Ritorno a Oz

I don't think it is quite as good as the 1939 classic, which was and still is my childhood favourite, but it is an enjoyable underrated film, that is nowhere near as bad as some people say it is. The animation while simple, is colourful and adds to the charm of the film. The songs, while not as fabulous as the 1939 film, are still very nice and quite charming, even "Carousel". Liza Minelli does an excellent job as Dorothy, and I think her singing voice here was beautiful, and here she sounds like her mother, the wonderful Judy Garland. I loved the characters Pumpkinhead, Glinda (voiced by beautiful opera singer Rise Steevens) and the Horse, but the biggest surprise was Ethel Merman as the witch Mombi. This is still the same person who has the big, brassy voice from films like Call Me Madam, yet she does this film, and manages to do a truly excellent voice over, that is both sinister and fun. Even Margaret Hamilton, the wicked Witch in the 1939 film, voices Aunt Em here The story is like the animation, cute and charming, not the best story line in the world, but stays fairly true to the film it obviously drew its inspiration from. All in all, an enjoyable, charming film. It's not perfect, but I've honestly seen worse. 8/10 Bethany Cox.

THIS CAN ONLY be described as a curious mixture of L. Frank Baum story, TV type limited animation and (for Hollywood "Star Power") a cast of veteran, well known performers doing the voices. Being the product of FILMATION ASSOCIATES, it was their 'ultimate' success. After all after doing so many Saturday morning kiddie cartoon shows, it was their one theatrical release.

ALTHOUGH MANY WOULD decry its lack of Disney-like polish or even the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Fleischers, the production has much to recommend it.

WITHOUT ANY PRETENSIONS of being 'Art' or 'serious' drama, the production team gave us a straight forward telling of a story that has much more of the original Baum tales than one might imagine. Not least of which we point to the veteran cast.

IN A LINE-UP which must have co$t Filmation mucho buck$, we have: Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Herschel Bernardi, Paul Ford, Jack E. Leonard, Paul Lynde, Mickey Rooney, Rise Stevens, Danny Thomas, Mel Blanc, Dal McKennonLarry Storch and Bill Cosby.

BY WAY OF a tribute to the legendary reputation of the MGM 1939 WIZARD OF OZ, the voice of Aunt Em is done by Margaret Hamilton and Dorothy was done by Liza Minelli, Judy Garland's daughter.

I first saw this film when I was about 5 or 6, and to this day I've always loved it! Just the story, the voices the songs, the animation was really cute and simple, the gorgeous backgrounds- Liza Minnelli is in the lead as the voice of 'Dorothy', the rest of the cast include, Mickey Rooney (Scarecrow), Ethel Merman (Mombi-the wicked witch of the west's cousin) Paul Lynde (Pumpkin head), and the original 'wicked witch of ther west' from the 1939 MGM classic, does a cameo as Dorothy's Aunt Em! The plot is a mesh of "Ozma Of Oz" and "The Land Of OZ" (The wizard of oz's author's, other book sequels) I've always loved this movie, it is a little cheesy mind you, (and some of the songs would be severly critisced by film critics)and are waaaay too long, but the story is a good sequel, it fits in better to the mgm version everyone knows, better than the 1985 film "return To Oz" (which i also love mind you) because it has, the same cheery backdrops, songs, and voices. This film is very rare and hardly known by anyone. In 1964, apparently Liza Minnelli PROUDLY recorded the voice for Dorothy, but then regretted doing it later on, and was embarrassed, seing as it was was designed as a crude exploit of her mother's (Judy Garland's) work!.... "It was easy" quotes Liza, "All I had to do was mimick my momma's voice!" Anyway it's an excellent film, (it should keep most children entertained--all the one i've showed it to have been anyway)so if you are a die-hard Oz-fan you should see, it (it's on video) I personally have "Journey Back To Oz" in my video collection, and it is a favourite for little cousins e.t.c!

P.S I LOVE the soundtrack score for the 'tornado' scene! It's so dramatic and awesome! you've never heard anything like it! it's really cool with heaps of differant instruments!

This movie is excellent! Liza sounds just like her mother when she did the film that it gives me chills every time! I love the new songs and the wonderful plotline which is mesh of "The Marvelous Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz". A fantastic sequel =)

At first, I had never even heard of this film, let alone that this film was intended to be a sequel to the 1939 live-action film "The Wizard of Oz," but I think it's meant as a sequel to the original book. I've bought the movie on DVD, and after watching it, I found it an excellent sequel film, but as a sequel to the original book. I was shocked and surprised by the negative reviews I would see on the Web.

I love the talents of Paul Lynde, who played Uncle Arthur in TV's live-action comedy series "Bewitched," and Liza Minnelli, who provided the voice of Dorothy, reprising the role originally played by her mother Judy Garland. And Liza does sound a lot like her mother when she says, "You wicked old witch!" I love Judy; I have a few of her films.