Orphan Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is a young girl who lives in rural Kansas with her Aunt Em (Clara Blandick), Uncle Henry (Charley Grapewin) and three farm hands. She owns a small dog Toto (Terry) that bites nasty neighbour Miss Gulch (Margaret Hamilton). One day during a storm she rides a tornado over the rainbow into Oz, specifically Munchkinland, populated by colourful midgets. The movie turns from black and white (sepia) to colour. Unfortunately, Dorothy's house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East and kills her. This gets her in trouble with the Wicked Witch of the West (Hamilton again).
Witch: "Who killed my sister? Who killed the Witch of the East? Was it you?"
Dorothy: "No, no. It was an accident. I didn't mean to kill anybody."
Witch: "Well, my little pretty, I can cause accidents, too."
The Munchkins are friendly to Dorothy, and Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke) gives her ruby slippers from the dead witch for protection. She tells Dorothy to go to the Emerald City and ask the Wizard of Oz to return her to Kansas. Dorothy and Toto follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City and meet some interesting friends along the way.
First she frees the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) from the pole he is on, then helps the Tin Woodsman (Jack Haley) by oiling his rusty parts. Next the group meets the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) and he joins them. The Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tinman wants a heart, and the Lion wants courage. They believe that the Wizard can grant all their wishes.
After overcoming some minor obstacles, they arrive at the Emerald City. The Wizard (Frank Morgan) will only help them if they bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. The witch says, "Helping the little lady along are you, my fine gentlemen? Well stay away from her, or I'll stuff a mattress with you! And you, I'll make you into a beehive. Here Scarecrow, want to play ball?" On their way to the witch's castle they are attacked by flying monkeys that take Dorothy and Toto to the evil witch. Dorothy's three friends come to her rescue, and the witch is destroyed when Dorothy accidentally splashes her with water. Time for Dorothy to return home.
Dorothy: "Goodbye, Tinman. Oh, don't cry! You'll rust so dreadfully. Here's your oil can."
Tinman: "Now I know I've got a heart, 'cause it's breaking."
Dorothy: "Goodbye, Lion. I know it isn't right, but I'm going to miss the way you used to hollar for help before you found your courage."
Lion: "I never would've found it if it hadn't been for you."
Dorothy: (to Scarecrow) "I think I'm going to miss you most of all."
They give the broomstick to the Wizard, who confesses that he is a fake. He grants the three wishes to Dorothy's friends, then promises to return her to Kansas in a hot air balloon. Toto jumps out, followed by Dorothy and the balloon leaves without them. However, Glinda appears and tells her, "tap your heels together and repeat the words, 'There's no place like home'." Dorothy complies and awakens in her Kansas bedroom surrounded by family and friends.
THE WIZARD OF OZ is a genuine classic, an institution that has cast a spell on everybody who has watched it. The cast is flawless and the movie is absolute perfection, still fresh after many decades. It is an example of the Hollywood studio system at its best. The plot is vigorous and straightforward, with charming and memorable performances, set design, and music.
The movie is based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". The title role was written for W. C. Fields, who was unable to commit. Frank Morgan is certainly adequate as the Wizard, but Fields would have been much better. Judy Garland was always favored to play Dorothy, although the director wanted Shirley Temple, Deanna Durbin, or Bonita Granville. Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Scarecrow, switched to the Tin Woodsman role, but the aluminum makeup made him sick. His voice can still be heard in "We're Off to See the Wizard".
The cast also includes many "Singer Midgets" as Munchkins: Gladys W. Allison, Josefine Balluck, John T. Bambury, Viola Banks, Charles Becker, Freda Besky, Henry Boers, Theodore Boers, Christie Buresh, Eddie Buresh, Lida Buresh, Betty Ann Cain, Mickey Carroll, Colonel Casper, Pinto Colvig, Nona Cooper, Elizabeth Coulter, Lewis Croft, Frank Hl. Cucksey, Billy Curtis, Eulie H. David, Eugene S. David, Jr., Ethel W. Denis, Prince Denis, Hazel I. Derthick, Gracie Doll, Tiny Doll, Major Doyle, Daisy Earles, Hary Earles, Carl. M. Erickson, Fern Formica, Addie, E. Frank, Thaisa L. Gardner, Jackie Gerlich, William A. Giblin, Jack Glicken, Carolyn E. Granger, Joseph Herbst, Jacob, Hofbauer, Spep Houghton, Clarence. C. Howeton, and many more.
Original music is by Harold Arlen, George Bassman, George E. Stoll, Herbert Stothart, and Robert W. Stringer. Non-original music is by Felix Mendelssohn-Barholdy, Modest Mussorgsky, Robert Schumann, and Egbert Van Alstyne. Victor Fleming directed with help from Mervyn LeRoy and King Vidor.
Songs in the movie are: "Over the Rainbow", "Munchkinland Medley", "Follow the Yellow Brick Road", "You're Off to See the Wizard", "If I Only Had a Brain", "We're Off to See the Wizard", "If I Only Had a Heart", If I Only Had the Nerve", "Optimistic Voices", "The Merry Old Land of Oz", "If I Were King of the Forest", The Happy Farmer", "In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree", and "Home Sweet Home". Note: some of the songs are used only as background music.
Originally the film's runtime was 120 minutes, but preview responses resulted in it being cut to 101 minutes. However, the 50th anniversary edition includes some deleted scenes following the movie. There is a lovely Scarecrow dance scene, a jitterbug segment, and shots of Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Woodsman.
