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Methods |
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Methods
The Films
1910- the first film based
on The Wonderful World of Oz. It is a one-reel silent film that
shows Dorothy and the Scarecrow as friends before being sent to
Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West, who is named Momba, puts a spell
on Oz that prohibits anyone from leaving. Dorothy eventually melts
the witch by throwing water on her, which breaks her spell; however,
Dorothy decides to stay in Oz.
1925- This film shows Dorothy on her 18th birthday as a flapper. Dorothy is not really the niece of Em and Henry, which causes her "uncle" to be abusive towards her. In actuality Dorothy, who was left on the couple's doorstep as a baby is a Princess and is the ruler of Oz. The farmhands go with her to Oz and dress-up as the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man. In the end, it is revealed that this was in fact a dream.
1939-
The most popular of all adaptations, this was produced by MGM
studios and starred Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert
Lahr, and Jack Haley. This version was immensely successful and
was the most faithful to Baum's original story.
Dorothy is swept away from her bleak life in Kansas to a life
of colour and song
in Oz. When Dorothy and her traveling companions get to Oz, they
discover, as in the book, that he is a fake, although he lets
them know that what they wanted was inside of them to begin with.
Songs include, "Somewhere over the Rainbow", and "Follow
the Yellow Brick Road".
1978-
The Wiz, the
last filmic adaptation of The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was touted as being a soulful, African-American
version of the story. This starred Diana Ross as Dorothy who was
a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher who had never gone much further
than home. New York City has replaced Kansas, and Oz is replaced
by what seems like lower Manhattan. The set is very urban, gritty,
and dark like a large busy city. Michael Jackson is the Scarecrow
who is stuffed with garbage on which have famous quotes, comedian
Nipsey Russell is a slot machine worker who works at Coney Island
and takes the place of the Tin Man, and Ted Ross, who was the
Lion on Broadway reprises his role. His full name has been changed
to Fleetwood Coupe de Ville. This version is more of an adaptation
of the 1939 film than Baum's book. Songs have been changed to
"Ease on Down the Road" and "When I think of Home".
Josette Blackwood
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