The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz News
Credit: Alamy
Genre
musical fantasy, adventure, family
Release Date
August 25th, 1939
Directed By
Victor Fleming
Written By
Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allan Woolf
Produced By
Mervyn LeRoy
Starring
Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton, Billie Burke
Length
102 minutes
Budget
$2.8 million
Box Office
Approximately $26 million
Awards
Academy Award for 'Best Original Song', Academy Award for 'Best Original Score', Special Juvenile Academy Award
Location
Kansas, United States; the fictional Land of Oz
Fiction
Yes
Summary
After a tornado transports Dorothy Gale and her dog Toto from Kansas to the Land of Oz, she sets out along the Yellow Brick Road to seek the Wizard, hoping he can help her return home. Along the way she befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, while facing the wicked schemes of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Fun Facts
Although Victor Fleming received sole directing credit, several directors—including George Cukor, Mervyn LeRoy, Norman Taurog, King Vidor and Richard Thorpe—contributed to the production. ### Judy Garland's performance of 'Over the Rainbow' became one of the most celebrated moments in cinema history, with the song later recognised as one of the greatest ever recorded for a film. ### The transition from the sepia-toned Kansas sequences to the vibrant Technicolor world of Oz remains one of the most iconic visual moments in film history.
Related Movies
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Mary Poppins, Labyrinth, The NeverEnding Story, Return to Oz

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film directed by Victor Fleming and based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, it follows young Dorothy Gale as she is swept away from Kansas to the magical Land of Oz, where she embarks on a journey to meet the mysterious Wizard. Celebrated for its groundbreaking use of Technicolor, unforgettable songs and timeless storytelling, the film has become a cornerstone of popular culture, inspiring generations of filmmakers, musicians and audiences around the world.

The Wizard of Oz News

More About The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz follows Dorothy Gale as she journeys through the magical Land of Oz in search of the Wizard, hoping to find a way home while learning valuable lessons about friendship, courage and belonging.
The film is celebrated for its groundbreaking use of Technicolor, memorable songs including 'Over the Rainbow', iconic characters and enduring influence on cinema and popular culture.
Yes. The film is based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, although it takes several creative liberties with the source material.
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