Casting a Classic Movie
Metro Goldwyn Mayer purchased the production rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz after seeing the success of Walt Disney's Snow White in 1937. However, the studio heads had some conflicting ideas about how to turn it into a similar mega hit. Should The Wizard of Oz be light hearted musical or more serious? Should the music be opera or more popular? As the casting process began, many of the answers became clear.
DorothySome studio heads at MGM were hoping that Fox would loan them Shirley Temple to play Dorothy, since MGM's only other child singer was affectionately nicknamed "my little hunchback" by Louis Mayer and was considered by some to be too frumpy for the role. Arthur Freed, who would be named assistant producer on Oz, championed Judy Garland and wanted the script specifically for her. However, it may also have been producer Mervyn LeRoy who ultimately convinced L.B. Mayer to go forward with Oz, and it seems as though they may have had Temple in mind. However, in any case, Fox wouldn't budge and on February 24, 1938, MGM announced that Judy Garland would be playing the role of Dorothy. Rumor had it that Judy might also be up to play a role of one of the sisters in Gone with the Wind, but being cast as Dorothy prevented her from having the time for the role. The Tin Man & ScarecrowThe Tin Man or Tin Woodsman was originally slated for Ray Bolger, with Buddy Ebsen to play the Scarecrow. However, in an interesting twist of fate, Ray Bolger, who felt he was miscast, convinced producer Mervyn LeRoy to allow them to switch roles.
|
Buddy Ebsen began to rehearse the role of the Tin man, while Ray Bolger rehearsed the Scarecrow, and all of the pre-filming soundrack recordings were made. But nine days into filming, Buddy Ebsen had a toxic reaction to the makeup used for the aluminum and was hospitalized in critical condition, forcing him to be removed from the production. The makeup was a loose aluminum powder that had been literally coating his lungs as he inhaled it during the application process. Jack Haley replaced him, and the costume was redesigned, as well as the make up changed to a paste. There were reports of Haley having an allergic reaction in one of his eyes at one point to the make up, but nothing as severe as Ebsen's near death incident. In fact, Jack Haley may not have known of Ebsen's accident, nor did some of the production staff or MGM studio heads. Since he had not been taken immediately from the studio to the hospital, it was rumored that he was fired by Victor Flemming, who had come on as a new director on the picture during the same time period.
Interesting Fact : From 1934-1939, Shirley Temple was one of the top 10 box office stars, and in 1937, at the height of her career at age 9, earned $300,000 a week. LIFE Magazine called her the "Fitting symbol of Hollywood" that year. By next time she would be the cover of a LIFE magazine , Shirley Temple and FOX studios would regret their decision not to do The Wizard of Oz. By 1940, at the ripe age of 12, her career was faltering.
The Wicked Witch of the West
MGM originally wanted a glamourous witch, still trying to recreate Snow White, and considered Edna May Oliver, before casting Gale Sondergaard for the role. However, when producers decided that the Wicked Witch needed to be much more hag like, Gale turned down the role, and they cast Margaret Hamilton instead. During production, she was burned badly during filming the Munchkinland sequence in which she disapears in a burst of flames. Her stand in was also injured in the same stunt.
Glinda
At one point Fanny Brice was among the considerees for the role, before it was given to Binnie Barnes.
