The Wizard of Oz (BIG Home Video) Rs.499/-
This could very well be one of the greatest children's movie of all time. If you haven't seen it, all I can say is do so immediately. Make this the very next movie you watch. The key to The Wizard of Oz is its pure, simple theme. Dorothy's desire to get back home, to safety, to comfort, to family and to love. Judy Garland stars as Dorothy in a musical based on the classic children's book by L. Frank Baum.
The soundtrack contains tracks by the original cast, If I Only Had a Brain, Delirious Escape, Cyclone, If I Only Had a Heart, If I Were King of the Forest), as well as the most famous of all of them (Somewhere)Over the Rainbow and the equally famous We're off to See the Wizard, which make this a standout, and a great way to remember and share an important part of American film and music history.
The plot takes off in Kansas (USA) where Dorothy lives with her family and her dog. When Dorothy's neighbor, Miss Gulch, threatens to take away Dorothy's precious dog, Toto, she runs away from home, only to return much later and getting caught in a tornado that picks her, her house, and her dog up and deposits them to the Land of Oz. The house lands atop Oz's Wicked Witch of the East, killing her and making Dorothy an instant celebrity of those living in Oz. Things in Oz are strange and beautiful, but Dorothy is not impressed, she just wants to get back home. She's helped by the Good Witch of the North,
but she's also in trouble with the Wicked Witch of the West, who seeks revenge for the death of her sister; the Wicked Witch of the East, for which she blames Dorothy.
Dorothy must escape from Oz and the only way out is to take the advice of the Good Witch of the North who tells her to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, where the great Wizard of Oz can help her return to her home in Kansas. The long journey to see the Wizard is filled with dangers and traps planted by the Wicked Witch of the West. Along the way, Dorothy picks up some new friends-- a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) who needs a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who desperately needs courage. They all hope the Wizard of Oz will help them, before the Wicked Witch of the West catches up with them. Once they reach the door of the Wiard of Oz, they are still faced with obstacles. Can they overcome the hurdles and will Dorothy return back home? Dorothy's adventures in Oz are pure delight to watch. Find out what happens
‘The Wizard of Oz’ is a classic film from the era. It has loads of lovable quotes, famous songs (‘Somewhere over the rainbow’…….bring the most popular) and is probably as entertaining now as it was in 1939 when it was released.
Oz begins as a black and white flick, so the gimmick of beginning in B&W and shifting to Technicolor shows the transition from the period of black and white into color, part of the time frame when color was being introduced too. The film shows how Dorothy moves from her poor, colorless family and lands in color land. Some of the special effects worth a mention are (also one of the movie's strengths) the tornado which sweeps across the farm fields, the magical effects of the witches and of course the lovely characters……
the tin man, lion and the scarecrow.
The Wizard of Oz screen debut was well received which made way for the stage act on Broadway many times around, going to packed houses not only in overseas markets but also here in India. The moral of the movie is simple ('there's no place like home'), can anyone say anything
more than that?
The DVD is a real treasure. The film is restored and updated with 5.1 sound, and includes Commentary by John Fricke, the Story book of The Wizard of Oz, the restoration of the movie and much more.
Rating: ****
-- Reviewed by Verus Ferreira
