The Wizard of Oz, a 1939 musical fantasy film by MGM, based on L. Frank Baum's novel, stars Judy Garland as Dorothy. Swept away by a tornado to the Land of Oz, Dorothy embarks on a journey to the Emerald City to seek the Wizard's help in returning home. Along the way, she befriends the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, each seeking something from the Wizard: a brain, a heart, and courage. They face challenges from the Wicked Witch of the West, eventually discovering that the Wizard is just a man behind a curtain. Dorothy learns that she always had the power to return home, realizing there's no place like home.
In 1902, Fred Stone's performance on stage inspired Ray Bolger to become a vaudevillian.
In 1985, Walt Disney Productions released the live-action fantasy film "Return to Oz", based on The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904) and Ozma of Oz (1907).
In 1985, Walt Disney Productions released the live-action fantasy film "Return to Oz", based on The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904) and Ozma of Oz (1907).
In 1917, Technicolor was introduced in The Gulf Between as a two-color additive process.
In 1925, Larry Semon released a film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. It lacked the magical elements of later adaptations.
In 2018, a study by the University of Turin declared "The Wizard of Oz" the "most influential film of all time", followed by King Kong (1933) in the rankings
In 1934, The Cat and the Fiddle featured the live-action debut of the three-color subtractive Technicolor Process 4.
In 1937, Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs showed that films adapted from popular children's stories and fairytales could be successful, influencing the decision to produce The Wizard of Oz.
On October 8, 1938, the final draft of The Wizard of Oz script was completed after numerous rewrites and contributions from various writers.
On October 10, 1938, Margaret Hamilton replaced Gale Sondergaard as the Wicked Witch of the West, just three days before filming commenced.
Production on the Technicolor sequences of The Wizard of Oz began in October 1938, involving long hours for the cast due to makeup, costumes, and intense lighting.
On November 3, 1938, Victor Fleming took over as director of The Wizard of Oz, replacing George Cukor, who left due to his commitment to direct Gone with the Wind.
Production on the bulk of the Technicolor sequences for The Wizard of Oz concluded in March 1939.
On March 16, 1939, principal photography for The Wizard of Oz concluded with the monochromatic Kansas sequences. King Vidor directed the final ten days of production, including Garland's performance of "Over the Rainbow."
On June 5, 1939, test screenings of The Wizard of Oz began. The film was initially nearly two hours long, and cuts were needed to reduce the running time.
On August 10, 1939, The Wizard of Oz premiered at the Orpheum Theatre in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
On August 11, 1939, The Wizard of Oz was previewed in two test markets: Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Dennis, Massachusetts.
In August 1939, after a preview in San Luis Obispo in early July, The Wizard of Oz was officially released with a running time of 101 minutes.
On August 16, 1939, The Wizard of Oz had its Hollywood premiere, following a preview the night before at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.
On August 17, 1939, The Wizard of Oz premiered in New York City at Loew's Capitol Theatre, followed by live performances with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney.
On August 23, 1939, "The Exhibitor" placed the debut of The Wizard of Oz a day earlier in New Bedford, Massachusetts, causing dispute over the official premiere date.
On August 25, 1939, The Wizard of Oz was released nationwide.
In 1939 [the film adaptation] has universal appeal...
In 1939, Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West, played a role remarkably similar to the Wicked Witch in the Judy Garland film Babes in Arms.
In 1939, The Wizard of Oz was reconceived as an elaborate dream sequence. A song called "The Jitterbug" was to be included in the score. Dorothy was also intended to compete in a singing contest.
In 1939, The Wizard of Oz, an American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), was released. The film stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, and Margaret Hamilton and is based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
In February 2021, New Line Cinema, Temple Hill Entertainment and Wicked producer Marc Platt announced that a new film version of the original book is in the works with Nicole Kassell slated to direct, which will have the option to include elements from the 1939 film.
On July 20, 2022, it was announced that Warner Bros. Movie World would be adding a new precinct based on the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz".
In 1940, Gale Sondergaard, who was originally cast as the Wicked Witch of the West, played a feline villainess in Fox's version of Maurice Maeterlinck's The Blue Bird.
In 1943, stock footage of the tornado from The Wizard of Oz was reused for a climactic scene in the musical film Cabin in the Sky, directed by Vincente Minnelli.
In 1949, The Wizard of Oz was re-released in theaters, finally earning a profit after its initial release had failed to do so.
The 1949 re-issue of The Wizard of Oz used sepia tone for the Kansas sequences.
On November 3, 1956, The Wizard of Oz was first shown on television as the last installment of the Ford Star Jubilee. The broadcast achieved a Nielsen rating of 33.9 and an audience share of 53%.
Because of its many television showings between 1956 and 1974, it has been seen by more viewers than any other movie".
In 1956, The Wizard of Oz premiered on television via CBS, reintroducing the film to a wider audience.
On December 13, 1959, The Wizard of Oz was repeated on television and gained an even larger audience, with a Nielsen rating of 36.5 and an audience share of 58%.
In 2018, a study by the University of Turin declared "The Wizard of Oz" the "most influential film of all time", followed by Psycho (1960) in the rankings
In 2018, a study by the University of Turin declared "The Wizard of Oz" the "most influential film of all time", followed by 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) in the rankings
In 1970, The Wizard of Oz was re-released as part of the MGM "Children's Matinees" series.
In 1972, the animated sequel "Journey Back to Oz", featuring the voice of Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland's daughter, was produced to commemorate the original film's 35th anniversary.
In July 2021, Catholic University of America reported that a dress worn by Dorothy, believed to have been given to Rev. Gilbert Hartke by Mercedes McCambridge as a gift in 1973
Because of its many television showings between 1956 and 1974, it has been seen by more viewers than any other movie".
In 1974, "The Wiz", a musical based on the novel, opened in Baltimore.
In 1975, "MGM's Marvelous Wizard of Oz", a comic book adaptation of the film and the first co-production between DC Comics and Marvel Comics, was released. Marvel planned a series of sequels based on the subsequent novels. The first, The Marvelous Land of Oz, was published later that year.
In 1975, "The Wiz", a musical based on the novel, opened with a new cast on Broadway.
In 1977, Aljean Harmetz wrote "The Making of The Wizard of Oz", a detailed description of the creation of the film based on interviews and research.
In 1978, a film adaptation of "The Wiz" was released.
On October 25, 1980, The Wizard of Oz was released on videocassette (in both VHS and Betamax format) by MGM/CBS Home Video.
In 1982, The Wizard of Oz was released on the CED format by MGM/UA Home Video.
In 1985, Walt Disney Productions released the live-action fantasy film "Return to Oz", starring Fairuza Balk as Dorothy Gale.
In 1989, Aljean Harmetz's book "The Making of The Wizard of Oz" was updated.
In 1989, The Wizard of Oz was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress.
In 1990, the documentary The Making of the Wizard of Oz was released. It revealed details about the Munchkin costumes.
In 1992, author Salman Rushdie acknowledged the impact of "The Wizard of Oz" on him, citing it as his first literary influence in his appreciation of the film for the British Film Institute.
From 1993 onward, home media releases of The Wizard of Oz included the on-set audio of Judy Garland singing a brief reprise of "Over the Rainbow," which was originally cut from the film.
In 1995, the Vatican included "The Wizard of Oz" in a list of important films under the category of 'Art'.
In 1995, the audio recording of "The Jitterbug," a song cut from the final theatrical version of The Wizard of Oz, was included on the Rhino Records two-CD deluxe edition of the soundtrack.
On September 11, 1996, the final LaserDisc version of The Wizard of Oz was released.
On March 26, 1997, The Wizard of Oz was first released on DVD by MGM/Turner, without any special features or supplements.
On November 6, 1998, Warner Bros. released a "Special Edition" of The Wizard of Oz, digitally restored with remastered audio, for the film's 60th anniversary.
On October 19, 1999, The Wizard of Oz was re-released by Warner Bros. to celebrate the film's 60th anniversary, with a new 5.1 surround sound mix and a behind-the-scenes documentary.
In 2018, a study by the University of Turin declared "The Wizard of Oz" the "most influential film of all time", followed by 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) in the rankings
In 2003, the Broadway musical "Wicked", based on the film and a novel by Gregory Maguire, premiered.
In 2004, a two-part film adaptation of the musical "Wicked", directed by Jon M. Chu, entered development at Universal Pictures.
In 2005, The Wizard of Oz was included in the British Film Institute's (BFI) list of 50 Films to be Seen by the Age of 14.
In 2005, a DVD release of The Wizard of Oz included an interview with Buddy Ebsen, who discussed his experience with the toxic aluminum dust in his makeup.
In 2005, one of the pairs of the ruby slippers was stolen while on loan to the Judy Garland Museum in Garland's hometown.
In 2005, two DVD editions of The Wizard of Oz were released, featuring a newly restored version of the film with audio commentary and isolated music and effects track.
On September 23, 2009, The Wizard of Oz was re-released in select theaters for a one-night-only event in honor of its 70th anniversary and as a promotion for various new disc releases later in the month.
On September 29, 2009, The Wizard of Oz was released on Blu-ray for its 70th anniversary in a four-disc Ultimate Collector's Edition. The restoration was given to Prime Focus World. The restored version also features a lossless 5.1 Dolby TrueHD audio track.
On November 17, 2009, an encore of the one-night-only re-release of The Wizard of Oz took place in theaters.
On December 1, 2009, three Blu-ray discs of the Ultimate Collector's Edition were repackaged as a less expensive "Emerald Edition".
In 2009, the original, more sedate recording of Ray Bolger's "If I Only Had a Brain" was discovered after being considered lost.
On March 16, 2010, a single-disc Blu-ray of The Wizard of Oz, containing the restored movie and extra features, became available.
In June 2011, a differently styled pair of ruby slippers, not used in the film, was sold at auction by actress Debbie Reynolds for $510,000 (not including the buyer's premium).
In 2011, "Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz", an animated film by Warner Home Video, was released, incorporating Tom and Jerry into the story as Dorothy's "protectors".
In 2011, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice produced a stage musical of "The Wizard of Oz", which opened at the West End's London Palladium.
On September 15, 2013, Warner Bros. hosted a premiere of The Wizard of Oz's first IMAX 3D release in Hollywood at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
On September 20, 2013, The Wizard of Oz IMAX 3D theatrical re-release played at 300 theaters in North America for one week only, as part of the film's 75th anniversary.
In 2013, The Wizard of Oz was re-released on DVD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D and UltraViolet for the 90th anniversary of Warner Bros. and the 75th anniversary of the film.
In 2013, Walt Disney Pictures released "Oz the Great and Powerful", a "spiritual prequel" directed by Sam Raimi and starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Michelle Williams.
In 2013, numerous special editions of The Wizard of Oz were released to celebrate the film's 75th anniversary, including exclusives at Best Buy and Target.
In 2014, Clarius Entertainment released the animated musical film, "Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return", which follows Dorothy's second trip to Oz.
On June 21, 2016, "Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz", a sequel to the animated film "Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz", was released on DVD.
In 2017, The Great Movie Ride at Disney Hollywood Studios, which featured a scene from "The Wizard of Oz", was shut down.
In 2018, a study by the University of Turin declared "The Wizard of Oz" the "most influential film of all time", based on data from readers, audience polls, and internet sources like IMDb.
In 2018, the ruby slippers stolen from the Judy Garland Museum were recovered in an FBI sting operation.
On October 25, 2019, The Wizard of Oz had a one-week theatrical engagement in Dolby Cinema to commemorate its 80th anniversary.
On October 29, 2019, The Wizard of Oz was issued on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, featuring both a Dolby Vision and an HDR10+ grading from an 8K transfer.
In May 2020, The Wizard of Oz was on the British Film Institute's updated list of 50 Films to be Seen by the Age of 15.
In February 2021, New Line Cinema, Temple Hill Entertainment and Wicked producer Marc Platt announced that a new film version of the original book is in the works with Nicole Kassell slated to direct.
In July 2021, Catholic University of America reported that a dress worn by Dorothy was found in the university's Hartke Building after being missing for many years.
On July 20, 2022, it was announced that Warner Bros. Movie World would be adding a new precinct based on the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz".
In August 2022, it was announced that Kenya Barris would write and direct a modern remake of "The Wizard of Oz".
In 2022, Alexandre O. Philippe's documentary "Lynch/Oz" was released, exploring the references that David Lynch made to "The Wizard of Oz" in his own work.
In 2022, The Wizard of Oz was ranked second in Variety's inaugural 100 Greatest Movies of All Time list.
In 2023, Terry Jon Martin plead guilty to stealing the ruby slippers from the Judy Garland Museum.
In January 2024, Kenya Barris confirmed that he finished penning the script for a modern remake of "The Wizard of Oz", changing the time period to the present day and changing Dorothy's home from Kansas to the Bottoms of Inglewood, California.
On November 5, 2024, to celebrate the film's 85th anniversary, another 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of The Wizard of Oz, including collective replica items from the film's Hollywood premiere, was released.
In November 2024, "The Wizard of Oz" became the oldest film in history to join Letterboxd's "One Million Watched Club".
On November 22, 2024, the first film adaptation of the musical "Wicked", directed by Jon M. Chu, was released.
In December 2024, the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were sold at auction for over $32 million.
In 2024, the marketing campaign for season 22 of American Idol is themed after the film, featuring Ryan Seacrest and the judges dressed as characters from "The Wizard of Oz".
In 2024, the staggering estimate of $225,000 spent on electricity during production equates to approximately $5,086,184.
In July 20, 2022, it was announced that a new precinct based on the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" is to feature two coasters manufactured by Vekoma and will open in 2024.
In March 2025, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" joined the Letterboxd's "One Million Watched Club", superseding "The Wizard of Oz".
The second film, Wicked: For Good, is scheduled for release on November 21, 2025.
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