The Wizard Of Oz - 1939
Director - Richard Thorpe & King Vidor.
The Wizard of Oz is truly a delightful film for the children to enjoy and as Film 4 say that "Oz is a land best not seen through adult eyes." This may be because the film is so sicky innocent and churpy in places that it makes adult ears hurt. That's not to say I didn't merrit the films ability to capture an adult audience, the fact of the matter it's a beautiful 102 minutes of escapism. The film revolves around Dorothy (Judy Garland) who is rendered unconcious in a storm in Kansas, where she dreams out a parrallel universe. All of the people she knows in real life are playing characters in the land of Oz that parrallel their own personalities. Here there is a battle of good and evil, festive singing, a cast in fancy dress and sets so bright you need sunglasses. All in all a receipy for much success for any family or should I say childrens film. A great success indeed as it's managed to according to BBC "embraces a new generation of children who succumb to its magic."
The main plot of the film is for Dorothy to get back home to Kansas which involve her going to vistit the Wizard Of Oz at the Emeral City at the other end of the long yellow brick road. All this whist avoiding the Wicked Witch Of The West, who is most upset that Dorothy's house crash landed and killed her sister the Wicked Witch Of The East. On her journey she comes across the Scare Crow, Tinman and the Lion who help her on her travels in the hope of gaining something they feel they lack.
The sets on this film are so wonderfully made that you can bearly see the join between the on stage set to where it turns into the backdrop. Although the use of colour was over done it fit its purpose for when the film was made. CCN describe it as "in a hallucinogenic new print with colors that practically leap off the screen at you." This said back then in 1939 there would have been a great excitement in seeing its use with the cinema goer.
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