The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz

• If it weren’t for ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and ‘The Godfather’, this would be the greatest film ever made. I mean, just imagine seeing this in theaters in 1939. The amount of impact this film has done for musicals, color, all of the above. Now, the production history behind this film is tragic but intriguing, and there are several things behind the scenes that were unfortunate and extremely questionable. But the finished product was one of the greatest pieces of art ever created. I’ll get my only gripe out of the way though, which is how there are some slight differences from the book. Not enough to make this less than 100% for me, but there are definitely some details taken out. But that’s with every book-to-movie adaptation. But that’s the only thing I don’t like. The story is made to fit the film length, and even though there’s stuff missing, it’s still fun, entertaining, and even a bit tense at times. Such a meaningful and emotional journey between a band of misfits. I absolutely love it. The characters you meet along the way are great, and you can learn a lesson from each one. By the time you finish the film, you walk away knowing that what you think you are missing is actually inside you the whole time. The cast does a great job of bringing their characters to life and displaying that. Judy Garland shines as always, with a great supporting group built around her. The makeup and hairstyling was fantastic, with the somewhat cheesy but still believable feel. You know it’s all fake, but it still feels real and natural. The cinematography and backgrounds are some of the best you’ll ever see in any film. The technicolor is gorgeous. There’s so much detail in each frame, and you can feel the amount of effort put into the production design. Lastly, the soundtrack is one of my favorites ever, and very easy to sing along to. Overall, this film is a top three greatest of all time, and I’ve seen it about a million times. I’d recommend it to all enjoyers of cinema. The impact it’s had is astounding. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!