How ‘The Wizard of Oz’ became a career-long burden for Judy Garland: “My entire future rested on my ability”
The behind the scenes stories from The Wizard of Oz are almost as infamous as the film itself, with tales of the wicked witch of west being accidentally set on fire, actors having allergic reactions to their costumes and crystalised asbestos being used instead of fake snow. But perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the production was the pressure placed on a young Judy Garland to embody the character of Dorothy and fulfil the demands of the studio, who were spending a record-breaking $3 million on the project.
While the hard work paid off for Garland, the film created a high bar that became impossible to adhere to, with audiences constantly comparing her to her most revered role.
The Wizard of Oz is beloved by global audiences for its Technicolor dream world, lavish set design and beautiful original songs that earned the film countless accolades and awards. It has since gone on to spark another story world that was inspired by the emerald city and the infamous feud between both witches, with a devoted fan base that pick apart the extensive lore of both characters.
The opportunity to star in the film was the role of a lifetime for Garland, who had been working within Hollywood for a while as a child actor but was taken aback by the offer to play the lead role, feeling an immense pressure to portray Dorothy given the amount of money that was being invested and the fact that it was her first project of this size. On top of this, Garland was working with an experienced cast and crew who had far more experience than she did, which also added to enormity of the challenge to rise to the occasion.
As well as being asked to act, the role famously required Garland to sing and dance, with the studio pressuring her to adhere to a strict diet and lose weight in order to keep up with the demands of the performance. She later reflected on how isolated she felt during the production, especially with no-one else her age to confide in and being surrounded by much older co-stars. Margaret Hamilton, who played the wicked witch of the west, was one of the few people to form a friendship with Garland and would express concern at Garland’s working hours and strict diet, finding her routine extremely isolating.
While the part was the role of a lifetime, it became a constant measuring stick in Garland’s career, with fans and critics constantly comparing each later performance to that in The Wizard of Oz. Garland was always remembered for her role as Dorothy, which became a bit of a blessing and a curse when trying to establish herself in future roles.
Garland later explained how the process made her feel like a piece of merchandise instead of a human being, being treated like a show pony that lived in service of the film. However, despite the haunting nature of the role, Garland found success with future projects like Meet Me in St Louis and The Harvey Girls, proving that she could detach herself from the character and finally move on from Oz.
