The Wizard of Oz
Director(s): Victor Fleming
Writer(s): Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson
Cinematographer(s): Harold Rosson (color)
Producer(s): Mervyn LeRoy
American Distributor(s): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Actor(s)/Actress(es): Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke
Why I chose this: 12 year old farm girl, Dorothy (Judy Garland), resides on a farm in Kansas but dreams of places "over the rainbow." Knocked unconscience from a tornado, Dororthy and her furry tag-a-long, Toto, are transported to the magical land of Oz. Here, Dorothy meets friends such as the Tin Man, who is searching for a heart, Scarecrow who is searching for a brain, and the Cowardly Lion, who is searching for courage. Dorothy herself is searching for a way to be transported back to Oz. Together, they all overcome personal battles in hopes of finding what they are looking for. To me, this movie stuck out because it was the first color movie to ever hit theaters. It changed the movie making world. It opened a new door to film makers everywhere. Not only was it historically significant, but also politically. Many don't realize that the movie represents the Populist Era in American history. For instance: the Kansas tornado represented the rural dust bowls in the Great Plains. The 'Wicked Witch of the West" represented tyrants and major business holders (i.e. Rockefeller). And so on. The Wizard of Oz is a classic and a must see!
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