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Wizard Of Oz

August 12, 2010 by · Comments Off on Wizard Of Oz 

Wizard Of Oz, MTV – Throughout the history of cinema, there have been many releases that have been great. There is a small list of movies that can be described as “classic”, and then there are only a few that are “transcendental.” And then there’s “The Wizard of Oz”, a film that exists in a world completely different from everything else. On this day in 1939, made its premiere at the Strand Theatre at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The story, as usual, is relatively simple: A young girl who grew up on a farm in Kansas gets swept by a tornado and a magical universe full of witches alternates, talking lions, a race of people called Munchkins and a powerful magician can not be all it seems.

Directed by Victor Fleming, “The Wizard of Oz” is an incredible achievement. It showed the world the possibilities of Technicolor, turned a handful of songs (written by Harold Arlen and EY “Yip” Harburg) in instant classic and made a superstar of the young Judy Garland. The images and references in “The Wizard of Oz” have become common parlance, as the concept of the yellow brick road, ruby slippers, “No Place Like Home” and the idea that sometimes power is in the perception created by a person behind a curtain are figures that have become embedded in the way of speaking and thinking. Can you think of another film that has had that kind of impact on daily life?

Since its release, “The Wizard of Oz” has inspired a series of sequels, takeoffs, tributes and parodies, including the video for “Oooh” by De La Soul. Rah Digga stars as Dorothy and the three members of the group as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. Their goal? Trying to find the way by land to meet Oooh Wiz (played by the topic of evaluation Redman) and the party at a club called Brick City. Like the film, is delightfully trippy and a great way to start the day.

Wizard Of Oz

August 12, 2010 by · Comments Off on Wizard Of Oz 

Wizard Of Oz, From time to time, Google likes to change their homepage logo to illustrate a point. Often called “Google Doodle”, which is usually done to commemorate a significant anniversary or vacation, and given how big it is Google, which tends to get people talking. Often we find a way to tie in with the theme films (see our article on Pi Day a great example of that). Fortunately, we have to expand the concept throughout the day, as Google celebrates the 71st anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.

MGM The Wizard of Oz was released nationwide on August 25, 1939, but had its premiere in the first place in Wisconsin of all places, on 12 August. The film became an American classic, becoming noted for their great sets and costumes, memorable songs, and the mix of sepia tones and brilliant Technicolor (still relatively new at the time). The story tells of peasants Dorothy, who is not happy in Kansas and monotonous dreams of bigger things. After she hit her head in a severe tornado, wakes to colorful fantasy world of Oz. On the way to see the wizard to return home, he meets a few interesting friends and enemies, and he realizes he misses his “dull” farm and family. The film is based the novel by L. Frank Baum The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but as with most films, the changes were significant.

Oz won an Oscar for Best Score and Best Musical Song (“Over The Rainbow”) in 1940 from the Academy Awards. He was also nominated for Best Picture, and has received other awards and nominations. AFI has included the film in many of their lists of Top, naming it the best fantasy movie of all time in 2008, the best musical in 2006, third, and sixth overall best picture in 1998. “Over The Rainbow” was honored as the # 1 song in the 2004 film.

The growing popularity of the film during the decades has resulted in many remakes, sequels and spin-offs. My favorite is The Wiz, 1978 Motown’s urban take on the story starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Probably the most tendency to Oz at the moment is the play musical Wicked, which tells the story from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West. Two projects in the works now based on the film, directed by Sam Raimi, and another, possibly directed by Drew Barrymore.

What do you think of The Wizard of Oz? I see it as the precursor of creation. Think about it. Dorothy only has the idea to assess your home and family after being in the dream world, which happens to be populated with characters that resemble people she knows. We were wondering at the end if Oz is real or not, but either way he worked the start.

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