The Wizard of Oz: On Film
When MGM released the movie The Wizard of Oz in 1939, it was the third attempt to capture Baum's modern fairy tale on film.
The cast included Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, and Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West. Filmed in technicolor, The Wizard of Oz cost the studio almost $4 million to produce, an unheard of sum in that era. Although the Wizard of Oz was not the first full length film to be shot in technicolor, it would be one of the first films to fully employ the newly perfected technique. |
The initial release of the movie was considered successful, although not a mega-hit by studio. Most reviews were mildly favorable, and the film grossed $3 million in ticket sales, which normally would have been a successful release.
However, MGM lost almost a million dollars on The Wizard of Oz during 1939, and considered it just another movie, despite being nominated for 6 Oscars and winning 2 - Best Music, Original Score and Best Song for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Judy Garland also received an honorary miniature Oscar for her work on the Wizard of Oz, as was customary for child actors. But, in a year where not one, but several films were released that are now considered classics, Wizard of Oz simply got lost in the shuffle. In fact, critic reviews comparing the Wizard of Oz to Walt Disney's 1937 release of Snow White were rather unfavorable, and one particular critic was quoted in saying that "any kid tall enough to reach up to the ticket window will be down the street looking for the latest Tarzan [movie]."
Interesting Fact : The production of The Wizard of Oz was somewhat overshadowed by another classic movie that was being filmed at the same time, Gone with the Wind. In fact, two of Oz's directors would eventually join the production of Gone with the Wind, and Professor Marvel's bridge appears as the bridge where Rhett and Scarlet would flee burning Atlanta. Disappointingly, Gone with the Wind would also overshadow the Wizard of Oz at the Oscars, winning 8 Oscars including best picture.
The Wizard of Oz was rereleased in 1948, after WWII, and enjoyed much more success. However, it didn't actually make a profit according to MGM until 1976! Soon after though, the Wizard of Oz made over $34,000,000 in TV royalties, as well as $3,000,000 in VHS sales, not to mention DVD sales, and royalties from merchandising and Wizard of Oz collectibles that have been released since the movie's release.