Here is oz, a marvelous, unprecedented experience of studio life as it was lived day by day, detail by detail. Come take a tour, visit our exhibitions, and view the gorgeous main reading room. Margaret hamilton, the wicked witch of the west, suffered 3rddegree burns while making the wizard of oz jan 17, 2018 stefan andrews without question, the wizard of oz has obtained status as a film icon ever since it was released in 1939. The book was in the earliest binding state, but the presence. Movie magic and studio power in the prime of mgmand the miracle of production no 1060 is just downright enthralling. Down the yellow brick road the making of the wizard of oz. Now, timed to coincide with the theatrical rerelease which will include neverbeforeseen footage this is the book oz aficionados will turn to for more information on americas favorite movie. A new wizard of oz could make its way down the hollywood. A fragmented dust jacket for a first edition of wonderful wizard of oz 1900 by l. It was the second book ever published documenting the making of this film, released a year after doug mcclellands 1976 work down the yellow brick road the book was published in november 1977, after the film had been telecast a total of nineteen times. This updated edition includes numerous photos and shares hundreds of interviews with cameramen, screenwriters. Or at least she was, until her house is swept up in a cyclone and sent hurtling through the air. Frank baum was purchased in 1972 at sotheby parke bernet on behalf of a private collector.
A modern fairy tale with a distinctly american setting, a delightfully levelheaded heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature. Even while he was alive, baum was styled as the royal historian of oz to emphasize the. It is an expose that breaks down the machinery and the machinations of what it took to get a major movie made in the days of the autocratic studio heads. You may think you know this one cold, but even if youve seen the movie a thousand times, youre in for a few surprises. But while the wizard of oz as a political satire makes fun of politics and the pomposity it breeds, there is something more to the book than just this. The work of new york times bestselling childrens book illustrator charles santore.
Frank baum, who went on to write fourteen fulllength oz books. The making of the wizard of oz, by the film historian aljean harmetz, is a book about the production of the 1939 film. When bert lahr picks her up out of there her dress is perfectly clean. The wonderful wizard of oz is the best known of his legendary books. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz. This is the 50th anniversary edition of down the yellow brick road. This is a game i worked out to try to get a group of four children to talk about the story the wonderful wizard of oz.
In 1939 she won best juvenile performer the munchkin award as she called it at the. The wizard of oz was the film that rocketed the 17yearold garland into the mgm firmament. The story on which the film is based, the wonderful wizard of oz, by l. On rereading the oz books by gore vidal the new york. Similarities and differences between the wizard of oz book. Aljean harmetz released in conjunction with the 75thanniversary dvd release of the wizard of oz, this book is the definitive story of how one of americas most beloved movies was made and a marvelous. Even before casting could take place, the wizard of oz proved to be a challenge in acquiring film rights for the metrogoldwynmayer mgm studios. In the beginning while dorothy is still on the farm, she walks along the pig pen fence and then falls in. Frank baum says that he would like to create modern fairy tales by departing from grimm and andersen and all the horrible and bloodcurdling incident devised by such authors to point a fearsome moral. I am very excited about the project and the story will bring a well being and fun to all the children and adults who want to return to the world of oz.
When the wicked witch scares the munchkins in munchkinland, where dorothy lands, she disappears into a cloud of smoke. The making of the wizard of oz, written by film historian aljean harmetz, is a book about the production of the 1939 film the wizard of oz. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title the wizard of oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 liveaction film. The wizard of oz 1939 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers. The making of the wizard of oz by doug mcclelland 1989, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Interesting fact related to rare oz dust jacket from appraising rare and collectible childrens book. The idea in the game is that the children would collectively make up a story about a new adventure in the land of oz. A second book had been published the year before and i would have liked to have read both but i never got around to the earlier. We join dorothy, toto, the cowardly lion, scarecrow, the tin woodman and the rest of the characters for a wonderful and enlightening journey behind the scenes of one of the most beloved. Youre off to read the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz.
Dark secrets behind the making of the wizard of oz. Why was buddy ebsen replaced by jack as the tin man. According to aljean harmetzs fascinating 1977 book, the making of the wizard of oz, frank morganthe actor playing the title charactercame to set with a minibar in his briefcase. Released in conjunction with the 75thanniversary dvd release of the wizard of oz, this book is the definitive story of how one of americas most beloved movies were made and a marvelous, unprecedented examination of how hollywood used to make movies. The wonderful wizard of oz summary dorothy gale is a farm girl whos living a quiet life in kansas with her uncle henry and aunt em, her miserable, but loving, relatives. The making of the wizard of oz by doug mcclelland and includes more than 100 photographs. The wizard of oz book is a bit more graphic and gory than the film.
Released in conjunction with the 75thanniversary dvd release of the wizard of oz, this book is the definitive story of how one of americas most beloved movies was made and a marvelous, unprecedented examination of how hollywood used to make movies. A game for making your own wizard of oz story christys. The wonderful wizard of oz, the book that made baum a household name at the turn of the 20th century, has proven to be as timeless and as culturally influential as any childrens book ever. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
This updated edition includes numerous photos and shares hundreds of interviews with cameramen, screenwriters, costume designers, directors. Publishers weekly from the ten scriptwriters at work to the scandal headlines of munchkin orgies at the culver city hotel to the witchs accidental burning, here is the real story of the making of the wizard of oz. There were problems all along, but mostly because this was uncharted ground, said aljean harmetz, author of the making of the wizard of oz. An epic characteristic seen in the book is how broad the setting is. The new movie will be an animated project from the perspective of toto.
Baum then makes the disingenuous point that modern education includes morality. And were not talking about lions and tigers and bears. Epic characteristics, conventions, and hero characteristics are what make up the epic, the wizard of oz. The wizard of oz also functions as a spiritual allegory, showing people how they can make miracles happen in even the most difficult of circumstances just by relying on the natural gifts they. This updated edition includes numerous photos and shares hundreds of interviews with cameramen, screenwriters, costume. A bestselling classic since it was first published in 1977, the making of the wizard of oz is as ageless as the film itself jampacked with. The wonderful wizard of oz 1939, like many fairy tales depicting a series of fantastic adventures, is really the story of an individuals inner journeya story of personality integration and coming of age. Baum who wrote the wonderful wizard of oz in 1899, the idea of remaking the book is fabulous for it will expose the classic to a entire new generation and most likely use 3d. The wonderful wizard of oz is an epic due to its characteristics, conventions, archetypes, and the way it follows the stereotypical heros journey. The oz books form a book series that begins with the wonderful wizard of oz 1900 and relate the fictional history of the land of oz. All of the baum written books are in the public domain in the united states. Margaret hamilton, the wicked witch of the west, suffered. Frank baum was a wellliked childrens book in the early part of the century that had already had several popular adaptations. In the wizard of oz books, dorothys slippers were silver, which is what the studio.