Fascinating facts about The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is one of the greatest movies of all time: helping to make the current show of the film a box office record-breaker at The Lowry. But the tale of a Kansas girl who finds herself in the magical land of Oz, has some fascinating history …..
• The film was released in 1939 which is often called the greatest year in film history. Hollywood was at the height of its Golden Age and many of the films such as Gone with the wind and The Wizard of Oz have been honored as all-time classics
• The film was not considered a commercial success when it was initially released.
• Over the Rainbow, sung by Judy Garland, was voted the greatest movie song of all time by the American Film Institute.
• Nine days into the filming of Wizard of Oz, Buddy Ebsen (Tin Man) was hospitalized in a critical condition due to a reaction to his makeup. The aluminum powder in the makeup coated his lungs as he breathed it in daily. His replacement, Jack Haley, used an aluminum paste makeup instead.
• Gale Sondergaard was originally cast as the Wicked Witch. She became unhappy with the role when the witch's persona shifted from sly and glamorous to scary and she was replaced by Margaret Hamilton.
• Margaret Hamilton was severely burned in the Munchkinland scene when she disappeared in a puff of fiery smoke. When she returned from the hospital, Hamilton refused to do the scene where she flies a broomstick billowing smoke.
The Lowry’s Christmas show The Wizard of Oz, starring Lorna Luft, Judy Garland’s daughter, runs until Sun 4 January.
Posted on Friday, 19 December 2008 under Press Theatre Press