Sunday, July 15, 2012

Oz, The Great And Powerful


The Wizard of Oz was first released in 1939 in a year that some believe to be one of the best years for films at any time. (Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights,  Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Goodbye Mr. Chips, and Dark Victory are some of the 1939 films, among many others.) It has now been shown on television countless times but do you remember the very first time that you saw it?

In the USA, it was televised from 1959 through 1962 on the second Sunday of December.  This was delayed in 1963, perhaps due to the country being in mourning for the recent assassination of President Kennedy, and was therefore shown on Jan. 26, 1964.  This is the date that I remember seeing it.  As we were watching it, I remember my sister whispering to me, "This is where it comes in color", since we had a black and white TV set, she had to let me know that she knew that the film became color at the point where Dorothy opens the door to "Oz".   At the end, when Dorothy "wakes up"  (I always felt that she did not dream it, but actually went there, and that is how L. Frank Baum wrote the story) my sister also told me, "This is when it goes back to black and white".   (How did she know? Who knows? My sister knew everything!)   I think it is important to note that the country was very much in mourning after the Kennedy assassination and not only was it winter-time but I remember it being very cold and gray.  I have written before that the Beatles arriving in the USA in early February of 1964 was like the world coming in color for me...I find it interesting that their apperance on The Ed Sullivan Show was just a few weeks after the TV showing of The Wizard of Oz.

Now, there will be a "prequel" to this movie called Oz, The Great And Powerful, and will be released in March of 2013.  I do so look forward to movies and can be so deeply disappointed (Prometheus is one example, I am afraid that I did not care at all for that movie, and I really, really wanted to like it!)  I see that Glinda, will be portrayed by Michelle Williams who I believe to be an excellent actress.  I saw her in the movie, My Week With Marilyn, on the plane when we went to England and there is something about seeing a movie on a flight, where the acting must be distilled, and everything falls away except a good performance.

Did you know that Buddy Ebsen was in the part of The Tin Man but had to be replaced by Jack Haley since he had a near fatal reaction to the aluminum dust used to cover his body?  Jack Haley sang his own solo songs in the movie, but when they are all together on the Yellow Brick Road, that is Buddy Ebsen's singing voice that you hear (which already had been recorded before he was replaced.)  We know this since Jack Haley spoke the word "Wizard" much like an English person would, whereas Buddy Ebsen was from the Midwest like Judy Garland and they would pronounce "Wizard" with a strong "R".  (Jack Haley was from Boston, it is called NEW England, you know!)  There, you see, I just had to find some English connection, didn't I?

 
This new movie might be good, but I will miss the music.  I love all of it, and do you know the words to the song "Optimistic Voices"?  That is the song that is sung to the characters after they wake up from their sleep in the poppy field...

You're out of the woods,  You're out of the dark,
You're out of the night,  Step into the sun, Step into the light.
Keep straight ahead for the most glorious place,
On the face of the earth and the sky,
Hold onto to your breath,
Hold onto to your heart,
Hold onto to your hope,
March up to the gate and bid it open...open.




35 comments:

  1. I didn't know about the Tin Man being replaced, now I have to listen out for the different pronunciation!

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  2. Dear Tracey,
    I understand this very well, since I have to pronounce my husband's name, "Rich-ard" like the English do, instead of "Rich-URD", the way it is pronounced in Georgia!

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  3. For some reason, "The Wizard of Oz" was not broadcast on Canadian TV until the 1970s. When it first aired, it was a Major Television Event. So I was darn near an adult when I first saw it -- and I was charmed by the switching between black-and-white and colour too.

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    1. Dear Debra.
      What did you think of the movie trailer for this new movie, think it will be any good? Do you notice sometimes that the movie trailers are better than the movies?

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  4. In January of 1964, i was only 6 months old, and my mother didn't let me watch it until i was two. The only thing i remember from the earliest viewings was my terror of the Wicked Witch, from whom i would run to hide behind my father's big recliner, peeking out to make sure Dorothy didn't get hurt.

    Now, of course, i love the movie, but i like Baum's original books, all of which i read, more.

    This new one ought to be interesting.

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    1. Oh my, that Wicked Witch terrified me too, and those flying monkees!! Oh, how scary!
      Of course, I love this movie and I think I know it by heart!

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  5. As a kid, I remember being much more entranced by the movie, "Return to Oz," but maybe it just tickled my fancy more (even though it was actually kinda scary).

    I really doubt that any modern attempt at an "Oz" movie will match up, but I am sure it will make the $$ they desire.

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    1. Hello! Nice to see you here and I see you are a new follower. Thank you!
      I know the film is made to be a big moneymaker, but I always have high hopes that every movie will be a classic.
      I never saw Return To Oz, but I see it was in 1985 and that was when I lived in England, so it makes sense I didn't know about it!
      Once again, I am pleased to "meet" you!

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  6. Wow, that's really interesting about Buddy Ebsen...I never knew about that.

    I love the Wizard of Oz, but as the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher, I always had to go to church on Sunday night. However, I must confess that I actually finally played sick one Sunday night, just so I could see Wizard of Oz. I did feel quite a lot of guilt over it, but never regretted it. I'm pretty sure the Lord forgave me. :-)

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    1. Dear Beth,
      I know so much movie trivia that it is sad!
      Oh, little Beth pretending to be sick in order to see this movie! Bless your heart, feeling guilty for missing one Sunday night service. When I was growing up, the preacher's kids were the wildest! :-)

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  7. I've been nostalgic lately and downloaded the complete OZ books for my Kindle, haven't read them yet, but I'm really looking forward to them. I read all of them as a child.

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    1. If you look up L. Frank Baum on the internet, he was a pretty interesting fellow, I started to say more about him, but my post was already long enough!

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  8. This is my husband's all-time favourite movie! I on the other hand, didn't see it until I was into my 30's - I refused to watch it (lol!) - for some reason it just didn't appeal to me. I've seen it a few times since and can understand why it was such a blockbuster at the time. As for Prometheus - I LOVED it - and look forward to part 2. I guess that's the thing about movies (like music) - we can't all like the same thing and thankfully Hollyweird keeps churning out so many, there's something for everyone ;)

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    1. Jane,
      I know you loved Prometheus but you know that I did not! Oh dear, if you read the reviews on Amazon, you either love it or hate it. Interesting, that.
      And you didn't really like The Wizard of Oz either? Will you go to the movies to see Oz with your husband? Ha, there is always somehhing for everyone, just as you say!

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  9. I am one of the few who have never seen this movie! I don't really know why because I love Judy Garland. I will ensure that I watch it soon. I totally agree with you regarding Prometheus - that was just terrible, truly dire!

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    1. Never seen The Wizard of Oz? Oh, those actors are just wonderful, they truly are. There is a very good book written by Bert Lahr's son, called Notes From A Cowardly Lion, and I think he might live in England (his son, I mean).
      Oh, you need to read Richard's review on Amaazon. if you would like to read it..."Morons In Outer Space" is the title and he gave it three stars...you can find it that way, I can't do the link!

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    1. Dear Dave,
      If only you had the nerve to leave a comment!!! I shall be calling you The Cowardly Lion! xx

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    2. Hi Kay

      Alas, my hair line rules me out of any comparison with the lion (though Richard doubtless has photos of my younger, bearded glory...). On this occasion, the scarecrow is probably a better analogy, and not just because of my dress sense or lack thereof.

      D

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    3. Ah, the poor scarecrow, thinking he needed a brain when he was the brains of the whole outfit the entire time. Do you remember when Dorothy whispered in his ear, "I think I'll miss you most of all"? Magic!

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  11. I remember seeing it for the first time probably in 961. We didn't have a color TV, but it didn't matter because we loved it. And we were so scared of the wicked witch and the scary monkeys and when Dorothy was locked up in the castle. For some reason, we always found it funny when Glenda, the good witch, said "Toto too" with that lilt in her voice and we liked to imitate her. :-)

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    1. Oh, I know just what you mean about Glinds's accent, so strange to my Southern ears! My sister and I loved this movie! And at school the next day, we would always act it out and take turns being the different characters. Such fun!
      Thanks so much for being a new follower. You are most welcome here at any time!

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  12. For some reason I remember the Irish TV station of my childhood showing the Wizard of Oz around Easter time each year. I have no idea what the connection might be. I watched it for the first time in the early 70's, and have loved it ever since.

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  13. I think I enjoyed watching it even more with my own son. Do you watch this now with your children?
    Kids are lucky now, they can see it anytime on DVD. When I was a kid, if you missed it on TV, then just missed it!!

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  14. Hi Kay,

    Firstly, where was the picture of the hill and (it looks like)yellow rape taken? It looks so like Cissbury Ring taken from the Lancing side. If it is, I have done that walk many times. If not, then it still brought back memories.

    More memories of Stone Mountain - from the book that you sent to John - he and his brother were at our house for dinner last night and we spent a lot of time talking about the magnificent effort in the carving of the figures. Graham had never heard of Stone Mountain so he was introduced to the book too! The stone called gneiss - the oldest rock in the world is also here on Lewis. Infact it is Lewis! Something else we have in common!

    Loved your post on Wizard of Oz. I always wanted the shoes she wore when I was a child.

    Have a happy day Pat

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    1. Hey Pat!
      That is most certainly a field of rape, and that was taken on the way to the bluebell walk in Arlington, Sussex. Taken from the window of a moving car, can you tell?
      So happy that you enjoyed the little book about Stone Mountain too! And you have the same rock as Stone Mountain, interesting...what age is yours? The rock at Stone Mountain is not as old as the rock at Arabia Mountain. (Stone Mountain...350 million years, Arabia Mountain 400 million...and if you look at it carefullly, and you know WE do!, you can see they are a different color.
      The carving! Can you believe that a man did that with NO experience? Amazing! And he was from the next county over from where I live! Most people have no idea of that fact, I need to do a post about it, yes?
      Oh, and I am glad you liked this post. Let's both get those sparkling red shoes, shall we? :-)
      Take care, and tell those two guys with you (if they are still with you) that I said hello!

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  15. I have also never seen the movie, Kay. I'm not sure why I never got around to it. Perhaps at one point I will! There seem to be a whole bunch of movies that I seem to have missed for one reason or another.

    Oz looks very interesting, and I just might make an effort to see that one when it's released. We'll see.

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    1. Interesting that you never saw The Wizard of Oz. There is nothing stopping you now! I love the music and when Dorothy sings "Over The Rainbow", there is a part where Toto puts his little paw up and Judy Garland just very naturally takes it in her hand, you know she loves dogs the way she does that. (I always notice the tinest thing in the movie that no one else sees or cares about!)

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  16. I look forward to the new movie. The only part of the Wizard of Oz that freaked me out as a little kid was the part with the flying monkeys!

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    1. OH, so much of it scared me silly! Why, even the talking apple trees scared me!

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  17. I used to watch this sequel when I was younger and I loved it.. I found him charming and strong and wondered too how he looked like without the mask. Now I am altogether excited and curious about this news!

    Have a great week ahead Ms Kay! Stay happy always :D

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    1. Farida,
      I am always hopeful about a new movie! Let's keep our fingers crossed that it will be a good one!
      Hope you have a great week too and keep smiling! :-)

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  18. I still watch "The Wizard of Oz" when it comes on! Always loved it, and yes we had black and white TV when I was little, too! One of my sons told me if it had had one more song in it, he couldn't have watched it! :)I watched a show on the SciFi channel not too long ago, I think it was called OZ, I'm not sure. It was strange, but I liked it! Looking forward to the new one. (And I never thought Judy Garland dreamed it, either! And I hated that witchey neighbor who took Toto away!) lol

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  19. Hey Dorothy!
    Well, my goodness with your name you SHOULD love it! (SURRENDER DOROTHY) Oddly enough, there WAS another song in it, but it was decided to cut it, perhaps your son that suggested that should go into the movie business? :-)

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