Search - The Wizard of Oz [Deluxe Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Child Classic, Scary Moments Movie Release: 1939 DVD Release: 10/19/1999 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered,Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 41 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 65 Genres: Fantasy, Musical, Children's/Family, Road Movie, Children's Fantasy, Musical Fantasy See Also: The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz [Deluxe Edition Gift Set], The Wizard of Oz [Three-Disc Collector's Edition], The Wizard of Oz [Special Edition], The Wizard of Oz [70th Anniversary Special Edition]

The third and definitive film adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's fantasy, this musical adventure is a genuine family classic that made Judy Garland a star for her heartfelt performance as Dorothy Gale, an orphaned young girl unhappy with her drab black-and-white existence on her aunt and uncle's dusty Kansas farm. Dorothy yearns to travel "over the rainbow" to a different world, and she gets her wish when a tornado whisks her and her little dog, Toto, to the Technicolorful land of Oz. Having offended the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), Dorothy is protected from the old crone's wrath by the ruby slippers that she wears. At the suggestion of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), Dorothy heads down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, where dwells the all-powerful Wizard of Oz, who might be able to help the girl return to Kansas. En route, she befriends a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley), and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr). The Scarecrow would like to have some brains, the Tin Man craves a heart, and the Lion wants to attain courage; hoping that the Wizard will help them too, they join Dorothy on her odyssey to the Emerald City.

Garland was MGM's second choice for Dorothy after Shirley Temple dropped out of the project; and Bolger was to have played the Tin Man but talked co-star Buddy Ebsen into switching roles. When Ebsen proved allergic to the chemicals used in his silver makeup, he was replaced by Haley. Gale Sondergaard was originally to have played the Wicked Witch of the West in a glamorous fashion, until the decision was made to opt for belligerent ugliness, and the Wizard was written for W.C. Fields, who reportedly turned it down because MGM couldn't meet his price. Although Victor Fleming, who also directed Gone With the Wind, was given sole directorial credit, several directors were involved in the shooting, included King Vidor, who shot the opening and closing black-and-white sequences. Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg's now-classic Oscar-winning song "Over the Rainbow" was nearly chopped from the picture after the first preview because it "slowed down the action." The Wizard of Oz was too expensive to post a large profit upon initial release; however, after a disappointing reissue in 1955, it was sold to network television, where its annual showings made it a classic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Judy Garland - Dorothy Gale
Frank Morgan - The Wizard of Oz
Ray Bolger - The Scarecrow
Bert Lahr - The Cowardly Lion
Jack Haley - The Tin Woodsman

The Wizard of Oz, one of Hollywood's most beloved films, is given a loaded special edition release on this DVD. The full-frame 1.33:1 image is as it should be for any film released before 1955. An English soundtrack is available in Dolby Digital 5.1, while there are English and French soundtracks available in Dolby Digital Mono. Subtitles can be accessed in either English or French. The extensive supplemental features include a behind-the-scenes documentary hosted by Angela Lansbury, theatrical trailers, cast interviews, the shooting script, and newsreel excerpts concerning the film's release. The music receives much attention on this disc. In addition to a smattering of deleted musical performances, the disc includes a fascinating audio program consisting of material from the original recording session for the film. These and many other historical artifacts make this a superb disc for fans of the film, as well as those fascinated by Hollywood's glorious past. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide