What Really Went On Behind The Scenes Of The Wizard Of Oz
The world has known about the story of The Wizard of Oz since L. Frank Baum published his now-iconic book in 1900, but the story didn't quite get the recognition it deserved until the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz came out. The gorgeous Technicolor film made Judy Garland a household name and gave us some memorable songs.
While what we see on screen is literally a fairytale, what happened behind the screen is anything but. From Judy Garland's spiral into addiction, strange allergic reactions, and even some near-death experiences, The Wizard of Oz set was no over-the-rainbow paradise.
The Actor Who Originally Played The Tin Man Was Poisoned By His Own Face Makeup
Actor Buddy Ebsen was originally hired to play the Tin Man, but nine days into the job, he suffered a horrible allergic reaction to the aluminum dust in his face makeup. He had breathed some of it in which caused his lungs to fail and he ended up hospitalized for quite some time.
Ebsen was out of commission, so the role had to be recast. Jack Haley took over the role, an actor who wasn't allergic to aluminum. The makeup team still swapped in aluminum paste instead of aluminum powder on him, just to be safe.
The Silver Makeup Gave Haley Problems Too
Even though Jack Haley never had to be hospitalized because of all of the silver face makeup, he did contract an eye infection.
Also, that tin costume wasn't exactly comfortable. Haley couldn't sit down while he was in costume, and if he decided to take a rest by lying flat on the ground, he needed two people to help him stand up again. He quickly learned that if he wanted to rest between takes, he just had to lean against something.
The Dog Got Paid More Than Some Of The Actors
What would The Wizard of Oz be without Toto? Toto was played by a little female Carin terrier named Terry. Terry was already a star before appearing in The Wizard of Oz. She'd been in 16 movies, including Bright Eyes with Shirley Temple.
Toto was paid $125 per week to be in the movie. The actors who played the Munchkins were only paid between $50 and $100 per week. What was Terry even going to buy with all of that cash? Kibble?
The Great Ruby Slippers Theft Of 2005
The original ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz film were being held at a museum in Minnesotta, but in 2005, those slippers were stolen. There were actually six pairs of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore during filming. You can see some of the other pairs at the National Museum of American History, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Museum, and Oz Park in Chicago.
In September 2018, the stolen slippers were found. North Dakota United States Attorney Christopher Myers said, "We reached the first goal, the recovery, and it's a great day. But we're not done." Police are still working to figure out who stole the shoes.
Can You Imagine The Wizard of Oz Without Judy Garland?
Judy Garland was basically made to play Dorothy, but originally, the studio was looking at some other young actresses for the part. Shirley Temple was considered, but producers were worried that her singing wasn't quite up to snuff.
Jean Harlow was also considered for the role, but (perhaps because of some toxic hair dye) Harlow died when she was just 26 years old before she could be officially cast. With Harlow out of the picture, producers cast Judy Garland as the film's leading lady.
Dorothy's Signature Look
Before Fleming was hired as the movie's official director, George Cukor was brought in to be an interim director. We have Cukor to thank for the look that Dorothy sports on screen. He got rid of the blonde wig in favor of a more natural hairstyle. He wanted Dorothy's plainness to offer some contrast to the fantastical backdrop of Oz.
We think the blue dress with blonde hair would have been too reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
One Of Dorothy's Most Iconic Songs Was Almost Cut From The Film
When you think of the songs in The Wizard of Oz, the first song that probably comes to mind is "Over the Rainbow." Before it was fully edited, The Wizard of Oz was two hours long. The studio wanted to cut the time down by at least 20 minutes.
The director of the film seriously thought about cutting "Over the Rainbow" so that more time could be spent on the full-color scenes. In the end, they decided to keep the song but cut a reprise that Dorothy sang when she was trapped in the Wicked Witch's lair.
The Director Slapped Judy Garland Across The Face
Judy Garland was just 16 years old when she filmed The Wizard of Oz. She didn't have much star power yet, and she was still learning her way around a movie set. That's what makes director Victor Fleming's actions especially heinous.
Judy Garland couldn't stop laughing during a scene where she had to slap the Cowardly Lion. Fleming pulled Garland aside, slapped her across the face, and told her to get back to work. Welcome to show business, Judy.
The Authenticity Of That Lion Costume
The costume that Bert Lahr wore when he played The Cowardly Lion was actually made out of the pelts of real lions. All of that fur can get pretty heavy, though. The whole costume weighed a total of 48 pounds.
Initially, MGM considered having the real lion in their logo play The Cowardly Lion in the movie, but they realized that a human actor would bring more humor and depth to the role. Lahr did a great job bringing the Lion to life.
The Original Design Of The Wicked Witch Of The West
It's hard to imagine the Wicked Witch of the West as anything other than a terrifying, cackling, green lady. If we look back at the original plans for The Wizard of Oz, though, the Wicked Witch was originally going to be more of a seductive creature. Producers thought that look would be too similar to the Good Witch's look, so they changed things up.
Gale Sondergaard, who was originally cast as the Wicked Witch, hated the change from beautiful to ugly so much that she dropped out of the film.
Less Screen Time For The Wicked Witch
Margaret Hamilton took over the role of the Wicked Witch of the West after Gale Sondergaard stepped down. She played the role so convincingly that studio executives actually ended up cutting down her screen time. They were afraid that her performance would be too scary for children.
Even with just a few appearances in the movie, the Wicked Witch of the West still gave children nightmares for a long time. That's one scary looking lady.
Margaret Hamilton Got Injured While Filming
Magaret Hamilton did all of her own stunts on the set of The Wizard of Oz. At one point, while leaving Munchkinland in a puff of flames and orange smoke, Hamilton actually caught fire and suffered horrible burns.
The trap door that was supposed to open under her failed to open. Hamilton had burns all over her hands and face and she had to take a break from filming for six weeks. We're surprised that she even came back at all.
Producers Drugged Judy Garland During Filming
It wasn't all that uncommon for young actors in the '30s to be given drugs to "help" them keep up with intense filming schedules. While on the set of The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was given barbiturates and amphetamines to keep her slim and alert.
The drugs may have worked in the short term, but sadly, Judy Garland developed a drug addiction that would follow her for the rest of her life. She died of an overdose when she was just 47 years old.
The Munchkins Sexually Harassed Judy Garland
Judy Garland's third husband, Sid Luft, revealed in his memoir, Judy and I: My Life with Judy Garland, that Judy was repeatedly molested bt the actors who played the Munchkins on the set of The Wizard of Oz. He wrote that "they made her life miserable on set by putting their hands under her dress."
The actors were all over 40 years old and Judy was just 16. According to some other rumors, the Munchkins were uncontrollable on set, and they were involved in prostitution and gambling on the set too.
Judy Garland Was Constantly Told That She Was Fat
Judy Garland was forced to wear a corset while playing Dorothy because studio executives thought she was too fat for the role. She was told that she had to lose 12 pounds if she wanted to keep her job.
Garland already had body image issues and all of this focus on her weight did some serious damage to her self-esteem. She once said, “I was frightful. I was fat – a fat little pig in pigtails.”
A #MeToo Situation
We already know that MGM exploited Garland and left her with a lifelong drug addiction. Luckily we've begun to hold Hollywood executives to high standards. Sadly, for Garland, the #MeToo movement didn't happen soon enough.
MGM head Louis B. Mayer often groped Garland when she was alone in his office. Mayer intimidated Garland and at 16, Garland wasn't aware that she could deny his advances. When he forced her to work long hours, she complied because she was afraid of losing her job.
Some Things Were Changed From The Source Material
The Wizard of Oz movie isn't exactly like L. Frank Baum's original novel. In the book, Glinda is the Good Witch of the South, not the North. we're not sure why the studio felt that it was necessary to make that change. Also, Oz is a real place in the novel, not a dreamscape.
In the book, Dorothy wore silver slippers, but studio head Louis B. Mayer wanted Dorothy to wear shoes of a brighter color so that he could showcase MGM's new technicolor technology.
Judy Garland Was Referred To As A "Lost Little Girl"
Many biographers have referred to Judy Garland as a "lost little girl." Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm. She went through a whole bunch of traumatic experiences that left her stunted and damaged.
Frank Gumm, her father, died in 1935. She once said, “My father’s death was the most terrible thing that happened to me in my life. I was always lonesome. The only time I felt accepted or wanted was when I was on stage performing. I guess the stage was my only friend; the only place where I could feel comfortable. It was the only place where I felt equal and safe.”
That Poppy Scene Is A Little More Sinister Now
Just before reaching the Emerald City, Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion all run through a field of poppies which makes them very, very sleepy. Dorothy falls into a dreamlike state, which is especially weird considering that she's already ina dreamlike state from hitting her head during the tornado at the beginning of the film
It's also worth noting that opium comes from poppies. The word "opium" actually comes from the Greek word for "poppy juice." Now that we know how Judy Garland died, that scene takes on sort of a different tone.
Dorothy Was Supposed To Be A Lot Stronger And More Confident
Judy Garland played Dorothy as a damsel in distress. She's lost, she's looking for a way home, and she needs all the help she can get. IN the novel, Dorothy is actually much stronger and more self-assured. She isn't lost in a dream world and she feels at home in Oz.
The novel emphasizes Dorothy's role in saving the other characters in the story, not the other way around. L. Frank Baum said himself that he wanted Dorothy to come across as a strong role model for young female audiences.
Some Things Just Don't Add Up
The Wizard of Oz took a lot of risks over the course of its production. This film marks the first time that a movie was shot in technicolor, and if you pay attention, it really shows. The amount of lighting needed to get the color just right was excessive. The lights were so bright that you can actually see them reflected in Emerald City's shiny floors.
There are other problems in the film too, including the fact that the length of Dorothy's hair isn't consistent throughout the movie, props change and disappear all the time, and a witch who is very afraid of water lives in a castle surrounded by a moat.
The Set Almost Looked Very Different
Victor Fleming wasn't actually the film's original director. At first, director Richard Thorpe was attached to the project. He had quite a different vision for the film. Dorothy was going to look more like the drawings in John R. Neill's book, with a chic blonde haircut and baby doll makeup.
Thorpe wanted Shirley Temple to play the role of Dorothy. He also hired Buddy Ebsen to play the tin man. As we all know, Thorpe didn't end up directing the movie. He was fired after working on the film for two weeks.
The Wizard Wore L. Frank Baum's Actual Coat
Costumed directors looked everywhere for the perfect coat for Frank Morgan to wear. Morgan played both the Wizard and Professor Marvel. They wanted a coat that looked well worn, so they were mostly looking in thrift stores.
Eventually, they found the perfect jacket. Inside the coat, there was a label that said "L. Frank Baum" on it. This coat had been tailored especially for The Wizard of Oz author. It fit Morgan perfectly. Morgan passed away shortly after filming, and the coat was given as a gift to his widow.
Victor Fleming May Have Been A Nazi Sympathizer
We already know that the director of Wizard of Oz, Victor Fleming, wasn't the nicest guy in the world. He did slap Judy Garland across the face. Actress Anne Revere, who worked with Fleming in The Yearling, suggested that the director was "violently pro-Nazi."
She also claimed that he hated the British, which seemed to be connected to his feelings about World War II. We'll never know for sure how this guy really felt, but the rumors alone may make you wat The Wizard of Oz a little differently.
All About That Iconic Gingham Dress
Dorothy's blue gingham jumper dress is now an invaluable Hollywood relic. In November 2012, one of the dresses that she wore during filming was auctioned off for close to half a million dollars. It has only increased in value since then.
There were hidden compartments inside many of Dorothy's dresses so that she could hide a handkerchief in her costume. She would pull out the handkerchief to wipe away the Cowardly Lion's tears whenever he cried.
The Irony Of Margaret Hamilton Playing The Wicked Witch
Even though the Wicked Witch is a vile character, Margaret Hamilton was anything but. She was a vocal advocate for the welfare of children and animals, which is pretty ironic considering her whole schtick in the movie was wanting to "get" a little girl and her dog.
Hamilton worked as a schoolteacher, and she had only been acting for seven years before she landed the role of the Wicked Witch. Now we can't imagine The Wizard of Oz without her.
Another One Bites The Dust
It seems like cast members were getting injured and poisoned on the set of The Wizard of Oz left, right, and center. We already know that Hamilton got burned and the actor who was originally cast as the Tin Man got poisoned, but Margaret Hamilton was actually poisoned by her makeup as well.
Somehow, she swallowed some of her green face makeup and got so sick that she could only stomach liquids for a while. The makeup had copper in it and Hamilton could never fully remove it after a long day of shooting. Her face stayed green for weeks after filming wrapped.
Terry Broke Her Paw On Set
Alright, so by now we've figured out that the set of The Wizard of Oz wasn't the safest place in the world. Unfortunately, the little Carin terrier who played Toto also got hurt on set. One of the actors who played a witch's guard accidentally stepped on the dog's foot.
The pup was left with a broken paw, but luckily, after some much needed medical attention, her paw healed and she went on to star in close to 15 more movies.
Ray Bolger Didn't Leave The Set Unscathed
Ray Bolger wasn't immune to the curse of The Wizard of Oz set. Although he never got seriously injured or poisoned, he did suffer some after-effects from his costume. The mask he wore in the movie was made to fit his face, but even so, it left him with marks on his skin that were still noticeable a year after filming had wrapped.
Eventually, the marks went away, but it took way longer than anybody anticipated.
The Success of The Wizard Of Oz
We all know that The Wizard of Oz was a successful film. People are still watching it and sharing it with their children all these years later. Frank Nugent called the film a "delightful piece of wonder-working which had the youngsters' eyes shining and brought a quietly amused gleam to the wiser ones of the oldsters."
John C. Flinn told Variety: "Some of the scenic passages are so beautiful in design and composition as to stir audiences by their sheer unfoldment."
Judy Garland Post Oz
Judy Garland won an Academy Award for her work in The Wizard of Oz, but even after all of her success, she continued to struggle with depression and addiction. It was hard for her to deal with being such a public figure.
She appeared on the Bing Crosby Show after just surviving a suicide attempt. He stood in the wings hysterical while Bing said, "We got a friend here, she's had a little trouble recently. You probably heard about it – Everything is fine now, she needs our love. She needs our support. She's here – let's give it to her, OK? Here's Judy."
The Rise Of Liza Minnelli
Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli became a star in her own right. She clearly inherited her mother's talent. In a New York Times article that was pulished in 1984, Minnelli said, "I think that what Mama was saying was, 'You're everything I wanted you to be. You're a force to be dealt with and I created it, and now I've come up against it.'''
At one point, Liza Minnelli was actually married to Jack Haley Jr., the son of the actor who played the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.
Clara Blandick (Auntie Em)'s Unfortunate Death
Auntie Em was played by an actress known as Clara Blandick. Auntie Em was Dorothy's caretaker and support system. She seemed to be a beacon of happiness in the movie. Unfortunately, Blandick's life wasn't as happy.
Her health began to decline in the 1950s and she dealt with partial blindness, arthritis, and depression. On April 15th, 1962, she killed herself in her home by overdosing on sleeping pills. She left a suicide note that said, "I am now about to make the great adventure. I cannot endure this agonizing pain any longer. It is all over my body. Neither can I face the impending blindness. I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen."
The Snow Was Full Of Asbestos
You can clearly see fake snow flying around in the scene where Dorothy falls asleep in the poppy field. That fake snow was made of 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. I know you're probably thinking that back then people didn't know how dangerous asbestos can be. Nope. They knew. They just used it anyway.
People knew about the harmful effects of asbestos since the early 1900s. Luckily, it doesn't seem like any of the actors were harmed by the asbestos.
The Real Reason They Were Called "The Singer Midgets"
Most of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz were played by the "Singer Midgets," but these short actors weren't so named for their singing abilities. They were called the SInger Midgets because their manager's name was Leo Singer.
Most of the actors who played the Munchkins were Europeans who used the opportunity as a way to escape the Nazis. The Nazi regime didn't take too kindly to people who appeared to be different from the Aryan "ideal."
How The Witch Really Wrote "Surrender Dorothy"
In The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West writes "Surrender Dorothy" in the sky with her broomstick. The effect was created using a model of the witch, a tank of water, and some milk. While filming from below the tank, the words "Surrender Dorothy" were ejected into the water via a syringe filled with milk.
Then the witch model was added and everything was spliced together. The water made it look like the milk was smoke billowing in the sky.
How The Horses Changed Color
The horses in the Emerald City are famously "horses of a different color." Production colored live horses using Jell-O crystals. They had to shoot the scene rather quickly because the horses kept trying to lick the sugar off of their bodies. Anything for that technicolor shot.
The effect was quite successful, and the horses managed to keep from licking themselves long enough for the scene to play out. They probably got to lick a little bit of the Jell-O after the scene was over.
The Animals That Were Left Out Of The Movie
We get to see many of the Ozian animals in the movie version of The Wizard of Oz, but many of the animals that appear in L. Frank Baum's novel don't show up in the movie at all. That's because MGM felt that some of the animal scenes in the book were too gory for children.
In the book, the Tin Man uses his axe to kill a wildcat and forty wolves. There are also "Kalidahs" in the novel which are fictional tiger-bear hybrids. Lions and tigers and bears and kalidahs, oh my!
The First Technicolor Special Effects
The Wizard of Oz was in 1939, and special effects have come a long way since then. Without CGI, all of the effects had to be practical. The winged monkeys flew with piano wires attached to their costumes (which often resulted in injury). Remember when the ruby slippers sparked when the Wicked Witch tried to touch them? Margaret Hamilton just flicked some apple juice at the shoes and then the film was sped up.
A lot of the tornado effects were achieved using models and film manipulation.
A Film Of National Importance
The Wizard of Oz as nominated for many Oscars including Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Picture, and won for Best Original Music Score. In 1989, The Wizard of Oz was recognized as being “culturally significant" to the United States of America by the United States Library of Congress.
In 2007, the movie was selected to be on the list of Unesco's Memory of the World Register. Clearly, this movie has had a lasting impact on American culture.
