Has anyone ever heard this? If so is it true?

Question

That while making the Wizzard of oz someone commit suicide . I heard that in the older version, you can see someone hangin themselves in the tin man scene. I heard that they jump off the roof of the cottage in the background/ Is this true? The reason I ask is because it was on tv this weekend and I remembered hearing that.

WOW Boo!!!! you really know your stuff.

Ahhhh now ill have to watch 3 men and a baby. thank you :-)

Answer 1

No, it's an urban legend.

"The alleged suicide comes not at the end of the apple-tossing scene (at which point the Tin Woodsman hasn't yet appeared) but roughly eight minutes later, after the Wicked Witch has made a surprise visit and then vanished in a cloud of orange smoke. Resolving to be brave, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the now-present Tin Man link arms, march out to the yellow brick road, and dance around a bit. In the background at this point, in about the center of the frame, one can see a dimly lit stand of trees. Something is moving near these trees, but it's hard to make out what. The trio sashays off toward the rear of the set, in the general direction of the trees, then veers and exits stage right. Just as they leave the frame, a limblike thing near the trees swings up briefly into a horizontal position, then drops again. A suicide kicking the ladder out from beneath himself? Or--you have to consider all the possibilities--the leg of a naked woman in the throes of a passionate embrace?

You can guess what I saw. However, the most common version of the legend has it that this is the on-camera suicide of a despairing Munchkin. (Runner-up: a despairing, or just accident-prone, stagehand. Some claim the victim had recently been fired.)

The Straight Dope research department, known for its dogged investigative skills, tracked down Stephen Cox, author of an entertaining volume entitled The Munchkins of Oz (1996). Cox, who interviewed more than 30 Munchkins to collect stories about the making of the movie, dismissed the suicide story and hinted at an alternative theory, which we'll get to in a moment. He also put us in touch with Mickey Carroll, 78, one of 13 Munchkins still alive today (out of an original 124). Carroll said he'd first heard the story about five years ago but also thought it was bunk. "We were on the set for two months," he said. "I think I would have known if someone committed suicide." (Incidentally, several Munchkins did get fired--one for threatening his wife with a gun--but apparently none was the suicidal type.)

Well, OK. But then what are we seeing? Cox points out that if you look closely during the eight or nine minutes preceding the "suicide," i.e., from just before Dorothy and the Scarecrow encounter the apple-tossing trees, you can spot a large bird strolling around the set--maybe a crane or a stork. (For much of the time it appears to be tethered near the house on which the Wicked Witch perches.) Presumably the bird is supposed to provide atmosphere, but basically all it does is pop into the frame at odd moments. Reviewing the "suicide" with this in mind, we instantly realize: it's the stupid bird pecking the ground and then flapping its wings! Though, this being Hollywood Babylon and all, a naked woman's leg can't be entirely ruled out. But the adult in us knows the truth."

Answer 2

It's an urban legend, but I did have to watch the movie to catch what it is moving around in the background!
There is a bird that is wandering around in the background thorugh the whole scene. As they skip off down the yellow brick road, the bird was leaning over, pecking at something on the ground. It then stands up and flaps its wings. Because of all the shadows in the back, it was probably very hard to tell what it was and the rumor started. If you watch a digitally remastered version of the movie, the grainy background has been cleaned up and you can see it a little more clearly.

Answer 3

Nup, Urban legend...Boo answered it well.
Though for another movie conspiracy theory of sorts....apparently there is a ghost in the movie 3 men and a baby.
The story goes that a young boy shot himself with a rifle in the studio/warehouse where the guy's apartment was.
I re-watched the movie when I was about 13, and first heard the rumour.....and it completely freaked me out!

There is a scene where Ted danson's mom calls? or comes around to the house (not sure which, was long time ago), he walks past a window, and you can see a boy (in a striped shirt) standing behind the curtain, next shot, ted's walking back across the room again, and you can clearly see the outline of a rifle in the same window.
Never really heard the full story, or any explanation that made sense, I did hear that it was someones idea of a joke, and it was just cardboard cut-outs..... but gave me the creeps all the same.

Answer 4

To answer finance's question about three men and a baby, i saw a thing on VH1 about movie urban legends (didnt catch the wizard of oz) but the 3 men and a baby thing is actually a cutout of ted danson the someone had put in the room by mistake.

Answer 5

I have SEEN it. I remember that it was in one part where they start singing and skiping along 'Were off to see the Wizzard...' In the background where the stick trees are, you can see someone jump from up high and then danggle there... I had heard that it was an actor that didn't get a role in the movie. But you CAN see it, because I have. You have to look very close.

Answer 6

No it is not true.

You can see the scene.

It is when Dorothy the tin man and scarecrow on dancing
on the yellow brick road - off the see the wizard.

There is a large bird in the far background moving around
and first glance it looks like a body hanging but if you slow
the picutre down you can see the bird on set.

Answer 7

Its an urban legend it was a stork or crane in the background of the set. I found that out about a month or two ago when watching TV Land's Urban Legends.

Answer 8

In the movie Ben Hur....a stuntman was killed during a chariot race and they opted to leave that scene in the film. Never since or before that has anyone ever been filmed actually dying in a movie. People have been killed making movies, but they do not use that footage in the finished product. I think that Wizard Tale is just a tale. So tell all your friends...AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TOO MY PRETTY!

Answer 9

I heard that too, but I think it's false. I do know for sure that some of the little people would get together, u know what I mean. lol

Answer 10

Total urban legend.