Title: The Wizard of Oz
Release Date: August 25, 1939
Director: Victor Fleming
King Vidor
George Cukor
Richard Thorpe
Norman Taurog
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Summary/Review:
I watched this movie for the first time in a long time, and well, it’s basically just as I remembered it, which is a good thing. It’s an adventure, it’s a symbolic journey of self-discovery, it’s a musical, it’s funny, it’s scary. It looks really fake, but to the point that the painted sets and props are weirdly effective works of arts in their own right. I was born long after color film was standard but the transition from the sepia of Kansas to the majestic colors of Oz is still astounding. Watching as an older adult, I am also impressed at how the young Judy Garland handles being central to almost every scene. About the only thing that is not good about this movie is that it’s not a good adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book which I also love. One day, I’d like to see a faithful film adaptation of the movie made too, but this version will always stand alone as its own great thing.
Rating: *****
