The Wizard of Oz FAQ
All That's Left to Know about Life, According to Oz
by David J. Hogan
472 pages // published in 2014 // cinema non-fiction
BOOK DESCRIPTION
The Wizard of Oz FAQ is a fact-filled celebration of the beloved 1939 fantasy masterpiece starring Judy Garland. It's all here - from L. Frank Baum and his Oz novels to the complete background story of the movie's conception, development, and shoot, with special attention given to the little-known parade of uncredited directors, casting difficulties, and on-set accidents and gaffes, as well as more than 75 sidebars devoted to key cast members, directors, and other behind-the-scenes personnel. You'll find a wealth of fun facts: How MGM overworked Judy Garland before, during, and after Oz; why director Victor Fleming had his hands full with the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy's other friends; what it was about Toto that really bothered Judy; the physical horrors of filming in Technicolor; the racial Oz gag that was scripted but never shot; when the Wicked Witch was going to be beautiful; why The Wizard of Oz owes a lot to silent-screen star Mary Pickford; the story of deleted scenes, and a full two weeks of shooting that had to be scrapped; why MGM star Mickey Rooney was part of the movie's traveling publicity blitz; how the Wicked Witch was literally blown off her broomstick one day; the place where lions, tigers, and bears really do live together; singers you hear but never see; the day MGM fired Judy Garland; and much more. Just follow the yellow brick road!
The Wizard of Oz FAQ is a fact-filled celebration of the beloved 1939 fantasy masterpiece starring Judy Garland. It's all here - from L. Frank Baum and his Oz novels to the complete background story of the movie's conception, development, and shoot, with special attention given to the little-known parade of uncredited directors, casting difficulties, and on-set accidents and gaffes, as well as more than 75 sidebars devoted to key cast members, directors, and other behind-the-scenes personnel. You'll find a wealth of fun facts: How MGM overworked Judy Garland before, during, and after Oz; why director Victor Fleming had his hands full with the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy's other friends; what it was about Toto that really bothered Judy; the physical horrors of filming in Technicolor; the racial Oz gag that was scripted but never shot; when the Wicked Witch was going to be beautiful; why The Wizard of Oz owes a lot to silent-screen star Mary Pickford; the story of deleted scenes, and a full two weeks of shooting that had to be scrapped; why MGM star Mickey Rooney was part of the movie's traveling publicity blitz; how the Wicked Witch was literally blown off her broomstick one day; the place where lions, tigers, and bears really do live together; singers you hear but never see; the day MGM fired Judy Garland; and much more. Just follow the yellow brick road!
This immense FAQ volume paints a picture for us that shows the gritty details behind the scenes of those gigantic green curtains -- the dark side of Oz. It's like an encyclopedia; it has the last word on everything The Wizard of Oz. This book is vast.
"MGM product had gloss."
Everything they touched was basically golden, but there's a reason for that; they hired the best, and they pushed for quality entertainment. MGM was rather like a city in itself, containing every amenity needed, and had a need for every type of career.
You can open the book to any page and find some interesting tidbits. I found it hard to continuously read for an extended time though. You do end up learning all sorts of things about how the movie came together -- including fine details such as how much Terry (Toto) was paid per week! My favorite part is in chapter 18, where it speeds through several rumors concerning Oz and attempts to relay its validity.
Although The Wizard of Oz movie made millions, it didn't make actual profit until 10 years later when a re-release took place. Can you imagine?! I was also surprised to hear that the beloved song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" almost didn't squeeze through the final cut. Would we have even remembered the film half so well if that song was omitted?! I ended up learning some shocking "secrets" about the making of the movie, about Judy Garland, and ALL the rest of the cast too. There is simply so much packed into this volume, it's crazy.
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Language level: 3 out of 5. Mild language/cursing.
Content level: 3 out of 5. A variety of adult themes are at least alluded to, but not too detailed.
Minimum age to read: 18 and up.
Overall? It's an exhaustive source that would make for a good coffee table book in the home of an Oz fan.
Book #8 completed
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