleted dance scene with Ray Bolger.