Does anybody know fun facts about The Wizard of Oz?

Question

I'm deciding if I should do a report on The Wizard of Oz, and wondering what cool facts there are. Know any?

Answer 1

hi i recently bought a double dvd of the wizard of oz. included was a making of .. with several interviews. the tin man (originally played by buddy ebson, later grandpa on beverley hillbillies) did not die but did become seriously ill due to the lead in the makeup. he was extremely sick fpor months and had to be recast. the green witch was also recast as the original actress did not want to be made to look ugly. margaret obrien who took the role later receive d burns in the scene where the witch disappears at the start of the yellow brick road. there wa salso a problem with the green paint that was used. judy garlands spiral into drug hell began on this film as the studio agver her drugs too sleep and drugs to wakeup. you can try to get a copy of these excellent films from kmart for $12 (see if you can order it if they are out) or you can try dirtcheapcds.com.au where they have/had it for $15. good luck in your further research, zio in sydney

Answer 2

Actually, "the guy who played the Tin Man" did not die from his costume. And, the part was originally given to Buddy Ebsen (Uncle Jed Clampett) until he became ill from the makeup.
The scene where the Wicked Witch disappears in a column of flame and smoke actually injured actress Margaret Hamilton by causing severe burns on her face when the copper-based makeup she was wearing absorbed a large amount of heat.
Also, I've read that the matte paintings (for visual effects) were done on cardboard!

One of my coolest memories is working on the same soundstage at MGM where Wizard of Oz was shot. I worked for a day on a movie called The Ice Pirates, shot on that stage.

Answer 3

My favorite Wizard of oz Fact:
http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/ozcoat.htm

"What definitely did occur on The Wizard of Oz -- perhaps the most astonishing thing that did occur -- was dismissed as a publicity stunt. Yet it is vouched for by [cinematographer] Hal Rosson and his niece Helene Bowman and by Mary Mayer, who served briefly as the unit publicist on the picture. "For Professor Marvel's coat," says Mary Mayer, "they wanted grandeur gone to seed. A nice-looking coat but very tattered. So the wardrobe department went down to an old second-hand store on Main Street and bought a whole rack of coats. And Frank Morgan and the wardrobe man and [director] Victor Fleming got together and chose one. It was kind of a Prince Albert coat. It was black broadcloth and it had a velvet collar, but the nap was all worn off the velvet." Helene Bowman recalls the coat as "ratty with age, a Prince Albert jacket with a green look."

The coat fitted Morgan and had the right look of shabby gentility, and one hot afternoon Frank Morgan turned out the pocket. Inside was the name "L. Frank Baum."

"We wired the tailor in Chicago," says Mary Mayer, "and sent pictures. And the tailor sent back a notarized letter saying that the coat had been made for Frank Baum. Baum's widow identified the coat, too, and after the picture was finished we presented it to her. But I could never get anyone to believe the story." "

Answer 4

The original Wizard was to have been W.C. Fields, the original Tin Man Buddy Ebsen (who fell ill from all the makeup preparation) and the original Wicked Witch was to have been played as an evil siren by Gale Sondergaard.
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/6943/haunted.html

Answer 5

I read somewhere (sorry, I don't remember where) that because the Cowardly Lion costume was so heavy and hot under the lights they had to dry it in a pizza oven every night because the actor was sweating so much in it while they were filming.

Dorothy's slippers were originally supposed to be silver (I'm pretty sure that's what color they were in Baum's novel) but the studio decided to change them to ruby slippers because they'd be more impressive in the finished, technicolor film.

Answer 6

There is a RUMOR....stressing the rumor part, that a munchkin hung himself on set and during the tin man scene in the woods you can see him in one of the trees. The original tin man became sick after putting on the makeup that made him sliver, you know like on his face and hands and stuff, so I think he quit the movie, and then the emerald horse in the emerald city was dyed with jello... (those last two weren't rumors) It was also one of the first movies to be black and white and color! Cool huh!!

Hope I helped, good luck with your report!!

Answer 7

The guy who played the tin man died from his costume? Thats a fact but i wouldnt call it "fun"...lol. You could compare and contrast with the musical, Wicked. That would make a great report. Just google "Wicked Musical". If you havent seen it I wouldn't reccomend doing the report on it but it's a great musical

Answer 8

it was made in 1939