Greg, can I tell you how much I really enjoyed this column? The Little People in the film were exploited badly. Did you know that one of them was in their mid 90’s before she died? She was an anchor-woman on a popular news channel in the Bay Area. Highly unusual for those used to be called “midgets”. Anyway, your analogy about Nazis is right on the money. They’re here and have always been here.
If you think about it, we’ve truly never been a democratic country. Women and people of a different color other than white, have only very recently achieved the goals they(we) have set out for ourselves (themselves). Facing opposition is what comes with the job but being embraced is a whole ‘nother thing. The fight is on against the evildoers and I am here for it. Not going to be silent nor obey.
Thanks so much, Marlene! The stories about the awful stuff that happened during the production are off the charts. Just the Judy Garland stories alone are astonishing.
And no, we never have been. It didn't really start until the civil rights act, and even then...
Fascinating read Greg! Thank you so much for these insightful and inspiring Sunday mornings.
I think Baum was a sickly child who was medicated with Laudanum hence the sedating poppy fields in The Wizard of Oz. Opium addiction was rampant in the late 1800s and peaked in the 1930s prior to legislation. Since most came from the Far East with Chinese immigrants working on railroads, I wonder how much 'the poppy' influenced his writing and even more so the Hollywood adaptation of his book.
When anyone asks me how I'm doing, I say, "I'm fine as long as my tail holds out." No one has ever gotten the reference. I'm happy to know Stephanie St. John would if we were ever to meet.
( the books are great fun with little kids -- "Emerald City of Oz"; "Tik-Tok of Oz" -- at least until maybe the 12th installment, when Santa Claus starts appearing etc ;-)
I I was born in 1937. I always loved getting books for Christmas. I still remember opening Ozma of Oz and I believe I read the story 10 times. I was in love with the characters, particularly Bill the chicken.
Bill and Dorothy shared a crate floating on the ocean. The chicken could talk, much to Dorothys surprise.
Dorothy declared “chickens cannot be named Bill. Therefore, I will call you Billinda.”
She was pretty bossy, but I loved her anyway.
Thank you Greg for another wonderful story. BillSerle.com.
A other great Sunday read. I shall, however stay with my take away from the movie. My simple minded thoughts are first the lion, scarecrow and tin man represent that within each of us are the things we need to get by in life, second add a pinch help from our friends such as being told to click the heels three times and third, good triumphs over evil as long as we fight for it. A fourth, every tyrant is nothing more than a scared little man who hides behind a curtain. A fifth, it only takes a Toto to topple evil.
My fantasy world view but in current days such beliefs keep me putting one step in front of the other.
Thank you Old Man. I am an Old Lady and have seen the film many times. I agree with your take on it. That was its charm and enduring quality. Belief in decency, honor and integrity. And "good triumphs over evil as long as we fight for it. "
Now I want to watch "The Wizard of Oz," a film I haven't seen in at least twenty years. It was one of the first films I acquired in 4K -- along with "2001" -- but everything seems to get in the way of finding the time to just STOP and watch a movie. I've never thought of it as an allegory for anything, but now that you mention it, and quote passages from Mr. Littlefield's essay, it is most certainly about SOMETHING other than what you see onscreen, and yet, while loving your column, I also don't care about "The Wizard of Oz" or its source material, being equated with anything happening in the United States or the rest of the world in the early 20th century. It's escapist fun, and I'm sure was meant to be just that, being released in 1939 after ten years of the Great Depression.
Instead, on Thanksgiving night, I watched "Here," the latest Robert Zemeckis vehicle, reuniting Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, of "Forrest Gump" fame. I loved it for some of the same reasons I love "The Wizard of Oz." It's a simple film that doesn't try to be anything else. At the same time, it's also a very different film from what Hollywood has been pumping out for a long time. Everybody says they want that -- something different, no superheroes, politics, violence, guns, or sex, a "family" film -- and when it comes, in the form of "Here," the critics savage it. My take on it is that people don't DESERVE films like this anymore. If Robert Zemeckis was born in 1892 instead of 1952, HE would have directed "The Wizard of Oz," and I think we'd still be talking about it just as we're still talking about Fleming's film. He may not be the best director in the business, but he knows how to tell a captivating story.
So, with Christmas decorating all but finished (because I am NOT going out in zero-degree wind chill weather to decorate a post lamp!), if anybody's looking for me, I'll be watching "The Wizard of Oz" this afternoon.
Thanks, Steve. You're right about the critics and how we all want that kind of film, and then complain when we get one. I'm not a big Hanks/Zemeckis guy, but I certainly understand the appeal.
Also: there's nothing wrong with escapist fun. We need it right now, desperately. And that's also why it's interesting that it was released when it was. Hollywood knew it.
if you watch Wizard, let us know what you think, if you see anything different...
I did watch it and decided that Toto has been completely underrated all these years. On this viewing I zeroed in on the dog, which I'm not sure anybody does. Toto is "just there" and hardly commented on, but in the trivia of the film, I've never heard that Toto was a problem, like holding up scenes because he decided to pee on one of the apple trees. By the way, Toto was a female, but as I recall, was treated like a male during the film, so I tend to call Toto, "he," not that I'm intentionally misgendering Toto! LOL
Male or female, that was one well-trained dog. How they got him to make his marks and not go off on some tangent when all that STUFF was going on around him, I will never understand. Even during "Over the Rainbow," he sat quietly on that whatever-it-was even during the times that Judy wasn't paying attention to him. He "followed the yellow brick road" just like he was supposed to, no matter the clanking of the Tin Man, or the craziness of the Lion. There was one moment I caught where the four of them were off down the road, and it's a long shot and suddenly Toto is obviously tossed onto the road from the side, and he turned and followed the other four as if he was with them all along. If you examine what drives its story, it's Toto. If not for Miss Gulch wanting to "have him DESTROYED," (what a witch!) Dorothy would have never run away, got caught in the storm and gone to Oz. Without Toto, there's no story at all! COMPLETELY underrated performance.
Apparently, after the film, the dog, whose name was actually Terry, was changed to Toto, and the name was used in the rest of the films he appeared in. Toto died in 1945 and was buried on his trainer's farm until it was torn up in later years to put in the Ventura Highway. All that was said is that Toto's grave was "disturbed" by the excavation, which... Now, there's a life-sized statue of Toto and a memorial in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Good dog!
Thanks, Lynell. I'm now even more curious to see Wicked...which, as someone pointed out on Bluesky, has also come out a few weeks before a Nazi takeover...
All of the trump fraud clowns have fallen to their knees and have crawled to find the zipper to slurp the crazy trump goo thinking it is KoolAid, becoming more dangerous to any sane American.
The second chance isn't being given to us, it's been taken by failing despot Putin & failed despot Trump, energized & fed by our own homegrown traitors to the Constitution & to the sovereignty of we, the People of the USA. The villains will probably fumble their chance yet again, but at dire cost to our human & material capital & suffering that takes us back to a time before the birth of freedom here.
You are my therapy. This is why I subscribe. I read the part about Kristi Noem to hubby and daughter. Superb!
Thanks so much, Sue!
Another Banger Greg!
Thank you!
We need to find our Toto to pull back the curtain.
I feel like there's been Totos pulling back the curtain for years now, and still people want to believe in Oz...
Greg, can I tell you how much I really enjoyed this column? The Little People in the film were exploited badly. Did you know that one of them was in their mid 90’s before she died? She was an anchor-woman on a popular news channel in the Bay Area. Highly unusual for those used to be called “midgets”. Anyway, your analogy about Nazis is right on the money. They’re here and have always been here.
If you think about it, we’ve truly never been a democratic country. Women and people of a different color other than white, have only very recently achieved the goals they(we) have set out for ourselves (themselves). Facing opposition is what comes with the job but being embraced is a whole ‘nother thing. The fight is on against the evildoers and I am here for it. Not going to be silent nor obey.
On the whole we areore democratic now than we were when my parents were born. The trend is good and I am optimistic. Billserle.com.
Very true!
Thanks so much, Marlene! The stories about the awful stuff that happened during the production are off the charts. Just the Judy Garland stories alone are astonishing.
And no, we never have been. It didn't really start until the civil rights act, and even then...
Fascinating read Greg! Thank you so much for these insightful and inspiring Sunday mornings.
I think Baum was a sickly child who was medicated with Laudanum hence the sedating poppy fields in The Wizard of Oz. Opium addiction was rampant in the late 1800s and peaked in the 1930s prior to legislation. Since most came from the Far East with Chinese immigrants working on railroads, I wonder how much 'the poppy' influenced his writing and even more so the Hollywood adaptation of his book.
Anyway definitely food for thought.
Cheers!
Helenbirdart.com
Thanks, Helen.
He's a fascinating guy -- not at all what I thought.
When anyone asks me how I'm doing, I say, "I'm fine as long as my tail holds out." No one has ever gotten the reference. I'm happy to know Stephanie St. John would if we were ever to meet.
: )
His costume was made of real lion fur. And looks fake as can be...
Dismal message. Sigh.
We just have to click our heels together and take it to the bad guys, is all.
Sharon, please post a link to your excellent store, so people can see.
You wish is my command: https://fabledlabels.etsy.com
( the books are great fun with little kids -- "Emerald City of Oz"; "Tik-Tok of Oz" -- at least until maybe the 12th installment, when Santa Claus starts appearing etc ;-)
Tik-Tok is obviously Oz's social media platform, I assume?
I I was born in 1937. I always loved getting books for Christmas. I still remember opening Ozma of Oz and I believe I read the story 10 times. I was in love with the characters, particularly Bill the chicken.
Bill and Dorothy shared a crate floating on the ocean. The chicken could talk, much to Dorothys surprise.
Dorothy declared “chickens cannot be named Bill. Therefore, I will call you Billinda.”
She was pretty bossy, but I loved her anyway.
Thank you Greg for another wonderful story. BillSerle.com.
Thank you, Bill! The structure of the book is a lot tighter than the movie. It's well crafted.
A other great Sunday read. I shall, however stay with my take away from the movie. My simple minded thoughts are first the lion, scarecrow and tin man represent that within each of us are the things we need to get by in life, second add a pinch help from our friends such as being told to click the heels three times and third, good triumphs over evil as long as we fight for it. A fourth, every tyrant is nothing more than a scared little man who hides behind a curtain. A fifth, it only takes a Toto to topple evil.
My fantasy world view but in current days such beliefs keep me putting one step in front of the other.
Thank you Old Man. I am an Old Lady and have seen the film many times. I agree with your take on it. That was its charm and enduring quality. Belief in decency, honor and integrity. And "good triumphs over evil as long as we fight for it. "
I love this, Old Man. Every word of it! Thank you. I much prefer your reading of it to mine!
Now I want to watch "The Wizard of Oz," a film I haven't seen in at least twenty years. It was one of the first films I acquired in 4K -- along with "2001" -- but everything seems to get in the way of finding the time to just STOP and watch a movie. I've never thought of it as an allegory for anything, but now that you mention it, and quote passages from Mr. Littlefield's essay, it is most certainly about SOMETHING other than what you see onscreen, and yet, while loving your column, I also don't care about "The Wizard of Oz" or its source material, being equated with anything happening in the United States or the rest of the world in the early 20th century. It's escapist fun, and I'm sure was meant to be just that, being released in 1939 after ten years of the Great Depression.
Instead, on Thanksgiving night, I watched "Here," the latest Robert Zemeckis vehicle, reuniting Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, of "Forrest Gump" fame. I loved it for some of the same reasons I love "The Wizard of Oz." It's a simple film that doesn't try to be anything else. At the same time, it's also a very different film from what Hollywood has been pumping out for a long time. Everybody says they want that -- something different, no superheroes, politics, violence, guns, or sex, a "family" film -- and when it comes, in the form of "Here," the critics savage it. My take on it is that people don't DESERVE films like this anymore. If Robert Zemeckis was born in 1892 instead of 1952, HE would have directed "The Wizard of Oz," and I think we'd still be talking about it just as we're still talking about Fleming's film. He may not be the best director in the business, but he knows how to tell a captivating story.
So, with Christmas decorating all but finished (because I am NOT going out in zero-degree wind chill weather to decorate a post lamp!), if anybody's looking for me, I'll be watching "The Wizard of Oz" this afternoon.
Have a good week everybody!
Thanks, Steve. You're right about the critics and how we all want that kind of film, and then complain when we get one. I'm not a big Hanks/Zemeckis guy, but I certainly understand the appeal.
Also: there's nothing wrong with escapist fun. We need it right now, desperately. And that's also why it's interesting that it was released when it was. Hollywood knew it.
if you watch Wizard, let us know what you think, if you see anything different...
I did watch it and decided that Toto has been completely underrated all these years. On this viewing I zeroed in on the dog, which I'm not sure anybody does. Toto is "just there" and hardly commented on, but in the trivia of the film, I've never heard that Toto was a problem, like holding up scenes because he decided to pee on one of the apple trees. By the way, Toto was a female, but as I recall, was treated like a male during the film, so I tend to call Toto, "he," not that I'm intentionally misgendering Toto! LOL
Male or female, that was one well-trained dog. How they got him to make his marks and not go off on some tangent when all that STUFF was going on around him, I will never understand. Even during "Over the Rainbow," he sat quietly on that whatever-it-was even during the times that Judy wasn't paying attention to him. He "followed the yellow brick road" just like he was supposed to, no matter the clanking of the Tin Man, or the craziness of the Lion. There was one moment I caught where the four of them were off down the road, and it's a long shot and suddenly Toto is obviously tossed onto the road from the side, and he turned and followed the other four as if he was with them all along. If you examine what drives its story, it's Toto. If not for Miss Gulch wanting to "have him DESTROYED," (what a witch!) Dorothy would have never run away, got caught in the storm and gone to Oz. Without Toto, there's no story at all! COMPLETELY underrated performance.
Apparently, after the film, the dog, whose name was actually Terry, was changed to Toto, and the name was used in the rest of the films he appeared in. Toto died in 1945 and was buried on his trainer's farm until it was torn up in later years to put in the Ventura Highway. All that was said is that Toto's grave was "disturbed" by the excavation, which... Now, there's a life-sized statue of Toto and a memorial in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Good dog!
Excellent piece, Greg! Makes me want to go back and watch The Wizard of Oz again through the lens you have provided!
Thanks, Patricia! if you do, let us know what you think!
I always thought there was more to that movie than met the eye, Greg. You have hit upon what that more is, possibly!
This reminds me of watching the movie Cinderella later in life. My goodness, what a stark contrast to how I saw it when I was a child!
I also remember seeing the musical, The Wiz, in a D.C. theater back in the seventies. I thought it was splendid.
Thanks, Lynell. I'm now even more curious to see Wicked...which, as someone pointed out on Bluesky, has also come out a few weeks before a Nazi takeover...
All of the trump fraud clowns have fallen to their knees and have crawled to find the zipper to slurp the crazy trump goo thinking it is KoolAid, becoming more dangerous to any sane American.
And, what oath are they taking?
Trump OZ cabinet will now be deemed to resemble flying monkeys.
Ivan Raiklin certainly looks like one.
The second chance isn't being given to us, it's been taken by failing despot Putin & failed despot Trump, energized & fed by our own homegrown traitors to the Constitution & to the sovereignty of we, the People of the USA. The villains will probably fumble their chance yet again, but at dire cost to our human & material capital & suffering that takes us back to a time before the birth of freedom here.
I hope against hope that we get that second chance...