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This is one of the first movies that made me dream of being in set design as a kid. The art department outdid themselves on this one. It must have been so fun to work on.
Margret Hamilton, who played the wicked witch of the west, was such a sweet woman in real life. She was concerned that children were getting too scared from her portrayal in the movie and she went on Mr Rogers to show it was just her in a costume playing pretend. I'm pretty sure there's a video on youtube of that episode. It's worth a watch.
The actors who are the sweetest of people in real life are the best at playing bullies and bad guys on screen. Julie Dawn Cole who played Veruca Salt in Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka 1971 is a sweet woman and was always a sweet girl and Thomas F. Wilson who played Biff in Back to the Future is a sweet guy in real life who actually dealt with bullying himself when he was younger and channeled that experience into his acting.
Fun fact: The actor Caren Marsh Doll is who played Dorothy’s stunt double and she is still alive at 105 years and is the last surviving member of the film
Some interesting facts of the movie. 1 - Ms Gulch died in the tornado.WHen dorothy woke up, wasn't there still an order from the sheriff to kill the dog? The order died with GUlch in the tornado,The water melted the witch,from the tornado,with heavy rain, killed gulch. 2 - The irony of the scarecrow,tinman and lion showing they had all 3 things they were seeking Scarecrow was actually smart, TInman always crying , had a heart, and lion showed courage. Dorothy always had the ability to go home ,from the ruby slippers. 3 - Buddy Epson was already acting as the tinman in half the cuts of the movie until the silver makeup gave him an insane allergic reaction. Buddy Epson is the guy who was the husband with the old lady in beverly hillbillies series.
@@factman-w8m Some things in assuming are really not important in after Dorothy woke up to reality in her bed as to believe all lived happily ever-after is the outcome we all get and want. I never read that any scene that made it into the movie was actually Buddy unlike in Back to the Future when the original cast in the lead... Eric Stoltz who when most of the film was already filmed.... a few scenes from his back... was claimed to make it into the movie.... Seems Buddy Epson was cut pretty early in filming... at least his scenes.
@@factman-w8m In The Beverly Hill Billies, Jed Clampett, played by Buddy Ebsen, was only related to Granny through the marriage to her daughter, Granny's last name was Moses, not Clampett.
I always liked the touch of Toto ruining Dorothy's chance to go home in the balloon by chasing a cat, when it was his penchant for chasing Miss Gulch's cat that got Toto and Dorothy in trouble in the first place. Great little full-circle moment!
How about Bert Lahr's character Zeke telling Dorothy early on that she should spit in Miss Gulch's eye. Later on, Dorothy splashes water on Miss Gulch's counterpart, the Wicked Witch of the West - another full circle moment!
If I remember correctly, the slippers were silver in the original book. But they wanted wanted to take advantage of Technicolor, and thus made the shoes red to make them pop on screen.
Right! If I remember correctly, the story was an allegory about the United States, and the silver slippers represented the silver standard for the monetary system
@@mimifa678yup! The book is a metaphor for the populism movement. The yellow brick road is the gold standard, emerald city is green for money. The whole book she thinks the yellow brick road (gold) os what she needs, but in the end it was the silver all along. Dorothy represents the farmers who were pushing for silver to be used over gold
One of the best pieces of trivia I know is that the whole scene is in technicolor … a sepia colored double (body and hair coloring and clothes) and sepia colored set is the first part of the scene then rolled away
@@heesoo18 Correct! Bobbie Koshay was Judy Garland's stunt double and that's who you see open the door. You also see Bobbie when Dorothy falls into the pig pen.
I think this could be interpreted as “all ugly witches are bad, but not all bad witches are ugly.” So Dorothy not being ugly meant she could have been good or bad.
Based on their reactions to this movie, I'm pretty sure the OG Mary Poppins, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit would outright break their brains with the sheer amount of "how did they do that?" moments.
All excellent suggestions for the Rejects to watch with us! 👍 The original Mary Poppins (go my 12-year-old daughter prefers the sequel / newer one) and Princess Bride are my favorite movies still in my late 40s
All three of the actors playing Dorothy's friends were veterans of burlesque stages and early silent films. To be successful at this time required actors to be skilled in acting, dancing, and singing, and playing to a large audience required them to bring a lot of physicality to their performance. This experience gave Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, and Ray Bolger the perfect tools to bring their fantasy characters to life. Loved sharing this great film with you! 😊
All so true, they were experienced vaudeville and stage performers. Jack Haley was actually a late substitution, as Buddy Ebsen (a great singer-dancer in MGM musicals) reacted badly to the silver makeup and couldn't continue. Ray Bolger's great days were still ahead of him, as he became a star in stage musicals like Where's Charley (filmed nicely, but for some reason never released on home video).
It seems even now that a lot of actors who started and spent a lot of time stage acting still bring a lot of that physicality to their film portrayals. Tim Curry immediately comes to mind.
I've read that a lot of the jokes in the movie were standard vaudeville ones, which fell a little flat, as they had gone out of style by '39. To subsequent generations who hadn't heard them before, they were fresh and funny, even if corny.
That's why so many British actors are so good -- not only did they do stage, they did Shakespearean theater. (Britain, being an island, has a proportionally small acting pool. You'd have Shakespearean actors as regulars on kid's shows, even.)
@@DelGuy03thank you for this info. I KNEW there was something about the Tin Man getting sick because of the metallic paint, I just wasn't sure what exactly it was.
31:22 Fun Fact: The female voiceover of "Where for art thou Romeo?" was performed by Adriana Caselotti, the original voice of Snow White in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", which was released two years prior to "The Wizard of Oz".
Judy Garland (Dorthy) was the first to sing "Over the Rainbow", but she was also the first to sing "Have your self a Merry Little Christmas" in the movie Meet me in St. Louis made in 1944. In case you are looking for a Christmas movie to look into!
Truly a Hollywood classic. Everything about this film is so charming. Judy Garland's gorgeous voice, the music, the characters, the color filming tech, it's all incredible.
Fun fact: When Dorothy is trapped in the witches den, she sings a reprise of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Judy sang it so heartbreaking and so raw, she made every crew member in tears but i believe they took it out due to time. There’s a lot of deleted scenes that we didn’t get to see from the original cut.
I believe that reprise was removed partly because it was too disturbing for the audience, but also because it undercut the effectiveness of the appearance of Auntie Em in the crystal ball and her being replaced by the Witch, which immediately followed it.
I've heard that audio, and there's a rumor that she was absolutely assaulted and traumatized by the director to make her cry. The heartbreaking rendition is actually pretty disturbing if that's the case. She is absolutely sobbing her way through the entire song, it's difficult to listen to.
The tornado in The Wizard of Oz was a case of some rather brilliant 1930s special effects, created by wrapping chicken wire in muslin cloth, which was then spun and moved along a track. Dust and a wind machine were also used
I lived in Kansas for a while as a kid and I saw tornadoes for real and that effect is PERFECT. The scene became even scarier for me when I saw an actual funnel cloud in the distance.
My Mom was 13 when this came out . She is 97 now . This was the first Color film at the Theater in her memory . It was a huge deal. The gasp in The theater the moment she opens that door was very loud ✨💫✨
I love that! My mom’s first movie was Snow White and it terrified her but no one loved movies more than her! (She would have been 90 today… and I always thought she and Judy Garland looked a lot alike!)
Nice to hear that the audience gasped! There wasn't much techicolor until 1939, The Wizard and Gone with the Wind really made it popular. I think Snow White was 3 years before this, also in color.
Judy Garland was 16 when they filmed this. They had to strap her chest down to sell her being a kid. For the Oscar ceremony, she had to talk the studio into letting her wear a glamorous gown made by Adrian, the fashion designer who did the costumes for the movie. They still wanted to portray her as a teen for her ongoing films for the studio, but she wanted to start transitioning to adult roles.
I actually never knew she was supposed to be a kid. I just assumed that she was like 14 or 15 yo which is still technically a child & why everyone calls her a child.
@@jenloveshorror They were debating casting Shirley Temple as Dorothy, who was just 10 or 11 years old when filming was to start, but they couldn’t get her loaned out from her studio to MGM. I am pretty sure that is around the age Dorothy is in the books.
@@kathyastrom1315 Dorothy's age is never specified in the book, but she is repeatedly referred to as a "little girl," and the original illustrations depict her as such.
@kathyastrom1315 thanks for info! I don't really know alot about all the making of this movie even though I've seen it many times & shared it w all my kids. It's crazy to think that a movie I personally watched for the 1st time bout 40 years ago & im still learning things about it!
My favorite fact about this movie is that the Wizard was one of the few characters that they sourced the costume for instead of completely making. They found an old overcoat that they thought would work well and only onset. Did the man playing the wizard find out that that coat had years before belonged to L. Frank Baum who wrote the Wizard of Oz. They were even able to trace back to the tailor who made it for him to confirm that it was really his. He didn’t live long enough to see his story be made into a movie, but he still got to be a part of it.
Though Baum didn’t live to see THIS film version, there were plenty of silent Oz films, many of which were produced by The Oz Film Company, which Baum founded and ran. They made film versions of the book and its sequels. There was a later silent version made which starred Oliver Hardy from Laurel & Hardy fame as The Tin Man. It was also the first film version to enact the idea that the characters in Oz were played by the same actors who played the farmhands in Kansas.
The urban legend was that someone hung themselves in the background during the part where Dorothy, Tin Man and Scarecrow dance down the Yellow Brick Road. Back in the 90s we studied the VHS tape and it did look like that, but with dvds and blu-rays and hi-def images you can see in reality it's a flamingo silhouette.
But there really is a hanging person in the moinlit woods in Sullivan's Travels. It appears to be a morbid joke by Preston Sturges about the depression-era landscape.
In the original cut someone actually did hang themselves and if i remember right it was someone who auditioned for the roll of Tin Man but didnt get the roll. Around the 90s was when editing in movies were beginning to start up so they were able to edit in the flamingo silhouette instead of the person hanging himself
@@mrtherxpyyy5640”Around the 90s was when editing in movies were beginning to start up” That doesn’t even make any sense. Some people just want to believe urban legends so bad they just have to make up conspiracy theories.
The best part of watching reactions to this movie is when it makes the transition from sepia to color, the magic still holds up, and it’s pure amazement from the reactors.
Wait til they find out Michael was not only influenced by, but was IN a Wizard of Oz adaptation. I hope they do watch The Wiz, next. It’s such an amazing movie. Then Return to Oz, for another tonal shift. It’s a childhood favorite of mine, too.
The reason Bert Lahr’s voice as the Lion sounds familiar, is, yes, it WAS the inspiration for Snagglepuss in the Hanna-Barbera cartoons. (Because he’s a cowardly lion, get it?). Lahr had a distinct style in burlesque for his obnoxious style and motormouthed puns, and even the cartoon version borrowed his signature catchphrase “Ain’t it the truth, AINT it the truth?”
This must be a generational thing because I don’t think I ever met anyone growing up who hadn’t seen this movie. This was something practically everyone had on VHS either through purchasing it or recording it off TV since it was shown at least once a year on one of the networks.
Yep. I’ve made my cousin watch a bunch of classic movies he’s never seen and it just occurred I’ve never even asked him if he’s seen this, because that seems like such a ridiculous question. Now I have to ask lol
That was me until yesterday! I do live in Europe, so the movie wasn't as much of a christmas tradition here. We have Home Alone (even though it's also American haha)
@@lorettabes4553 this movie has nothing to do with Christmas. It’s just a film version of one of the many books of Frank L Baum who was famous for writing children’s books.
THE greatest film in the history of cinema! It’s the most quoted, most influential, most watched through generations, most beloved film ever made. Nothing comes close.
The transition from Sepia to Technicolor was actually practical, they had a body double open the door and then Judy Garland walks through to the technicolor set in the blue dress
My Dad and I watched this together on tcm one night. We had ice-cream and pretzels and sang along together. It turned out to be the last movie we ever watched together. He died 2 weeks later. The Wizard of Oz will always hold a special place in my heart ❤️
GenXers remember how we got exactly one chance per year to see this film. Always a huge deal every year. Made popcorn (old school style pre-microwave days) and had to be showered and ready for bed before it started bc it was always on a school night 😂
I grew up near Grand Rapids, MN where Judy Garland is from, and when I was in elementary school in the 90s some of the remaining members of Munchkinland were at the local movie theater signing autographs and meeting with fans. It was a very cool experience!
Ok listen, I love, LOVE this reaction! I seriously smiled all through it! The blushing smiles on John and wide eyed Aaron reminding me of a little kid as he was seeing it for the first time. This was so sweet ! 👏🏽❤
The film has a legacy for a reason. It’s pure fantasy and magic in its own right and then when u put it into context of it being 1939 which is like 12 years after the advent of modern film. The sets and effects are so well done. -so many fun factoids like the lion costume is an actual lions pelt/hide -and Arron’s realization to somewhere over the rainbow ❤
51:34 Funny you should say that about the OREO!! They referenced this scene in the first Wreck-It Ralph movie, with the guards at King Candy’s castle 😂 Great video, guys! Always love first time reactions to classics like this. 🌈
Gotta be honest with you fellas, of all the reactions I've seen you two do... ... this has been my favorite. It brought a sincere smile to my face and I enjoyed every minute of it with you guys! 🙂
It's great to see you enjoying this classic film so wholeheartedly. "The Wizard of Oz" was a huge part of my childhood -- back in the day, it was broadcast every year during the Easter season, so I always watched it with my family. I was especially glad to hear that you appreciate the songs, how catchy and memorable they are, and the way they enhance the story. To me, that's a testatment to the artistry and creativity of composer Harold Arlen. He wrote all of the songs you hear in this film, and has the unfortunate distinction of being one of those songwriters whose tunes nearly everyone has heard, but whose name most people don't remember. I was privileged to learn about Arlen's life and career through a musical retrospective that my brother produced and performed several years ago. The production's title is "Over the Rainbow", and it was so much fun to watch. I hope that you or some of your viewers will get the chance to see it sometime.
Toto was actually named Terry but they understandably changed the dogs name due to the size of the role SHE played in this movie. Toto’s grave was eventually destroyed and she now rests underneath Ventura highway in LA. She is an unknown part of thousands of people’s daily commute down a grey asphalt road.
The funniest part of this classic for me is at 45:35. The Cowardly Lion's crown is supposedly fashioned from a broken porcelain pot, but at some point, the prop was switched to a rubber one, because when it got shaken off his head, it bounced when it hit the ground.
หลายเดือนก่อน +8
When "somewhere over the rainbow" came on... You guys were INSTANTLY like "HEY, I KNOW THAT!!"... I instantly thought, "OH BOY ARE THEY IN FOR A TREAT!". There are SO MANY amazing classic songs...🤣🤣🤣
everytime I see one of these kinds of videos it still baffles me how someone out there in the world hasn't seen one of these classic films. so glad you guys are doing this - it warms my heart each time you see things play out and connect a famous line to something you've heard in pop culture!
Did you notice that the scarecrow, the tin man & the cowardly lion were played by the same actors who played the farm hands: Burt Lahr, Jack Haley & Ray Bolger? And the Wizard was Professor Marvel. And Toto was actually played by Terry, a female Cairn terrier.
There are several generations of people who find it mind-blowing that people have grown up without seeing this. A lot like the TV playing the National Anthem before going to snow every night that opens Poltergeist. Wizard of Oz used to play on network TV every year and it was a tradition for "all Americans" to watch it when it did. It was usually over Thanksgiving weekend iirc. I was burned out on this movie because of that tradition, but over the years have found love for it again.
Okay this is the cutest reaction I've seen in forever. I know this was way before my time but even back when I was a kid in the early 80s, they used to play it once a year on TV and my grandma recorded it off the TV and gave it to my brother and I on Thanksgiving one year bc we loved it so much. We wore it out so my dad ended up having to buy a new copy 😂 I can quote this movie from start to finish, every single word. ❤ Also, yes: that was the scene with the urban legend of the munchkin hanging himself in the background, but it was actually just a crane (large bird) loose on set.
My grandmother did the same thing. Commercials and all 😂 I remember not only the movie word for word, but those old 80s commercials too. Those were the days ❤
John had it exactly right with the dead body rumor. It is in that very shot that you can supposedly see one of the munchkin actors hanging from a tree. However, in modern 4k versions you can clearly see that it's merely a bird flapping its wings. But the rumor persists that They digitally replaced the body with the bird in the later releases. Personally I don't think that set would actually be large enough for a swinging body to go unnoticed on the day. Movie magic tricks your eye into seeing an endless forest but in reality it could only have been a few hundred square feet with a couple dozen trees.
Such a gem and a timeless classic! It warms my heart seeing Rejects reacting to classic movies and they don't get much love on TH-cam those movies reaction wise. Would absolutely love to see more!
This is why this is such a classic! I used to watch this growing up and seeing fresh eyes in 2024 watching it and being captivated by the magic of this movie lets me know that it will continue to have staying power for many more years to come.
As a kid in the 1960's we looked forward to seeing this movie on tv once a year. I can even remember where they placed the commercials! Oh the anticipation. This and "Peter Pan" (the old with Mary Martin) I enjoyed seeing you learn all of the details that are still referenced today. Lately, in my upper 60's, I reference "Oil Can!:" quite often. 🙂
35:36 if I’m not mistaken they put wire in the tail of the lion’s costume so it would move on its own. He had no control over it. Also, the costume was real lion’s fur.
Actually according to Lorna,Judy’s younger daughter there was a guy that followed him around up on a boom high onset and attached a hook to the tail and used a fishing hook to make the tail go back and forth,she said that on dvd commentary for a tv movie based off the book she wrote about her mom.
1 of my fav reactions to any film reaction on yt that i have watched. As someone in their late 50s, who has watched this film multiple times a year throughout my life, its lovely to see 1st timers appreciate just how great this film is and how it was made. Real sets, fantastic actors, a lovely story with an ending that brings me to tears every single time yet leaves me with a warm feeling and the memories of my childhood. Thank you guys for your reaction.. Channels like yours give me hope that the films i grew up with dont fade into oblivion!👍👍👍
the director(s) originally wanted to cut 'Over the Rainbow' - they felt it slowed the movie down plus they didn't like a star like Judy Garland singing in a rundown barnyard with a grey sky as background - they wisely kept the sequence in and seeing you guys appreciate it is proof that it works beautifully.
In 1939 they employed the best stage production and propmaster from New York, Chicago, and London. They were making up special effects technics for this movie that no one uses today. Everyone is amazed by the realism of the tornado sequence.
Absolutely. Return of Oz is based on the second and third books in the series, Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz. In the MGM movie, they made it into a dream, as they thought audiences could not accept it as a real place, but in all other versions and spinoffs - including Return - it is a real place. They cast Dorothy as a young girl as per the books, not the teenage as Judy Garland was. And the look of the characters is so "right off the pages" of the original illustrations, particularly as they didn't need to have humans inside. Many Oz fans, myself included, think of this movie as a sort of love-letter to the books.
@@natbrookes85 And the floating chicken coop, Deadly Desert, the lunchpail tree, the wheelers, Tik-Tok, Mombi (as Princess Langwidere with the interchangeable heads).
The horses were dyed with colored gelatin and had special handlers to make sure they didn't lick themselves. And the lion costume was ACTUAL lion skin. It weighed over 100 lbs and had to be dried every night and it reeked from Bert Lahr sweating so much under the lights.
I've only now noticed how much that mean old lady from Gremlins must have been heavily based on the wicked old witch lady in the beginning of this film (and they're both after a dog!)
I got so excited seeing this! I've never actually seen the Wizard of Oz before (and I plan on watching the whole thing myself after this) but watching it for the first time with you guys is so awesome, it's like watching with friends for the first time!! Love you guys & the whole channel so much, you've gotten me to watch movies I never would have sought out by myself to watch but after I see your reactions I can't help but want to sit down and experience the whole movie again! 💖
The tornado in The Wizard of Oz was a 35-foot tall muslin cloth wind sock wrapped in chicked wire, that had compressed air blowing through it. The top of it was attached to a steel gantry above the stage, while the bottom was attached to a rod connected to a car they moved along the stage floor. The sock was also designed to allow dust to come through it as the compressed air blew threw it (it also gave it a fuzzy, dusty look). They also used fans to blow debris around the stage.
Color had been around for a decade, and 3-strip Technicolor since 1932. But I agree, it was indeed relatively rare in those days, as the equipment was cumbersome and expensive (so it added to the expense of production). There had been been a few color pictures that were popular before 1939 -- notably The Adventures of Robin Hood in 1938, whose color is still eye-popping today. That said, It must have been amazing to see a sepia-toned B&W movie turn into color partway through though; that's still a wonderful moment.
If any of you have seen Wicked (the stage musical or the upcoming movies), you should go back to this after and try to figure out where the events of both line up
This is maybe the best movie of all time in my opinion. It touches the inner child in you. Another good old movie y’all should react to is It’s A Wonderful Life.
Omg the first film I fell on love with when I was 5. I made my own Ruby slippers using plastic dress up barbie shoes and stuck red glitter all over and skipped around my garden with a basket and stuffed dog lol 😂
My favorite behind the scenes part of this movie has always been the actors who played the munchkins talking about how it was the first time they had ever been around so many other little people. Some of them had never even seen another little person. P.S. every single one of their costumes was designed and sewn completely unique to that actor
Was Michael tributing this? I guess he would have to love Wizard of Oz wouldn’t he?…. .. Looks like someone needs to see The Wiz. .. Cosplayers get your Reese’s wrappers ready…. 🤣
I played the Tin Man when I was in the sixth grade back in 1972. I had the wildest costume that my dad made me and everybody was jaw dropped and impressed with its creation. "If I only had a heart..." So glad you picked Wizard of Oz today. This is also what I needed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.😊
50:31 she was crying for real. And in a deleted scene, she sang a reprise of Over the rainbow while crying. They deleted the scene because of how heartbroken they felt.
Its honestly so sweet seeing this movie and being so impressed by the effects. If we saw this in a modern movie we wouldn't blink an eye. It's beautiful to appreciate the craftmanship of the past.
This was my grandma's and mine favorite movie to watch together growing up. Every time it was on TV we would always watch it together It doesn't matter if it was in the middle of the movie. Great nostalgic moments with her I remember forever
16:28 Okay I've seen people point out this moment and say "Did Glenda call Dorothy ugly when she asked if she was a good witch or a bad witch?" but they missed what she said. Glenda said "only bad witches are ugly" not "all bad witches are ugly". It's like saying "only people who are at least 21 years old can drink alcohol" which doesn't necessarily mean that every beverage consumed by a person 21 or older must be alcoholic. Looking at Glenda's statement logically, we can deduce that good witches are never ugly while bad witches may or may not be ugly, so if you meet a witch and they are ugly than you can assume they are a bad witch, but if you meet a witch and they are beautiful then you have to figure out some other way what kind of witch they are. Therefore, Glenda asking Dorothy if she's a good witch or a bad witch actually means that Dorothy is beautiful so Glenda has to ascertain her status by asking her.
I am obsessed with the lore of this film and the long terms effect it had on Hollywood and the industry. When I lived and worked there I was told so many stories by first and second gens about this. All the fights over the rights to a sequel and how it shaped everything anyone else would do. Living an actors house going through boxes of abandoned scripts and film reels. You know it's one it's transcendent things that is so much more than just the art itself. That is the meaningful thing about Wizard Of Oz.
@@johnnehrich9601 It was asbestos. There is a video out about the making of the Wizard of Oz. It tells about all of the behind the seen things that weren't so good. Including about Judy and how the munchkin men treated her. It's gross.
It's been reported that it was asbestos for years. The studio also got Judy Garland hooked on both amphetamines and sleeping pills during this time because her filming schedule was so overwhelming
@@elisefisher1717 Yes, someone was very insistent it was gypsum but like you, I've heard it was asbestos. Plus the scarecrow costume had asbestos in the arm for one scene where the witch sets it on fire. I also heard it was more than Garland's schedule - they were concerned about her weight, as she was supposed to play younger than she was. They also strapped in her chest, severely restricted her diet, forced her to smoke a lot of cigarettes, and referred to her as "fat" or a "pig" in her presence. (Ironically, Margaret Hamilton might have been one of the nicest people to her.)
The song *Over The Rainbow* is one of the most iconic numbers in a musical and my personal favorite in this movie. Delicious movie trivia: >The "oil" that they used to lube up Tin Man's joints was actually watered-down chocolate syrup. >The horse pulling the carriage in The Emerald City kept licking off the gelatin powder that turned its coat purple, red and yellow. Sweet movie trivia: >Jack Haley, the actor who played the Tin Man was the replacement for Buddy Ebsen, who suffered an allergic reaction to the makeup. The voice Jack used for Tin Man was reportedly one he'd use when reading good night stories to his daughter, his real voice was gruffer and deeper. Sad movie trivia: >In the scene where Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man meet The Cowardly Lion, you can see Judy bury half of her face in Toto's fur. This is because she found it difficult to keep a straight face when Bert Lahr started blubbering as the Lion, and the producers would get mad and slap her because of it. >In the poppy field scene when Glinda makes it snow to negate the Wicked Witch's sleeping spell, the "snow" is actually asbestos flakes. >The pyrotechnics used for the Wicked Witch of the West's entries and exits inflicted 2nd degree burns on Margaret Hamilton's face and a 3rd degree burn on her right hand. She understandably refused to not only do any more stunts involving pyrotechnics, but she missed 6 weeks of filming due to hospitalization.
This was on TV every Christmas when I was a little girl, it was my highlight of Christmas. Years later as a student we would watch it high with my flat mates.
What a huge pleasure it was to watch this charming film with you fellas, thanks for reviewing longer than 30 minutes, thanks for appreciating all the aspects of this film, and thanks for becoming young at heart, once again ☺
1939 was one of the best years for movies . Wizard of Oz, Gone withe the Wind, Mr Smith Goes To Washington Stagecoach, Gunga Din, Withering Hights, Dark Victory. Actually, 6 directors worked on Oz Fleming left to go work on Gone with the Wind. That and movie had 3 directors. Oz, when I was growing up, It was on TV every year. We didn't have a colour tv till I was 10. So my shock and wonder when she opens the door and it's in color ,I was so surprised.
They don't do credits at the beginning anymore, because they started showing Trailers for upcoming movies. The credits in the beginning were to make sure all the people got in and sat down to watch the movie, before it started.
I can't find confirmation of this, but I think it's obvious that credits moved to the end because, due to successful union negotiations, more and more participants in the filmmaking process got the right to have on-screen credit for their work. The resulting credit sequences simply became too long to be played before the film began.
@@oliverbrownlow5615 It is not ovbvious. The credits were shown in the beginning of movies because going to the movies back then were a big deal. The credits started at the beginning to make sure everyone could watch the movie, and see it from the beginning. That used to be common knowledge. Even until recently movies have had an opening sequence not showing much of the movie, but playing a song or what not. To let the crowd gather in. Now, they pop quizzes and facts, waiting for people to come in and then it shows trailers. I am not going with what I think. I am not just thinking that is what they did and why they did. I know that is why they did. I have seen it talked about in documentaries. I even think they talk about it, if you buy the 70th Anniversary Box Set of this movie that has 16 hours of extra footage. I also worked in a video store, and we all knew that at the video store. So, it's not a "think" thing, it is a "know" thing. I am sure if spend more than 10 minutes you can find it somewhere online. It's hard to find a lot of information anymore. The way these algorithms work
@@oliverbrownlow5615 The credits were in the beginning to wait for the crowd to come in. It used to be common knowledge. It is also in many documentaries about movies. I also believe if you get the 70th Anniversary Box set of this movie, it talks about it in one of the videos. I worked at a video store and we all knew why the credits were in the beginning.
One of the true masterpieces of filmmaking/storytelling and iconic in every capacity. Fun reaction - lots of joy - keep doing that (and please keep on trekking w/old classics on this channel).
I saw the movie when it was released the second time, in 1955, before it started being shown annually on tv. The tornado scared me the most. Living in Jackson Heights outside NYC is not exactly tornado alley, but still . . .
The actor who played the Cowardly Lion, Burt Lahr, was a New Yorker and that's his New York accent from the period. Another note: The scene in the Munchkin village was the last scene filmed, which was fortunate because the pyro effect from the Witch's disappearance badly burned Margaret Hamilton. One more: Actor Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Woodsman but he had a bad reaction to the aluminum powder makeup and it closed his airway. I'm not sure whether it was an allergy or the powder got into his lungs, but either way he nearly died and the role had to be recast. The makeup was changed, of course.
Actually no, it was filmed early on. Because she still had not filmed the later scenes where we see the witch. In fact, Margaret Hamilton was so afraid of doing pyrotechnics after that she refused to sit on the broom that "wrote" in the sky. So they filmed some close ups on her and then had Betty Danko, her double, do the rest of the scenes. Which is was fortunate for Ms. Hamilton because the broom exploded and Betty Danko was seriously injured. She ended up having to have a hysterectomy and was physically scarred across her lower body the rest of her life.
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This is one of the first movies that made me dream of being in set design as a kid. The art department outdid themselves on this one. It must have been so fun to work on.
React to Return of oz please
And also react to the Oz The Great and Powerful 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
please react to another adaption of wizard of oz called Tin Man, girl from 500 days of summer is in it. Zooey Deschanel
You should react to Under The Rainbow.
Margret Hamilton, who played the wicked witch of the west, was such a sweet woman in real life. She was concerned that children were getting too scared from her portrayal in the movie and she went on Mr Rogers to show it was just her in a costume playing pretend. I'm pretty sure there's a video on youtube of that episode. It's worth a watch.
I've seen it, one of my favorites.
Margaret Hamilton was BRILLIANT in this role. Frank Morgan too, in all of his character roles.
The actors who are the sweetest of people in real life are the best at playing bullies and bad guys on screen. Julie Dawn Cole who played Veruca Salt in Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka 1971 is a sweet woman and was always a sweet girl and Thomas F. Wilson who played Biff in Back to the Future is a sweet guy in real life who actually dealt with bullying himself when he was younger and channeled that experience into his acting.
@@StardustandMadnessSame
Didn't she have an episode of Sesame Street, too, that was sort of lost to time?
Fun fact: The actor Caren Marsh Doll is who played Dorothy’s stunt double and she is still alive at 105 years and is the last surviving member of the film
She was also an uncredited girl at the BBQ bazaar in Gone With The Wind.
Some interesting facts of the movie.
1 - Ms Gulch died in the tornado.WHen dorothy woke up, wasn't there still an order from the sheriff to kill the dog? The order died with GUlch in the tornado,The water melted the witch,from the tornado,with heavy rain, killed gulch.
2 - The irony of the scarecrow,tinman and lion showing they had all 3 things they were seeking Scarecrow was actually smart, TInman always crying , had a heart, and lion showed courage. Dorothy always had the ability to go home ,from the ruby slippers.
3 - Buddy Epson was already acting as the tinman in half the cuts of the movie until the silver makeup gave him an insane allergic reaction. Buddy Epson is the guy who was the husband with the old lady in beverly hillbillies series.
@@factman-w8m Some things in assuming are really not important in after Dorothy woke up to reality in her bed as to believe all lived happily ever-after is the outcome we all get and want. I never read that any scene that made it into the movie was actually Buddy unlike in Back to the Future when the original cast in the lead... Eric Stoltz who when most of the film was already filmed.... a few scenes from his back... was claimed to make it into the movie.... Seems Buddy Epson was cut pretty early in filming... at least his scenes.
@@factman-w8m In The Beverly Hill Billies, Jed Clampett, played by Buddy Ebsen, was only related to Granny through the marriage to her daughter, Granny's last name was Moses, not Clampett.
OMGosh I thought everyone was dead!
I always liked the touch of Toto ruining Dorothy's chance to go home in the balloon by chasing a cat, when it was his penchant for chasing Miss Gulch's cat that got Toto and Dorothy in trouble in the first place. Great little full-circle moment!
How about Bert Lahr's character Zeke telling Dorothy early on that she should spit in Miss Gulch's eye. Later on, Dorothy splashes water on Miss Gulch's counterpart, the Wicked Witch of the West - another full circle moment!
If I remember correctly, the slippers were silver in the original book. But they wanted wanted to take advantage of Technicolor, and thus made the shoes red to make them pop on screen.
That’s true. I hadn’t thought about it, but I read that book as a kid, and now that you said that, I remember that the slippers were silver.
Right! If I remember correctly, the story was an allegory about the United States, and the silver slippers represented the silver standard for the monetary system
@@mimifa678yup! The book is a metaphor for the populism movement. The yellow brick road is the gold standard, emerald city is green for money. The whole book she thinks the yellow brick road (gold) os what she needs, but in the end it was the silver all along. Dorothy represents the farmers who were pushing for silver to be used over gold
@@mimifa678 That’s right. The Wizard was Theodore Roosevelt and the Tin Man represented the factory workers in the steel industry.
@@TheLoonyLovebad1 yes and in the book, the emerald city was a scam. Everyone just wore green goggles. Makes sense for paper money.
That transition when she lands in Oz, her in sepia to her opening the door and it’s in technicolor is amazing 🥹
One of the best pieces of trivia I know is that the whole scene is in technicolor … a sepia colored double (body and hair coloring and clothes) and sepia colored set is the first part of the scene then rolled away
@@heesoo18 Ooh thats amazing
It’s truly one of the most seamless effects in movie history. It’s almost so simple that our brains can’t see it.
The Corridor Digital TH-cam channel has a great VFX Breakdown on how they did that (and the other special effects in this movie), I highly recommend.
@@heesoo18 Correct! Bobbie Koshay was Judy Garland's stunt double and that's who you see open the door. You also see Bobbie when Dorothy falls into the pig pen.
I think it's funny that Glinda tells Dorothy that "only bad witches are ugly" seconds after asking her if she's a good or bad witch...
I now think of Dorothy as a witch killer like the movie Hansel and Gretel. I guess that wouldn't make Dorothy the first witch hunter.
😂😂😂 shady!
I think this could be interpreted as “all ugly witches are bad, but not all bad witches are ugly.” So Dorothy not being ugly meant she could have been good or bad.
@@cortneyrobinson1019that's like a logic problem in the MCATs. All ugly witches are bad but not all bad witches are ugly.
Ha!
Based on their reactions to this movie, I'm pretty sure the OG Mary Poppins, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit would outright break their brains with the sheer amount of "how did they do that?" moments.
All excellent suggestions for the Rejects to watch with us! 👍
The original Mary Poppins (go my 12-year-old daughter prefers the sequel / newer one) and Princess Bride are my favorite movies still in my late 40s
This and Bedknobs and Broomsticks were my absolute faves when i was little
Who framed roger rabbit is a must reaction.
Yes, you guys need to react to all of these! My favorite being Roger Rabbit!
I love Mary Poppins and so does my 2 year old son ❤
Between John being impressed by the effects/editing and Aaron being surprised by all of the cultural references, this is such a wholesome reaction.💜
I agree. This is probably my favorite reaction to this movie on TH-cam ❤
All three of the actors playing Dorothy's friends were veterans of burlesque stages and early silent films. To be successful at this time required actors to be skilled in acting, dancing, and singing, and playing to a large audience required them to bring a lot of physicality to their performance. This experience gave Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, and Ray Bolger the perfect tools to bring their fantasy characters to life. Loved sharing this great film with you! 😊
All so true, they were experienced vaudeville and stage performers. Jack Haley was actually a late substitution, as Buddy Ebsen (a great singer-dancer in MGM musicals) reacted badly to the silver makeup and couldn't continue.
Ray Bolger's great days were still ahead of him, as he became a star in stage musicals like Where's Charley (filmed nicely, but for some reason never released on home video).
It seems even now that a lot of actors who started and spent a lot of time stage acting still bring a lot of that physicality to their film portrayals. Tim Curry immediately comes to mind.
I've read that a lot of the jokes in the movie were standard vaudeville ones, which fell a little flat, as they had gone out of style by '39. To subsequent generations who hadn't heard them before, they were fresh and funny, even if corny.
That's why so many British actors are so good -- not only did they do stage, they did Shakespearean theater. (Britain, being an island, has a proportionally small acting pool. You'd have Shakespearean actors as regulars on kid's shows, even.)
@@DelGuy03thank you for this info. I KNEW there was something about the Tin Man getting sick because of the metallic paint, I just wasn't sure what exactly it was.
@32:38 : "Michael Jackson must've love Wizard of Oz wouldn't he" oh John do have some wonderful news for you!
Next up...The Wiz. These 2 would be perfect for that. I see them singing and dancing through it all
@@leijen208yes please watch that reel rejects! 😊
@@leijen208oh I hope they do the wiz next!!
Pleeeasssseee do The Wiz next!!!
Then Return to Oz
31:22 Fun Fact: The female voiceover of "Where for art thou Romeo?" was performed by Adriana Caselotti, the original voice of Snow White in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", which was released two years prior to "The Wizard of Oz".
that's an amazing fact! Thanks for telling me
Judy Garland (Dorthy) was the first to sing "Over the Rainbow", but she was also the first to sing "Have your self a Merry Little Christmas" in the movie Meet me in St. Louis made in 1944. In case you are looking for a Christmas movie to look into!
Made me smile...
Truly a Hollywood classic. Everything about this film is so charming. Judy Garland's gorgeous voice, the music, the characters, the color filming tech, it's all incredible.
Fun fact: When Dorothy is trapped in the witches den, she sings a reprise of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Judy sang it so heartbreaking and so raw, she made every crew member in tears but i believe they took it out due to time. There’s a lot of deleted scenes that we didn’t get to see from the original cut.
I believe that reprise was removed partly because it was too disturbing for the audience, but also because it undercut the effectiveness of the appearance of Auntie Em in the crystal ball and her being replaced by the Witch, which immediately followed it.
@@haileycorrea8787 That sounds creepy ngl.
I've heard that audio, and there's a rumor that she was absolutely assaulted and traumatized by the director to make her cry. The heartbreaking rendition is actually pretty disturbing if that's the case. She is absolutely sobbing her way through the entire song, it's difficult to listen to.
The tornado in The Wizard of Oz was a case of some rather brilliant 1930s special effects, created by wrapping chicken wire in muslin cloth, which was then spun and moved along a track. Dust and a wind machine were also used
it was crazy seeing the "behind the scenes" of that and how they achieved the affect.
@mongomongo7664 for some reason I thought it was chicken wire stuffed in a stocking lol
it seriously holds up even today. the dust cloud at the base is what sells it. it looks SO GOOD.
I lived in Kansas for a while as a kid and I saw tornadoes for real and that effect is PERFECT. The scene became even scarier for me when I saw an actual funnel cloud in the distance.
That shiz blew my freaking mind
My Mom was 13 when this came out . She is 97 now . This was the first Color film at the Theater in her memory . It was a huge deal. The gasp in The theater the moment she opens that door was very loud ✨💫✨
Please say hi to your mom for us!!!❤
I love that! My mom’s first movie was Snow White and it terrified her but no one loved movies more than her! (She would have been 90 today… and I always thought she and Judy Garland looked a lot alike!)
My grandma was 8, I’m going to ask her did she watch it as a kid
Come back and tell us what she says! My grandma was 6 but sadly has already passed.
Nice to hear that the audience gasped! There wasn't much techicolor until 1939, The Wizard and Gone with the Wind really made it popular. I think Snow White was 3 years before this, also in color.
Deadpool was right. This movie did technically did the multiverse first.
Nicepool said the Multiverse Saga has been steadily great since Endgame.
@@King-lb4pi
And that’s why he’s dead. 😂
@@AlastorsShadowDemon that’s what he gets for praising the post-Infinity Saga
The gays knew it
@@michelle6337 …but we didn’t listen.
Judy Garland was 16 when they filmed this. They had to strap her chest down to sell her being a kid. For the Oscar ceremony, she had to talk the studio into letting her wear a glamorous gown made by Adrian, the fashion designer who did the costumes for the movie. They still wanted to portray her as a teen for her ongoing films for the studio, but she wanted to start transitioning to adult roles.
I actually never knew she was supposed to be a kid. I just assumed that she was like 14 or 15 yo which is still technically a child & why everyone calls her a child.
@@jenloveshorror They were debating casting Shirley Temple as Dorothy, who was just 10 or 11 years old when filming was to start, but they couldn’t get her loaned out from her studio to MGM. I am pretty sure that is around the age Dorothy is in the books.
@@kathyastrom1315 Dorothy's age is never specified in the book, but she is repeatedly referred to as a "little girl," and the original illustrations depict her as such.
@kathyastrom1315 thanks for info! I don't really know alot about all the making of this movie even though I've seen it many times & shared it w all my kids. It's crazy to think that a movie I personally watched for the 1st time bout 40 years ago & im still learning things about it!
The studio also got Judy Garland hooked on amphetamines AND sleeping pills during the filming of this...
My favorite fact about this movie is that the Wizard was one of the few characters that they sourced the costume for instead of completely making. They found an old overcoat that they thought would work well and only onset. Did the man playing the wizard find out that that coat had years before belonged to L. Frank Baum who wrote the Wizard of Oz. They were even able to trace back to the tailor who made it for him to confirm that it was really his. He didn’t live long enough to see his story be made into a movie, but he still got to be a part of it.
Though Baum didn’t live to see THIS film version, there were plenty of silent Oz films, many of which were produced by The Oz Film Company, which Baum founded and ran. They made film versions of the book and its sequels. There was a later silent version made which starred Oliver Hardy from Laurel & Hardy fame as The Tin Man. It was also the first film version to enact the idea that the characters in Oz were played by the same actors who played the farmhands in Kansas.
The urban legend was that someone hung themselves in the background during the part where Dorothy, Tin Man and Scarecrow dance down the Yellow Brick Road. Back in the 90s we studied the VHS tape and it did look like that, but with dvds and blu-rays and hi-def images you can see in reality it's a flamingo silhouette.
But there really is a hanging person in the moinlit woods in Sullivan's Travels. It appears to be a morbid joke by Preston Sturges about the depression-era landscape.
In the Oz scene, it’s the same African crowned crane who wanders around the Tin Man’s house trying to get some shots during his song.
In the original cut someone actually did hang themselves and if i remember right it was someone who auditioned for the roll of Tin Man but didnt get the roll. Around the 90s was when editing in movies were beginning to start up so they were able to edit in the flamingo silhouette instead of the person hanging himself
@@mrtherxpyyy5640 This is false.
@@mrtherxpyyy5640”Around the 90s was when editing in movies were beginning to start up”
That doesn’t even make any sense.
Some people just want to believe urban legends so bad they just have to make up conspiracy theories.
The best part of watching reactions to this movie is when it makes the transition from sepia to color, the magic still holds up, and it’s pure amazement from the reactors.
"Meet me in St.Louis" was a great shout! You guys GOTTA do "Return to Oz" now, it's a terrifying Hellscape!
THE WIZ NEXT!!!!!!! An absolute classic. It’s literally my favorite movie of all time.
Yeah!! “Come on and
Ease on down, ease on down the road…”
Both the movie and the 2015 TV special
My daughter was TERRIFIED of the original Wizard of Oz but LOVES The Wiz.
YES!!!!
Wait til they find out Michael was not only influenced by, but was IN a Wizard of Oz adaptation. I hope they do watch The Wiz, next. It’s such an amazing movie. Then Return to Oz, for another tonal shift. It’s a childhood favorite of mine, too.
The reason Bert Lahr’s voice as the Lion sounds familiar, is, yes, it WAS the inspiration for Snagglepuss in the Hanna-Barbera cartoons. (Because he’s a cowardly lion, get it?). Lahr had a distinct style in burlesque for his obnoxious style and motormouthed puns, and even the cartoon version borrowed his signature catchphrase “Ain’t it the truth, AINT it the truth?”
Heavens to Murgatroyd! You are correct!
This must be a generational thing because I don’t think I ever met anyone growing up who hadn’t seen this movie. This was something practically everyone had on VHS either through purchasing it or recording it off TV since it was shown at least once a year on one of the networks.
I'm 35, I grew up with a recording of it off NBC
I'm 18 and I saw it as a kid
I'm 24 and European. I watched the movie only yesterday.
@ if you’re from the US and you’re older than 35 it’s almost impossible to not have seen this movie before
It’s so crazy to me there are people out there who have never seen The Wizard of Oz.
Yep. I’ve made my cousin watch a bunch of classic movies he’s never seen and it just occurred I’ve never even asked him if he’s seen this, because that seems like such a ridiculous question. Now I have to ask lol
That was me until yesterday! I do live in Europe, so the movie wasn't as much of a christmas tradition here. We have Home Alone (even though it's also American haha)
@@lorettabes4553 this movie has nothing to do with Christmas. It’s just a film version of one of the many books of Frank L Baum who was famous for writing children’s books.
THE greatest film in the history of cinema! It’s the most quoted, most influential, most watched through generations, most beloved film ever made. Nothing comes close.
😂
Seems a bit dramatic. Movie is corny as hell.
@daniig62 why must there ALWAYS be someone saying something negative ?
@ have you considered getting over it
@@daniig62 It's based on a children's book. Nothing wrong with a littler corn.
The transition from Sepia to Technicolor was actually practical, they had a body double open the door and then Judy Garland walks through to the technicolor set in the blue dress
46:12-46:15 Yes, Frank Morgan played Professor Marvel, the doorman, the coachman, the guard and the Wizard
My Dad and I watched this together on tcm one night. We had ice-cream and pretzels and sang along together. It turned out to be the last movie we ever watched together. He died 2 weeks later. The Wizard of Oz will always hold a special place in my heart ❤️
The huge smiles on your faces while watching this masterpiece was wonderful to see, especially in these dark times. 😊
GenXers remember how we got exactly one chance per year to see this film. Always a huge deal every year. Made popcorn (old school style pre-microwave days) and had to be showered and ready for bed before it started bc it was always on a school night 😂
I've always thought of this movie as a pop-up book come to life the way the sets looked against the backdrops.
I have a Wizard Of Oz pop-up book 😂
I've had it for years and it's a little under the weather but I can't seen to part with it.
I had never quite thought of it that way but you're right.
I grew up near Grand Rapids, MN where Judy Garland is from, and when I was in elementary school in the 90s some of the remaining members of Munchkinland were at the local movie theater signing autographs and meeting with fans. It was a very cool experience!
16 yr old girl the star of the biggest musical of the ages and she had no costume changes except changing her shoes
Ok listen, I love, LOVE this reaction! I seriously smiled all through it! The blushing smiles on John and wide eyed Aaron reminding me of a little kid as he was seeing it for the first time. This was so sweet ! 👏🏽❤
The film has a legacy for a reason. It’s pure fantasy and magic in its own right and then when u put it into context of it being 1939 which is like 12 years after the advent of modern film. The sets and effects are so well done.
-so many fun factoids like the lion costume is an actual lions pelt/hide
-and Arron’s realization to somewhere over the rainbow ❤
I love that on the way to the witch's castle, the Scarecrow just straight up has a gun.
@@MISTERBABAD00K scarecrow was packing heat
i know that was so funny
i didn't even realize that until my yearly watch last month
Many people without brains carry guns.
I didn't notice the gun until about 15 years ago when I saw this movie on movie theater screen.
I apologize if the joke I posted about this (which apparently has been deleted) offended the brainless.
John and Aaron are adorable watching this classic🥹❤️…good refresher watching with you guys…as many have said you guys need to watch The Wiz!!
Yes you Must watch The Wiz with Legends Diana Ross and Michael Jackson and then The Wiz Live!!! Both were Fantastic!!! Love You Guys!!! 💜💜💜💜
51:34 Funny you should say that about the OREO!! They referenced this scene in the first Wreck-It Ralph movie, with the guards at King Candy’s castle 😂
Great video, guys! Always love first time reactions to classics like this. 🌈
Gotta be honest with you fellas, of all the reactions I've seen you two do...
... this has been my favorite. It brought a sincere smile to my face and I enjoyed every minute of it with you guys! 🙂
It's great to see you enjoying this classic film so wholeheartedly. "The Wizard of Oz" was a huge part of my childhood -- back in the day, it was broadcast every year during the Easter season, so I always watched it with my family.
I was especially glad to hear that you appreciate the songs, how catchy and memorable they are, and the way they enhance the story. To me, that's a testatment to the artistry and creativity of composer Harold Arlen. He wrote all of the songs you hear in this film, and has the unfortunate distinction of being one of those songwriters whose tunes nearly everyone has heard, but whose name most people don't remember.
I was privileged to learn about Arlen's life and career through a musical retrospective that my brother produced and performed several years ago. The production's title is "Over the Rainbow", and it was so much fun to watch. I hope that you or some of your viewers will get the chance to see it sometime.
Toto was actually named Terry but they understandably changed the dogs name due to the size of the role SHE played in this movie.
Toto’s grave was eventually destroyed and she now rests underneath Ventura highway in LA.
She is an unknown part of thousands of people’s daily commute down a grey asphalt road.
The funniest part of this classic for me is at 45:35. The Cowardly Lion's crown is supposedly fashioned from a broken porcelain pot, but at some point, the prop was switched to a rubber one, because when it got shaken off his head, it bounced when it hit the ground.
When "somewhere over the rainbow" came on... You guys were INSTANTLY like "HEY, I KNOW THAT!!"... I instantly thought, "OH BOY ARE THEY IN FOR A TREAT!". There are SO MANY amazing classic songs...🤣🤣🤣
everytime I see one of these kinds of videos it still baffles me how someone out there in the world hasn't seen one of these classic films. so glad you guys are doing this - it warms my heart each time you see things play out and connect a famous line to something you've heard in pop culture!
Did you notice that the scarecrow, the tin man & the cowardly lion were played by the same actors who played the farm hands: Burt Lahr, Jack Haley & Ray Bolger? And the Wizard was Professor Marvel. And Toto was actually played by Terry, a female Cairn terrier.
There are several generations of people who find it mind-blowing that people have grown up without seeing this. A lot like the TV playing the National Anthem before going to snow every night that opens Poltergeist. Wizard of Oz used to play on network TV every year and it was a tradition for "all Americans" to watch it when it did. It was usually over Thanksgiving weekend iirc. I was burned out on this movie because of that tradition, but over the years have found love for it again.
Okay this is the cutest reaction I've seen in forever. I know this was way before my time but even back when I was a kid in the early 80s, they used to play it once a year on TV and my grandma recorded it off the TV and gave it to my brother and I on Thanksgiving one year bc we loved it so much. We wore it out so my dad ended up having to buy a new copy 😂 I can quote this movie from start to finish, every single word. ❤
Also, yes: that was the scene with the urban legend of the munchkin hanging himself in the background, but it was actually just a crane (large bird) loose on set.
My grandmother did the same thing. Commercials and all 😂 I remember not only the movie word for word, but those old 80s commercials too. Those were the days ❤
John had it exactly right with the dead body rumor. It is in that very shot that you can supposedly see one of the munchkin actors hanging from a tree. However, in modern 4k versions you can clearly see that it's merely a bird flapping its wings. But the rumor persists that They digitally replaced the body with the bird in the later releases. Personally I don't think that set would actually be large enough for a swinging body to go unnoticed on the day. Movie magic tricks your eye into seeing an endless forest but in reality it could only have been a few hundred square feet with a couple dozen trees.
Such a gem and a timeless classic! It warms my heart seeing Rejects reacting to classic movies and they don't get much love on TH-cam those movies reaction wise. Would absolutely love to see more!
This is why this is such a classic! I used to watch this growing up and seeing fresh eyes in 2024 watching it and being captivated by the magic of this movie lets me know that it will continue to have staying power for many more years to come.
As a kid in the 1960's we looked forward to seeing this movie on tv once a year. I can even remember where they placed the commercials! Oh the anticipation. This and "Peter Pan" (the old with Mary Martin) I enjoyed seeing you learn all of the details that are still referenced today. Lately, in my upper 60's, I reference "Oil Can!:" quite often. 🙂
35:36 if I’m not mistaken they put wire in the tail of the lion’s costume so it would move on its own. He had no control over it. Also, the costume was real lion’s fur.
Actually according to Lorna,Judy’s younger daughter there was a guy that followed him around up on a boom high onset and attached a hook to the tail and used a fishing hook to make the tail go back and forth,she said that on dvd commentary for a tv movie based off the book she wrote about her mom.
1 of my fav reactions to any film reaction on yt that i have watched. As someone in their late 50s, who has watched this film multiple times a year throughout my life, its lovely to see 1st timers appreciate just how great this film is and how it was made. Real sets, fantastic actors, a lovely story with an ending that brings me to tears every single time yet leaves me with a warm feeling and the memories of my childhood. Thank you guys for your reaction.. Channels like yours give me hope that the films i grew up with dont fade into oblivion!👍👍👍
the director(s) originally wanted to cut 'Over the Rainbow' - they felt it slowed the movie down plus they didn't like a star like Judy Garland singing in a rundown barnyard with a grey sky as background - they wisely kept the sequence in and seeing you guys appreciate it is proof that it works beautifully.
Me: it’s 3am I should probably go to sleep. Gets a notification that John and Aaron are watching one of my faves, guess I’m awake now.
Michael Jackson was the scarecrow in The Wiz along with Diana Ross who played Dorothy.
Richard Pryor played The Wiz.
@@thomasgriffiths6758and Lena Horne was Glinda
What's your FAVORITE Classic Musical??
My picks are This and I’d say marry poppins
The sound of music, Hello Dolly, funny girl and funny lady, the rocky horror picture show
This one, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Meet Me in St. Louis, Singin’ in the Rain. So many.
This, Mary Poppins, any of the ones from Disney
Mary Poppins hands down!
In 1939 they employed the best stage production and propmaster from New York, Chicago, and London. They were making up special effects technics for this movie that no one uses today. Everyone is amazed by the realism of the tornado sequence.
yes it was reused in later movies. very realistic and clearly someone had seen a tornado in real life.
Shut the front door! Hope ”Return to Oz” is in the line up. Great stuff y'all
Yessssssssss
Omg yes!!!! Tick tock jack pumpkin head and the gultch
Return to Oz was one of my childhood favorites!
Absolutely. Return of Oz is based on the second and third books in the series, Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz. In the MGM movie, they made it into a dream, as they thought audiences could not accept it as a real place, but in all other versions and spinoffs - including Return - it is a real place. They cast Dorothy as a young girl as per the books, not the teenage as Judy Garland was. And the look of the characters is so "right off the pages" of the original illustrations, particularly as they didn't need to have humans inside.
Many Oz fans, myself included, think of this movie as a sort of love-letter to the books.
@@natbrookes85 And the floating chicken coop, Deadly Desert, the lunchpail tree, the wheelers, Tik-Tok, Mombi (as Princess Langwidere with the interchangeable heads).
The horses were dyed with colored gelatin and had special handlers to make sure they didn't lick themselves. And the lion costume was ACTUAL lion skin. It weighed over 100 lbs and had to be dried every night and it reeked from Bert Lahr sweating so much under the lights.
I've only now noticed how much that mean old lady from Gremlins must have been heavily based on the wicked old witch lady in the beginning of this film (and they're both after a dog!)
And after she's shot out the window, she's left with her red slippers sticking up like ruby slippers.
I had this on VHS.. a classic for sure!.. no it by heart
I got so excited seeing this! I've never actually seen the Wizard of Oz before (and I plan on watching the whole thing myself after this) but watching it for the first time with you guys is so awesome, it's like watching with friends for the first time!! Love you guys & the whole channel so much, you've gotten me to watch movies I never would have sought out by myself to watch but after I see your reactions I can't help but want to sit down and experience the whole movie again! 💖
Same. Completely agree
The tornado in The Wizard of Oz was a 35-foot tall muslin cloth wind sock wrapped in chicked wire, that had compressed air blowing through it. The top of it was attached to a steel gantry above the stage, while the bottom was attached to a rod connected to a car they moved along the stage floor. The sock was also designed to allow dust to come through it as the compressed air blew threw it (it also gave it a fuzzy, dusty look). They also used fans to blow debris around the stage.
14:38 For many people, this was the first time they ever saw color on a movie screen. That reveal would have been insane for 1939.
Color had been around for a decade, and 3-strip Technicolor since 1932. But I agree, it was indeed relatively rare in those days, as the equipment was cumbersome and expensive (so it added to the expense of production). There had been been a few color pictures that were popular before 1939 -- notably The Adventures of Robin Hood in 1938, whose color is still eye-popping today. That said, It must have been amazing to see a sepia-toned B&W movie turn into color partway through though; that's still a wonderful moment.
The Lion preaching about courage and getting spooked from pulling his own tail will forever be my favorite parts of this movie. 😂
@@shanerose7204 I friggin love Lion
If any of you have seen Wicked (the stage musical or the upcoming movies), you should go back to this after and try to figure out where the events of both line up
This is maybe the best movie of all time in my opinion. It touches the inner child in you. Another good old movie y’all should react to is It’s A Wonderful Life.
Omg the first film I fell on love with when I was 5. I made my own Ruby slippers using plastic dress up barbie shoes and stuck red glitter all over and skipped around my garden with a basket and stuffed dog lol 😂
My favorite behind the scenes part of this movie has always been the actors who played the munchkins talking about how it was the first time they had ever been around so many other little people. Some of them had never even seen another little person.
P.S. every single one of their costumes was designed and sewn completely unique to that actor
Was Michael tributing this? I guess he would have to love Wizard of Oz wouldn’t he?….
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Looks like someone needs to see The Wiz.
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Cosplayers get your Reese’s wrappers ready…. 🤣
Love the fact that you guys REALLY get how amazing the effects were, all done manually and yet they STILL look great today !!
I played the Tin Man when I was in the sixth grade back in 1972. I had the wildest costume that my dad made me and everybody was jaw dropped and impressed with its creation.
"If I only had a heart..."
So glad you picked Wizard of Oz today. This is also what I needed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.😊
Toto's an absolute menace and I love him so much!
50:31 she was crying for real. And in a deleted scene, she sang a reprise of Over the rainbow while crying. They deleted the scene because of how heartbroken they felt.
Its honestly so sweet seeing this movie and being so impressed by the effects. If we saw this in a modern movie we wouldn't blink an eye. It's beautiful to appreciate the craftmanship of the past.
This was my grandma's and mine favorite movie to watch together growing up.
Every time it was on TV we would always watch it together It doesn't matter if it was in the middle of the movie.
Great nostalgic moments with her I remember forever
16:28 Okay I've seen people point out this moment and say "Did Glenda call Dorothy ugly when she asked if she was a good witch or a bad witch?" but they missed what she said. Glenda said "only bad witches are ugly" not "all bad witches are ugly". It's like saying "only people who are at least 21 years old can drink alcohol" which doesn't necessarily mean that every beverage consumed by a person 21 or older must be alcoholic. Looking at Glenda's statement logically, we can deduce that good witches are never ugly while bad witches may or may not be ugly, so if you meet a witch and they are ugly than you can assume they are a bad witch, but if you meet a witch and they are beautiful then you have to figure out some other way what kind of witch they are. Therefore, Glenda asking Dorothy if she's a good witch or a bad witch actually means that Dorothy is beautiful so Glenda has to ascertain her status by asking her.
A childhood and cinema classic.
I am obsessed with the lore of this film and the long terms effect it had on Hollywood and the industry. When I lived and worked there I was told so many stories by first and second gens about this. All the fights over the rights to a sequel and how it shaped everything anyone else would do. Living an actors house going through boxes of abandoned scripts and film reels. You know it's one it's transcendent things that is so much more than just the art itself. That is the meaningful thing about Wizard Of Oz.
Absolute legendary classic.
When I watched this movie as a kid, my favorite aspect was the Witches crystal ball in her castle. Still makes me feel a wonderful sense of nostalgia
The snow in the Poppyfields was pure asbestos. Yummy
I've also heard it was gypsum, which isn't particularly dangerous, and I don't know what is true.
@@johnnehrich9601 It was asbestos. There is a video out about the making of the Wizard of Oz. It tells about all of the behind the seen things that weren't so good.
Including about Judy and how the munchkin men treated her. It's gross.
@@johnnehrich9601yeah it was gypsum
It's been reported that it was asbestos for years.
The studio also got Judy Garland hooked on both amphetamines and sleeping pills during this time because her filming schedule was so overwhelming
@@elisefisher1717 Yes, someone was very insistent it was gypsum but like you, I've heard it was asbestos. Plus the scarecrow costume had asbestos in the arm for one scene where the witch sets it on fire.
I also heard it was more than Garland's schedule - they were concerned about her weight, as she was supposed to play younger than she was. They also strapped in her chest, severely restricted her diet, forced her to smoke a lot of cigarettes, and referred to her as "fat" or a "pig" in her presence. (Ironically, Margaret Hamilton might have been one of the nicest people to her.)
The song *Over The Rainbow* is one of the most iconic numbers in a musical and my personal favorite in this movie.
Delicious movie trivia:
>The "oil" that they used to lube up Tin Man's joints was actually watered-down chocolate syrup.
>The horse pulling the carriage in The Emerald City kept licking off the gelatin powder that turned its coat purple, red and yellow.
Sweet movie trivia:
>Jack Haley, the actor who played the Tin Man was the replacement for Buddy Ebsen, who suffered an allergic reaction to the makeup. The voice Jack used for Tin Man was reportedly one he'd use when reading good night stories to his daughter, his real voice was gruffer and deeper.
Sad movie trivia:
>In the scene where Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man meet The Cowardly Lion, you can see Judy bury half of her face in Toto's fur. This is because she found it difficult to keep a straight face when Bert Lahr started blubbering as the Lion, and the producers would get mad and slap her because of it.
>In the poppy field scene when Glinda makes it snow to negate the Wicked Witch's sleeping spell, the "snow" is actually asbestos flakes.
>The pyrotechnics used for the Wicked Witch of the West's entries and exits inflicted 2nd degree burns on Margaret Hamilton's face and a 3rd degree burn on her right hand. She understandably refused to not only do any more stunts involving pyrotechnics, but she missed 6 weeks of filming due to hospitalization.
Actually, the snow was gypsum, not asbestos. Several Oz historians have confirmed it.
This was on TV every Christmas when I was a little girl, it was my highlight of Christmas. Years later as a student we would watch it high with my flat mates.
Doesn't it still play every Christmas Day?
Along with "The Christmas Story" with the "Fragile" leg lamp and where the kid wants to shoot his eye out with a BB Rifle.
@@elisefisher1717 maybe? I’m probably busy cooking when it’s on these days?
What a huge pleasure it was to watch this charming film with you fellas, thanks for reviewing longer than 30 minutes, thanks for appreciating all the aspects of this film, and thanks for becoming young at heart, once again ☺
You guys have to watch The Wiz
agreed !!
Yes! I said the same thing!
Agreed but it's got a LOT more (copyright) musical numbers in it... gonna be tough to edit.
Also Return to Oz (1985)
I loved the Zardoz reference. Whenever I mention that book, I get blank stares. Thanks for making me smile.
Now yall gotta react to return to OZ 😭 it scared me as a child, but I loved it
1939 was one of the best years for movies . Wizard of Oz, Gone withe the Wind, Mr Smith Goes To Washington Stagecoach, Gunga Din, Withering Hights, Dark Victory.
Actually, 6 directors worked on Oz Fleming left to go work on Gone with the Wind. That and movie had 3 directors.
Oz, when I was growing up, It was on TV every year.
We didn't have a colour tv till I was 10. So my shock and wonder when she opens the door and it's in color ,I was so surprised.
They don't do credits at the beginning anymore, because they started showing Trailers for upcoming movies. The credits in the beginning were to make sure all the people got in and sat down to watch the movie, before it started.
I can't find confirmation of this, but I think it's obvious that credits moved to the end because, due to successful union negotiations, more and more participants in the filmmaking process got the right to have on-screen credit for their work. The resulting credit sequences simply became too long to be played before the film began.
@@oliverbrownlow5615 It is not ovbvious. The credits were shown in the beginning of movies because going to the movies back then were a big deal. The credits started at the beginning to make sure everyone could watch the movie, and see it from the beginning. That used to be common knowledge. Even until recently movies have had an opening sequence not showing much of the movie, but playing a song or what not. To let the crowd gather in. Now, they pop quizzes and facts, waiting for people to come in and then it shows trailers.
I am not going with what I think. I am not just thinking that is what they did and why they did. I know that is why they did. I have seen it talked about in documentaries. I even think they talk about it, if you buy the 70th Anniversary Box Set of this movie that has 16 hours of extra footage. I also worked in a video store, and we all knew that at the video store. So, it's not a "think" thing, it is a "know" thing.
I am sure if spend more than 10 minutes you can find it somewhere online. It's hard to find a lot of information anymore. The way these algorithms work
@@oliverbrownlow5615 The credits were in the beginning to wait for the crowd to come in. It used to be common knowledge. It is also in many documentaries about movies. I also believe if you get the 70th Anniversary Box set of this movie, it talks about it in one of the videos. I worked at a video store and we all knew why the credits were in the beginning.
Frank L. Baum was the author of the book on which the movie was based. Yes, there was a series of these Oz books.
One of the best, and sweetest, reactions I've seen. My heart is full.
One of the true masterpieces of filmmaking/storytelling and iconic in every capacity. Fun reaction - lots of joy - keep doing that (and please keep on trekking w/old classics on this channel).
I stayed scared shitless of the Wicked Witch in this movie for years while also wearing out two VHS copies of this movie. The 90s were so great.
I saw the movie when it was released the second time, in 1955, before it started being shown annually on tv. The tornado scared me the most. Living in Jackson Heights outside NYC is not exactly tornado alley, but still . . .
Same here and the fact my grandmother could do a near perfect impression didn't help
@@johnnehrich9601 1955 was actually the third theatrical release, as the film had been re-released previously in 1949.
@@oliverbrownlow5615 Yeah, I realized that after writing my remark and then reading some more background info on the movie. Thanks!
The actor who played the Cowardly Lion, Burt Lahr, was a New Yorker and that's his New York accent from the period.
Another note: The scene in the Munchkin village was the last scene filmed, which was fortunate because the pyro effect from the Witch's disappearance badly burned Margaret Hamilton.
One more: Actor Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Woodsman but he had a bad reaction to the aluminum powder makeup and it closed his airway. I'm not sure whether it was an allergy or the powder got into his lungs, but either way he nearly died and the role had to be recast. The makeup was changed, of course.
Actually no, it was filmed early on. Because she still had not filmed the later scenes where we see the witch. In fact, Margaret Hamilton was so afraid of doing pyrotechnics after that she refused to sit on the broom that "wrote" in the sky. So they filmed some close ups on her and then had Betty Danko, her double, do the rest of the scenes. Which is was fortunate for Ms. Hamilton because the broom exploded and Betty Danko was seriously injured. She ended up having to have a hysterectomy and was physically scarred across her lower body the rest of her life.
Interesting, calling Zardoz when Glenda shows up after all "Wizard of Oz" is where the name Zard Oz comes from