THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Mervyn LeRoy, Norman Taurog, King Vidor

Written by - Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allan Woolf, Arthur Freed, Irving Brecher, William H. Cannon, Herbert Fields, Jack Haley, E.Y. Harburg, Samuel Hoffenstein, Bert Lahr, John Lee Mahin, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Jack Mintz, Ogden Nash, Robert Pirosh, George Seaton, Sid Silvers (based on the novel by Frank L. Baum)

Starring - Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley

"It’s amazing, even considering the troubled production it flourished out of, how The Wizard of Oz just does not seem to age or lose its appeal. Today, it stands as one of the most beloved films ever made, as well as one of the most famous.

There had been adaptations of the Frank L. Baum classic made before, and many made since. However, none came or come close to being as good as this. The story is that of Kansas girl Dorothy and her sidekick doggy Toto landing in a strange magical world after a tornado, trying to find a way to get back home. Along the way, they meet many whacky character, and they all follow the yellow brick road to find the titular wizard, who will help them with their own individual problems.

Cinematic magic can still be felt in the transition from black and white to colour - groundbreaking at the time. An excitingly innovative art direction and the countless creative elements from art direction to screenplay contribute to make this entertainment gold. This was also the ultimate starlet turn for Judy Garland, classic Hollywood icon and one of the most representative and talented actresses of the musical genre. For, aside from this being an adventurous fantasy feature, it is also a musical and all the songs in this film’s soundtrack are still being interpreted today by music artists and audience alike.

And while this is family cinema gold, there are many darker elements and even satirical points that make this quite interesting on more levels than the superficial entertainment one."

Musical, USA