Succeeds becuase it's got a timeless lesson that we can all relate to

Rating: 9/10 (15 September 1999)

Every person in America (and most people all over the world) that is over the age of 5, but usually younger, has seen The Wizard of Oz. Just about all of them have undoubtedly seen it more than once, either on video or on its yearly TV broadcast. Why is it so popular and such a part of our culture? My guess would be that it hasn't gotten old one bit, even though it was made 60(!) years ago, and there is a reason for that. No matter how old you are, no matter what generation you're part of, you can relate to Dorothy (wonderfully played by Judy Garland) as she yearns to break free and find something somewhere else, but when she finds that something, discovers it's not so great because it doesn't have the familiar comforts of home. Home is what matters, or to quote it for the umpteenth time, there's no place like home. Everyone feels that way, so we can all relate to her because we all know what it feels like. Yes, it's got marvelous splashes of color, gorgeous scenery and costumes, great acting and wonderful, classic musical numbers, and that's also a large part of its appeal. But, whether we want to admit it or not, when you narrow it down, the main reason it was seen by so many people in theaters, by even more people on TV, and now by thousands of kids on video, (And some adults, too. Admit it!) is because it's timeless and has a lesson that is not dated and has never lost its value. Say you love it cause Judy's got pretty shoes, or because you've watched it every year and it's just a tradition, but when you look deeper, that's the real reason.