The Wizard of Oz: Film Review

The Wizard of Oz, is a 1939 America musical film directed by Victor Fleming, and was based on the children’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by Frank Baum. The original screen play was written by Noel Langley. The film features Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Billie Burke as Glinda the Good Witch of the North, Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Frank Morgan as the Wizard.
The film follows Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas, who lives with her Aunt and Uncle, in their depression-era farm, and she dreams of a better place. After a destructive tornado hits the farm, Dorothy and her dog Toto are magically transported to the Land of Oz. Dorothy is instructed by the Good Witch of the North to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. On her journey she meets many great characters like: the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.
This movie employs many different film techniques which aid in its fantastical journey. For example, the very beginning of the film there is a direct shot of Dorothy’s dog Toto. This shot is taken at a close-up distance. The camera is also slightly tilted downward to show the expression of anger on Toto’s face. This scene was an extremely short take. His expression is in reaction to not wanting to be taken by the Witch and put into her bike basket.
Another example of a well done camera shot is done with a wide angle. This shot is done in black and white, which then later adds to the beauty of all the color seen in the Land of Oz. It starts with Dorothy opening a door to the colorful World of Oz. Up to this point the movie has been black and white. She stops as soon as she steps into Oz. This shot is straight on, the camera moves into Oz first through the door. This is accompanied by a sound track that is light and natural. In essence, the camera and Dorothy enter Oz together. Next, we see Dorothy close up, and she looks around in shock at everything around her. She then walks out of the shot.
Other camera angles that occurred later in the film include, a close up shot of the Wicked Witch riding the broom stick. This shot puts emphasis on the skywriting “Surrender Dorothy.” This shot then trials behind the witch, and builds up a feeling of suspense.
In the end, The Wizard of Oz is a great film filled with suspense, and laughter. It uses symbolism like the red ruby slippers representing the importance of home. Dorothy uses repetition to further show this when she says, “There is no place like home, there is no place like home.” It also involves themes such as not giving up on one’s dreams, and always opens to adventure and life’s mysteries. Though it takes place in a mystical land, the excellent acting and camera techniques make it extremely real and vivid.