The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic

I purchased the movie and the 75th Anniversary 3D edition as well. Enjoyed the black and white version and the color version even more. A timeless classic best seen on the big screen. I do prefer the color version though. This documentary has information that was not in the special features.

Consider it a must see if you are a fan of the movie, movie history, the actors involved, or the movie industry.

Read the review from Neil Doyle if you want more detailed information. Great review there. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100950/reviews?ref_=tt_urv

This 1990 documentary to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the magical 1939 film "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is well worth a watch as it's informative and tells the whole story about the behind the scenes making of the film from it's money issues and casting changes to it's release and how it became a national icon. It even shows clips of Oz footage in different countries and how the film sounds in their respective languages! And interviews from the cast are shown as you get to hear from Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, and it tells a lot of historical background about Judy Garland and her grown children are even interviewed. This is hosted by the classy and fine TV character actress Angela Lansbury plus it's directed by the son of the "Tin Man" in one Jack Haley Jr. So if your an "Oz" fan this is one documentary not to miss so go over the rainbow with it's bundle of information!

Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The (1990)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Angela Lansbury hosts and narrates this documentary that gives a look at the making of the classic 1939 film THE WIZARD OF OZ. Just about everything you'd want to know about the production of this film is talked about within the 51-minute running time. We learn why MGM wanted to make this film, the trouble getting a cast together and the fight about who should play Dorothy. Once the film started shooting there were more problems ranging from accidents on the set to certain items just not working the way they should. Even after filming the movie would get some bad news in terms of not making its money back and it losing big to GONE WITH THE WIND at the Oscars. What so good about this documentary is that we get all sorts of archival video including a lot taken at the Oscar ceremony where all sorts of famous faces can be seen. We also get some deleted scenes from the movie and a lot of production stills taken on the set. Fans of the movie are certainly going to love seeing all of this stuff and the history of the movie is so rich that even if you're not a fan you're probably going to enjoy this. We get interviews with all the main cast members as well as older interviews from those like Garland who weren't around when this was made. Margaret Hamilton gets some great time and tells a couple wonderful jokes about what happened when her agent called her to be in the film. She also discusses the accident on set that could have killed her and did end up burning her. The film also goes into the history of the film over the past few decades and how it kept getting more and more popular even though millions first saw it on television in B&W.

For one of the greatest films of all time, this documentary is merely OK. At 60 minutes I think perhaps the problem is that it is too short. There are some great remembrances from participants and some good back stage footage, but what they do present leaves you wanting more. How much better if they could extend it another 30 or 60 minutes. I'd especially be interested in seeing more of the deleted scenes.

Don't get me wrong. You should see it. But don't get your hopes up too high.

Angela Lansbury hosts a documentary looking back at the iconic 1939 movie. Of course, it's nostalgia for the movie but there is a bit of nostalgia for the late 80's. There is a lot of what-if in the casting. I'm surprised that I never considered Shirley Temple for the role. It seems obvious once it's mention. Too bad she can't sing. There are some great deleted scenes like the scarecrow dance. I didn't realize that the Wizard is also many different characters. That adds something to the wizard if he's running around playing different roles. I like many of the previous performances for these actors. As Judy Garland mentions, the actors never stop talking the makeup. Liza does call out her mother for telling tall tales. It's a little surprising but immensely adorable. I'm sure that there are insights in other documentaries that is missing here but this is plenty enough. This is a wonderful look back.