THE WIZARD OF OZ [1939] [75th Anniversary Limited Collector's Edition] [3D Blu-ray / 2D Blu-ray / 2D DVD / DVD] [1939 / 2013] [USA Release] The Beloved Classic ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ Makes a Magical 3D Debut!
The magic of M-G-M’s wonderful Technicolor and unique fantasy ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ that has melted hearts for more than seven decades with its indelible melodies and transcendent themes of family, home and the courage to pursue dreams. To celebrate the beloved movie’s 75th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has brought ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ into the present and beyond with a brand new kind of magic: a totally stunning 3D Blu-ray.
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Ray Bolger as the “Hunk” Farmhand and the Scarecrow; Bert Lahr as the “Zeke” Farmhand and the Cowardly Lion; Jack Haley as the “Hickory” Farmhand and The Tin Man and Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch the Wicked Witch of the West.
‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ received five Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture (Outstanding Production), and captured two Oscars® for Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score – plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Ms. Judy Garland.
For nearly forty years this story has given faithful service to the Young at Heart, and Time has been powerless to put its kindly philosophy out of fashion. To those of you who have been faithful to it in return . . . and to the Young at Heart . . . we dedicate to the Young at Heart . . . we dedicate this picture.
BONUS Exclusive Collectables:
52-Page ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ Hardcover Photo Book
Hardcover Journal
Deluxe Award Pin Set from Noble Collection
Framed Map of Oz
Frameable Photo Card
RUBBY SLIPPERS Sparkle Globe
Amazon Exclusive RUBBY SLIPPERS Flash Drive
Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin, Pat Walshe, Clara Blandick, Terry (Toto the dog), The Singer Midgets (The Munchkins), Gladys W. Allison (Munchkin uncredited), John Ballas (Munchkin uncredited), Franz Balluck (Munchkin uncredited), Josefine Balluck (Munchkin uncredited), John T. Bambury (Munchkin uncredited), Dorothy Barrett (Emerald City Manicurist uncredited), Amelia Batchelor (Ozmite uncredited), Charles Becker (Munchkin Mayor uncredited), Harry Bernard (Munchkin Villager uncredited), Freda Betsky (Munchkin uncredited), Billy Bletcher (Mayor / Lollipop Guild Member voice uncredited), Henry Boers (Munchkin uncredited), Theodore Boers (Munchkin uncredited), Lorraine Bridges (Ozmite / Lullaby League Member voice uncredited), Buster Brodie (Winged Monkey uncredited), Tyler Brooke Ozmite uncredited), Christine Buresh (Munchkin uncredited), Eddie Buresh (Munchkin uncredited), Lida Buresh (Munchkin uncredited), Betty Ann Cain (Munchkin uncredited), Candy Candido (Angry Apple Tree voice uncredited), Mickey Carroll (Munchkin Fiddler uncredited), Adriana Caselotti (Juliet voice uncredited), Harry Cogg (Winged Monkey uncredited), Pinto Colvig (Munchkins voice uncredited), Nona Cooper (Munchkin uncredited), Tommy Cottonaro (Bearded Munchkin uncredited), Elizabeth Coulter (Munchkin uncredited), Lewis Croft (Munchkin Soldier uncredited), Jimmy the Crow in Cornfield uncredited), Frank Cucksey (Munchkin uncredited), Billy Curtis (Munchkin Father uncredited), Ken Darby (Munchkinland Mayor voice uncredited), Eugene S. David Jr. (Munchkin uncredited), Eulie H. David (Munchkin uncredited), Sid Dawson (Winged Monkey uncredited), Ethel W. Denis (Munchkin Villager uncredited), Prince Denis (Munchkin Sergeant at Arms uncredited), Hazel I. Derthick (Munchkin uncredited), Abe Dinovitch (Apple Tree / Munchkin voice uncredited), Jon Dodson (Lollipop Guild Member voice uncredited), Gracie Doll (Munchkin Villager uncredited), Tiny Doll (Munchkin Villager uncredited), Ardith Dondanville (Munchkin Child uncredited), Major Doyle (Munchkin uncredited), Ruth Duccini (Munchkin Villager uncredited), Daisy Earles (Munchkin Villager uncredited), Harry Earles (Lollipop Guild Member uncredited), Buddy Ebsen (The Tin Man singing voice uncredited), Zari Elmassian (Munchkin voice uncredited), Carl M. Erickson (Munchkin uncredited), Fern Formica (Munchkin Villager / Sleepyhead uncredited), Addie Eva Frank (Munchkin uncredited), Sig Frohlich (Winged Monkey uncredited), Thaisa L. Gardner (Munchkin uncredited), Jackie Gerlich (Lollipop Guild Member uncredited),
Directors: Victor Fleming and King Vidor (Kansas scenes) (uncredited)
Producers: Arthur Freed (uncredited) and Mervyn LeRoy
Screenplay: L. Frank Baum (from the book), Arthur Freed (uncredited), Bert Lahr (additional dialogue) (uncredited), E.Y. Harburg (uncredited), Edgar Allan Woolf (screenplay), Florence Ryerson (screenplay), George Seaton (contributing writer) (uncredited), Herbert Fields (contributing writer) (uncredited), Herman J. Mankiewicz (contributing writer) (uncredited), Irving Brecher (contributing writer) (uncredited), Jack Haley (additional dialogue) (uncredited), Jack Mintz (contributing writer) (uncredited), John Lee Mahin (contributing writer) (uncredited), Noel Langley (screenplay/adaptation), Ogden Nash (contributing writer) (uncredited), Robert Pirosh (contributing writer) (uncredited), Samuel Hoffenstein (contributing writer) (uncredited), Sid Silvers (contributing writer) (uncredited) and William H. Cannon (uncredited)
Composers: Harold Arlen (uncredited) and Herbert Stothart (uncredited)
Costume Design: Adrian
Make-up and Hair Department: Beth Langston (Hair stylist) (uncredited), Betty Masure (Body make-up artist) (uncredited), Bob Roberts (Wig designer) (uncredited), Cecil Holland (Make-up department head) (uncredited), Charles H. Schram (Make-up artist: Bert Lahr) (uncredited), Del Armstrong (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Don L. Cash (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Eddie Polo (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Edith Wilson (Body make-up artist) (uncredited), Emile LaVigne (Make-up artist: Jack Haley) (uncredited), Fred B. Phillips (Make-up artist) (uncredited), Fred Frederick (Wig designer) (uncredited), George Lane (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Gustaf Norin (Prosthetic technician) (uncredited), Howard Smit (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Jack Dawn (Creator: character make-ups), Jack Dawn (Make-up artist: Frank Morgan) (uncredited), Jack H. Young (Make-up artist: Margaret Hamilton), (uncredited), Jack Kevan (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Josef Norin (Prosthetic technician) (uncredited), Lee Stanfield (Make-up artist: Jack Haley) (uncredited), Lou LaCava (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Lyle Dawn (Make-up artist: Billie Burke) (uncredited), Max Factor (Wig supervisor) (uncredited), Mike Ragan (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited), Norbert A. Myles (Make-up artist: Ray Bolger) (uncredited), Robert J. Schiffer (Make-up artist) (uncredited), Sydney Guilaroff (Braids: Dorothy) (uncredited), Web Overlander (Make-up artist: Judy Garland) (uncredited) and William Tuttle (Assistant make-up artist) (uncredited)
Cinematography: Harold Rosson (Director of Technicolor Photography)
Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie (Special effects), A.D. Flowers (Special effects assistant) (uncredited), Bob Overbeck (Special effects crew) (uncredited), Corril Harris (Special effects) (uncredited), Don Trumbull (Special effects rigger) (uncredited), Donald Jahraus (Miniatures) (uncredited), Edwin Bloomfield (Special effects supervisor) (uncredited), Glen Robinson (Special effects prop shop) (uncredited), Hal Millar (Special effects) (uncredited), J. McMillan Johnson (Senior special effects technician) (uncredited), Jack McMaster (Special effects) (uncredited), Ken Strickfaden (Special effects electrician) (uncredited), Mack Johnson (Special effects) (uncredited) and Marcel Delgado (Miniatures) (uncredited),
Visual Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie (Visual effects supervisor) (uncredited), Brian Peluso (3D Stereoscopic compositor), Candelario Rivas (Matte painter: castle) (uncredited), Chad Cortvriendt (3D Stereoscopic production manager), Chris Bayz (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Chris Crowell (Digital compositor restoration) (uncredited), Chris Del Conte (3D Stereoscopic conversion: Managing director), Chris Flynn (Digital compositor restoration) (uncredited), Christopher Rogers Costa (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Devesh Neema (3D Stereoscopic compositor), George Gervan (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Gregory Creaser (Camera operator: digital restoration) (uncredited), Heather Hoyland (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Jack Gaylord (Assistant visual effects supervisor) (uncredited), Jack Smith (Camera operator: visual effects unit) (uncredited), Jason Dourgarian (3D Stereoscopic compositor), John Pierce (Senior 3D stereoscopic supervisor: Prime Focus) (uncredited), Justin Jones (3D Stereoscopic designer), Kevin Braun (Digital compositor restoration) (uncredited), Lynn Tigar (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Mark Freund (Visual effects supervisor restoration) (uncredited), Matt Linder (Lead digital compositor restoration) (uncredited), Maureen Healy (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Max Fabian (Director of photography: visual effects unit) (uncredited) / Special photographic effects) (uncredited), Michael L. Fink (3D Stereoscopic conversion supervisor), Michael Pecchia (Director of global development: Prime Focus) (uncredited), Neil Stenhouse (Lead digital film restoration artist), Oliver Thornton (Roto supervisor: 3D version) (uncredited), Rasha Shalaby (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Richard Gervan (Digital paint artist restoration) (uncredited), Rik Panero (Technical support) (1998 release and credited on theatrical prints only), S. Scott Farrar (3D Stereoscopic conversion producer: Prime Focus), Sandy DellaMarie (Digital production coordinator restoration) (uncredited), Sujeet Patil (Paint artist: Prime Focus) and Warren Newcombe (Director of matte painting staff) (uncredited)
Stunts: Aline Goodwin (Stunt performer) (uncredited), Ambrose Schindler (Stunt double: Tin Man) (uncredited), Betty Danko (Sstunt double: Margaret Hamilton) (uncredited), Billy Curtis (Stunts) (uncredited), Dorothy Andre (Stunt double: Judy Garland) (uncredited), George Bruggeman (Stunts) (uncredited) and Harry Monty (Stunts) (uncredited)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Sepia + Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French (Quebec): 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
German: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Italian: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Spanish: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Portuguese (Português): 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Czech: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Hungarian: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Polish: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
Russian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Thai: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio Description
English: 1.0 Dolby Digital Mono Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish (Español), Dutch, Chinese, Korean, Spanish (Castilian), Portuguese (Português), Czech, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Thai and Turkish
Running Time: 101 minutes
Region: 3D Blu-ray + 2D Blu-ray [Region Free] + DVD [NTSC]
Number of discs: 5
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Andrew’s 3D Blu-ray Review: With the film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ [1939] the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture will undoubtedly reflect great credit on the motion picture industry at large. On the 15th August, 1939 held ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ Hollywood premiere at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater and erected bleachers for movie fans to sit on and watch the parade of people and behind them they built this huge, neon sign that said M-G-M’S AMAZING ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ In Glorious Technicolor. But then on the 25th August, 1939, M-G-M unveiled ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ in cinemas right across the U.S.A. Victor Fleming directed the film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ and the film broke an attendance record at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater as well as Loew’s State Theatre at 1540 Broadway on Times Square in New York City and with a $5,169 opening-day gross a day later.
‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film is beyond question, and accorded recognition as a milestone in motion picture history. The M-G-M picture reflects great credit for the motion picture industry at large. It’s creation is brilliantly inventive and arrestingly beautiful and dramatically compelling to the eye, the ear with the films strong emotions. Somehow in its lavish creation, producer Mervyn LeRoy has captured a spirit of earthy drama of a strong moral flavour, and combined this with outright fantasy and with striking effect. ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film is even more glorious in this revived proto-psychedelic gem when released to the general public.
Hollywood’s proto-psychedelic masterpiece ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ from 1939, is a movie about an injustice triggering a whirlwind and a house from Kansas flying off to crush a wicked witch in a far-off land. Now it has been remastered and revived in 3D: the best possible reason for taking another look at this extraordinary film, whose images can be savoured on a gasp-inducing scale, and the sugar-rush of that transformation from Black and White to Sepia and eventually to Technicolour is now even more overwhelming, and the dream-fantasia of ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ even more dazzling.
The story opens by introducing us to Dorothy Gale [Judy Garland], a young girl in Kansas who finds her wanderlust stirred by dreams of going “somewhere over the rainbow.” When a tornado strikes the farm where she lives with her aunt and uncle, but Dorothy Gale is knocked unconscious. Upon waking up, s Dorothy Gale finds herself in the magical Land of Oz, where she journeys in the company of a Scarecrow [Ray Bolger], a Tin Man [Jack Haley], and a Cowardly Lion [Bert Lahr] to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West [Margaret Hamilton] and find the all-powerful Wizard [Frank Morgan], who has the power to send her home. But is this a real trip, or is it all a dream? A strong case can be developed for either possibility, although it's ultimately up to each viewer to make up his or her own mind. Whichever way you decide, it doesn't detract from the movie's boundless capacity to really entertain and make you wish you could travel the Land of Oz.
Dorothy Gales three companions, like Dorothy herself, each have a single and simple motivation drawing them to the Emerald City and the Wizard of Oz. All of them want something, and believe that what they seek can be found only there. The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion are each identified with a longing for a particular human quality — namely, intelligence, feeling, and courage. Each of the three friends is convinced that he lacks utterly the quality that he deems most essential. Yet, in the end, though the Wizard is unable to make any actual difference in them, they all seem absurdly pleased with the results.
Another aspect of ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ that immediately arrests the attention is the film's use of Sepia and eventually the vivid hues of the glorious Technicolor. All of the scenes that transpire in our mundane world are presented in the drabbest manner possible, but, when the setting shifts to the Land of Oz, the greys and browns are replaced by the brilliant and glorious Technicolor reds, blues, oranges, and yellows.
Over the years, ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ has been subjected to the kind of scrutiny reserved for only the greatest of motion pictures. Volumes have been written about ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ and analysing everything from its look to the urban legends that have sprung up around it. Ultimately, however, it doesn't take a lengthy study to understand why multiple generations find the movie so utterly compelling. Not only is ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ wonderfully entertaining, but the issues it addresses, and the way it presents them, are both universal and deeply personal and that is why the film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ is truly the ultimate visual magical experience.
THE WIZARD OF OZ MUSIC TRACK LIST
OVER THE RAINBOW (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Judy Garland]
MUNCHKINLAND MELEDY: “Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are,” “The House Began To Pitch,” “As Mayor of the Munchkin City,” “As Coroner, I Must Aver,” “Ding Dong The Witch is Dead,” “Lullaby League,” “Lollipop Guild” and “We Welcome You to Munchkinland” (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Judy Garland, Billie Burke, The King's Men, Ken Darby, Rad Robinson, Bud Linn, Jon Dodson, The Debutantes, Billy Bletcher, Pinto Colvig, Delos Jewkes, Abe Dinovitch, Betty Rome, Carol Tevis, Lois Clements, Zari Elmassian, Nick Angelo, Robert Bradford and Virgil Johansen: dubbing the Munchkins]
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by The Debutantes, Billy Bletcher, Pinto Colvig, Delos Jewkes, Abe Dinovitch, Betty Rome, Carol Tevis, Lois Clements, Zari Elmassian, Nick Angelo, Robert Bradford and Virgil Johansen: dubbing the Munchkins]
IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Ray Bolger and Judy Garland]
WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZZARD (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Ray Bolger and Judy Garland]
IF I ONLY HAD A HEART (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Jack Haley and the off-screen voice of Adriana Caselotti]
WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZZARD (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Judy Garland and the off-screen voice of Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man]
IF I ONLY HAD THE NERVE/ WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZZARD (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Bert Lahr, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger and the singing voice of Buddy Ebsen]
OPTIMISTIC VOICES (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Performed by the off-screen voices of The Debutantes with The Rhythmettes]
THE MERRY OLD LAND OF OZ (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Frank Morgan, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Emerald City workers]
IF I WAS KING OF THE FORREST (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) [Sung by Bert Lahr, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger and Jack Haley]
THE HAPPY FARMER, Op. 68, No. 10 (1848) (uncredited) (Music by Robert Schumann)
IN THE SHADE OF THE OLD APPLE TREE (1905) (uncredited) (Music by Egbert Van Alstyne)
Night on Bald Mountain (1867) (uncredited) (Music by Modest Mussorgsky)
HOME SWEET HOME (1823) (uncredited) (Music by H.R. Bishop)
Scherzo in E Minor, Op. 16, No. 2 (1829) (uncredited) (Music by Felix Mendelssohn) (Conducted by Herbert Stothart)
OVER THE RAINBOW (uncredited) (Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg) (Music by Harold Arlen) (Conducted by Herbert Stothart)
* * * * *
3D Blu-ray Image Quality – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment presents us the totally amazing 3D film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ with an amazing opulent 1080p Sepia and Technicolor image and of course is shown in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The print looks great, but the Technicolor was already re-invigorated for a previous Laserdisc release. The 4K HDR restoration shows there’s more subtlety to the film’s Technicolor palette than we’d expect based the previous home releases. It should come as no surprise, though, that this new transfer doesn’t really come to life until Dorothy Gale steps through the monochromatic door of her wind-tossed home into the rainbow Technicolor Land of Oz. Now I've seen several 3D conversions over the past couple of years, from animated features to blockbuster epics, and I can honestly say ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ outclasses them all. But mostly the 3D is employed to produce a greater sense of depth and immersion, and it succeeds brilliantly in that regard and gets a five star rating from me without any hesitation.
3D Blu-ray Audio Quality – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings us the amazing 3D film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ with an equally amazing 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience which is really noticeable improvement this time around is because of the soundtrack, which has been converted from the original mono to digital surround sound. The surround channels are employed a little more frequently this time, and there’s an appreciable boost to dialogue intelligibility and vocal clarity, along with some enhanced bass, especially during the tornado sequence. But all in all, this surround mix is true to the sprit and overall aesthetic of the wonderful and magical ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film. The 5.1 option certainly offers the most sonic bang for one's buck, adding welcome dimension to many aspects of the film. Warner Bros. technicians have done a very professional work in sprucing the audio presentation, and the result is a robust, nicely nuanced effort that complements the glorious visuals well.
* * * * *
Blu-ray + DVD Special Features and Extras:
3D Blu-ray Disc 1: ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ 3D Special Features Content:
Special Feature: Audio Commentary with Sydney Pollack, John Fricke, Barbara Freed-Saltzman, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr, Jane Lahr, Bert Lahr, Mervyn LeRoy, Dona Massin, William Tuttle, Buddy Ebsen and Jerry Maren [2013] [1080p] [1.37:1] [101:38]
Special Feature: Music and Effects Track [1939] [1080p] [1.37:1] [101:44] With this featurette, it gives you the option to watch the film, minus its dialogue.
Special Feature: Original Mono Track [1939] [1080p] [1.37:1] [101:44] With this featurette, you can watch the film with its original mono audio mix will be a welcome option for purists.
Special Feature: Trailers: With this featurette, we get to view the following different trailers: What Is Oz? Teaser [1939] [480i] [1.37:1] [0:32]; Loews Cairo Theater Trailer [1940] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:59]; Re-issue Trailer [1949] [1080i] [1.37:1] [2:50]; Grownup Re-issue Trailer [1949] [1080p] [1.37:1] [2:22]; Children’s Matinee Re-issue Trailer [1970] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:35]; Warner Bros. Re-issue Trailer [1998] [480i] [1.78:1] [2:05] and IMAX 3D Re-issue Trailer [2013] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 1.37:1] [2:13]
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2D Blu-ray Disc 2: ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ Special Features Content:
Special Feature: Audio Commentary with Sydney Pollack, John Fricke, Barbara Freed-Saltzman, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr, Jane Lahr, Bert Lahr, Mervyn LeRoy, Dona Massin, William Tuttle, Buddy Ebsen and Jerry Maren [2013] [1080p] [1.37:1] [101:38]
Special Feature: The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz [2013] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 1.37:1] [69:02] With this featurette, we get to view the very informative, funny and very entertaining documentary offers rare behind-the-scenes footage from ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ plus fascinating reminiscences from the cast members and their families. Footage includes the 50th anniversary celebration in 1989, silent Oz films made by creator L. Frank Baum and much more. This featurette was narrated by Martin Sheen.
Special Feature: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook [2005] [1080p] [1.37:1] [10:27] With this featurette, Angela Lansbury delivers a condensed read-through of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook and it present L. Frank Baum's original art as well as a visual comic animation.
Special Feature: We Haven't Really Met Properly . . . [2005] [1080p] [1.37:1] [20:00] With this featurette, we get to view a series of documentary short biographies narrated by Angela Lansbury, that includes Frank Morgan [The Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvell], Ray Bolger [The Scarecrow/Hunk], Bert Lahr [The Cowardly Lion/Zeke], Jack Haley [The Tin Man/Hickory], Billie Burke [Glinda, The Good Witch of the North], Margaret Hamilton [The Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch], Charley Grapewin [Uncle Henry], Clara Blandick [Auntie Em] and Terry [Toto].
Special Feature: Music and Effects Track [1939] [1080p] [1.37:1] [101:44]
Special Feature: Original Mono Track [1939] [1080p] [1.37:1] [101:44]
Special Feature: Sing-Along [1939] [1080p] [1.37:1] [101:44] With this featurette, you get to sing along with the movie and at the bottom of the screen is the coloured wording.
Special Feature: Audio Jukebox: With this featurette, we get to hear audio only of eighteen separate veritable treasure trove of original recordings and outtakes of songs featurette in ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film
Special Feature: Leo is on the air Radio Promo [1939] [1080p] [1.78:1] [12:09] With this featurette, we get to hear an extended radio advertisement for ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film featuring descriptions of the film, song excerpts, dialogue and also includes some great and sometimes very witty sound clip highlights.
Special Feature: Good News of 1939 Radio Show [1939] [1080p] [1.78:1] [60:58] With this featurette, we get to hear a Maxwell House Coffee presentation of the final edition of “Good News of 1939” which is a full-length radio broadcast that finds host Robert Young interviewing the cast and presenting music from ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film.
Special Feature: 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast [1950] [1080p] [1.78:1] [60:58] With this featurette, we get to hear the 1950 Christmas CBS radio network broadcast that was sponsored by LUX Soap for ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film that tells the entirety of the film's story and it does not feature the voices of the majority of the original cast, but Judy Garland is on hand to voice Dorothy Gale.
Special Feature: Stills Galleries: With this featurette, we get to view eighteen galleries related to all aspects related to the different versions of ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film and they are as follows: Oz on Broadway; Pre-MGM; Sketches and Storyboards; Costume and Make-up Tests; Richard Thorpe's Oz; Buddy Ebsen; Oz Comes to Life; Behind the Scenes; Portraits; Special Effects; Post Production; Deleted Scenes; Original Publicity; Hollywood Premiere; New York Premiere; Oz Abroad and Oz Revivals.
Special Feature: Trailers: With this featurette, we get to view the following different trailers: 1939 What Is Oz? Teaser; 1940 Loews Cairo Theater Trailer; 1940 Re-issue Trailer; 1949 Grownup Re-issue Trailer; 1970 Children’s Matinee Re-issue Trailer; 1998 Warner Bros. Re-issue Trailer and 2013 Warner Bros. IMAX 3D Re-issue Trailer.
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2D Blu-ray Disc 3: ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ Special Features Content:
Special Feature: Because of the Wonderful Things It Does: The Legacy of Oz [2005] [1080p / 480i] [1.37:1] [25:05] With this featurette, it tells how the 1939 movie ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ has become a total classic, after its mediocre debut in 1939. M-G-M then re-released the movie in 1949 to much greater success. Still, it didn't catch on as a lasting favourite until TV aired the movie. The first time was in 1956 and then again in 1959. This featurette was narrated by Brittany Murphy.
Special Feature: The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz [2005] [480i / 1080p] [1.37:1] [29:45] With this featurette, we get to view this documentary with notable Hollywood heavyweights discussing the 1949 movie ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ and how it came to be, the most loved Technicolor movie of all time for a whole generation and its legacy that remains such a fundamental part of our cultural make-up. This featurette was narrated by Sydney Pollack.
Special Feature: Harold Arlen’s Home Movies [1939] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:40] With this featurette, we get to view the rare American composer Harold Arlen 16mm film that was filmed of the main cast and behind-the-scene on the set of the filming of ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ and Harold Arlen’s 16mm film is considered to be the only historic footage that exists from the filming of the final version of the film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ.’
Special Feature: Outtakes and Deleted Scenes [1939] [1080p] [1.37:1] [14:20] With this featurette, we get to view rare lost scene footage that was shot and was either scrapped or cut out from the original theatrical release of ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ and they are as follows: If I Only Had a Brain; If I Only Had a Heart; Triumphal Return to Emerald City; Over the Rainbow and The Jitterbug.
Special Feature: It’s A Twister! It’s A Twister! The Tornado Tests [1939] [480i] [1.37:1] [8:17] With this featurette, we are informed that Buddy made his reputation as an early special effects master and commanded a forty-man Prop Shop to realize his designs and provided unique challenges, such as making the famous tornado for ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film. The first effort, a 35-foot rubber cone, cost $8000 and did not work. Its replacement, a long muslin windsock double-sewn with music wire for strength, was better, and appears in the finished film and of course we get to some of the amazing raw footage that they shot for the Kansas sequence for ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film.
Special Feature: Off to See the Wizard Excerpts [1967] [1080p] [1.37:1] [3:57] With this featurette, we are informed that during the 1967 USA television session, ABC had a Friday night time hour called Off To See The Wizard and the program was created to show family films and every episode was hosted by the Oz characters animated by Chuck Jones and we get to view four of the Technicolor cartoons that was created to be broadcast in the middle of the show and at the end of the program it was followed by a promotions of next week’s movie.
Special Feature: Another Romance of Celluloid: Electrical Power [1938] [480i] [1.37:1] [10:31] With this featurette, we get to view a promo short looks at how electricity generated at the Hoover Dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, and the electricity to the Hollywood studios to make the films. We also get a brief tour of the M-G-M power plants and is followed by behind-the-scenes footage and previews of several upcoming releases. This featurette was narrated by Frank Whitbeck.
Special Feature: Cavalcade of the Academy Awards® Excerpt [1940] [480i] [1.37:1] [2:14] With this featurette, we get to view a promotional short, where director Frank Capra assembled this short subject excerpts from the 1940 Academy Awards Ceremony that was hosted by Bob Hope. It also shows us a young Mickey Rooney presenting a very enthusiastic Judy Garland with an award. Unfortunately, with the Frank Capra edit, he actually replaced Judy Garland’s live rendition of “Over The Rainbow” with the clip from the film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ.’
Special Feature: Texas Contest Winners [1938] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:26] With this featurette, we get to view when MGM played host to a load of contest winners from Houston, Texas and it captures an historical event outside the ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ rehearsal hall.
Special Feature: Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman [2009] [1080p] [1.37:1] [34:08] With this featurette, we get to view an in-depth documentary on the life and career of Victor Fleming. Author Michael Sragow restores the director to the pantheon of one of our greatest filmmakers and fills a gaping hole in Hollywood history with this vibrant portrait of a man at the centre of the most exciting era in American filmmaking.
Special Feature: L. Frank Baum: The Man behind the Curtain [2005] [1080p] [1.37:1] [27:45] With this featurette, we get to view an in-depth documentary on the life of L. Frank Baum, the creator of Oz and we hear from people who praised L. Frank Baum’s work. This featurette was narrated by Mark Bramhall.
Special Feature: Hollywood Celebrates Its Biggest Little Stars [2009] [1080p] [1.37:1] [27:45] With this featurette, we get to view a celebration of an event to celebrate the performers who played the Munchkins and we also get to view the Munchkins performers were given a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Special Feature: Memories of Oz [2001] [1080p] [1.37:1] [27:45] With this featurette, we get to view interviews with filmmakers and fans Willard Carroll and John Waters, and American freelance writer Stephen L. Cox author of The Munchkins of Oz, Munchkin actors and others on the impact and influence of the 1939 M-G-M film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ.’
Special Feature: The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story [1990] [1080i] [1.37:1] [92:48] With this featurette, we get to view an American made-for-television biographical film starring John Ritter as Lyman Frank Baum, the author who wrote the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and thirteen other Oz books. Also starring in it were Annette O'Toole as Baum's supportive wife, Maud, and Rue McClanahan as Baum's tough mother-in-law, Matilda Gage. It premiered on the 19th December, 1990 on NBC.
Special Feature: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz [1910] [480i] [1.37:1] [13:18] With this featurette, we get to view an early American silent fantasy film and the earliest surviving film version of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The film was made by the Selig Polyscope Company without L. Frank Baum's direct input.
Special Feature: His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz [1914] [480i] [1.37:1] [59:07] With this featurette, we get to view another early American silent fantasy adventure film directed by J. Farrell MacDonald, and written and produced by L. Frank Baum. It stars Violet MacMillan, Frank Moore, Vivian Reed, Todd Wright, Pierre Couderc, Raymond Russell, and Fred Woodward. This was a film by the Oz Film Manufacturing Company.
Special Feature: The Magic Cloak of Oz [1914] [480i] [1.37:1] [43:15] With this featurette, we get to view another early American silent fantasy adventure film directed by J. Farrell MacDonald. It was written by L. Frank Baum and produced by L. Frank Baum and composer Louis F. Gottschalk. The film is an adaptation of Baum's 1905 novel, Queen Zixi of Ix. This was the second film of the Oz Film Manufacturing Company.
Special Feature: The Patchwork Girl [1914] [480i] [1.37:1] [50:43] With this featurette, we get to view another early American silent fantasy adventure film made by L. Frank Baum's The Oz Film Manufacturing Company. It was based on the 1913 book The Patchwork Girl of Oz.
Special Feature: The Wizard of Oz [1925] [480i] [1.37:1] [71:53] With this featurette, we get to view another early American silent fantasy adventure film directed by Larry Semon. But with this silent film we get a performance by The Robert Israel Orchestra [Europe] and was conducted by Robert Israel.
Special Feature: The Wizard of Oz [1933] [480i] [1.37:1] [8:13] With this featurette, we get to view an animated cartoon that was created as the very first Oz cartoon adaptation that was based on the first Oz book. Canadian animation pioneer Ted Eshbaugh created this 35mm Technicolor print from a script by Frank Joslyn Baum. It was one of the first works of animation to be made in color and to have a complete soundtrack. However, the film ran into a legal conflict with the Technicolor Corporation which prevented its distribution. However, the cartoon was the first dramatic treatment to show Kansas in black-and-white and the Land of Oz in Technicolor. The film's music was composed by Carl Stalling who worked for both Disney and Warner Bros.
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2D DVD Disc 4: ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ Special Feature Bonus Content: Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz [2005] [1080i] [1.37:1] [11:28] With this featurette, we get to view an in-depth documentary looking at the video and audio digital restoration of Victor Fleming's classic 1939 film ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ and the difficult problems its mastering team encountered, and the amazing methods they used to tackle the project.
2D DVD Disc 5: MGM: When The Lion Roars [1992] [480i] [1.37:1] [360:00] With this featurette, we get to view a dual sided standard DVD which is devoted to writer/director Frank Martin who is devoted to writer/director Frank Martin’ When the Lion Roars, which is a massive six-hour documentary that details in-depth with the rise and fall of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. It is hosted by the ever suave Patrick Stewart.
Finally, ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ [1939] will always remain one of the greatest film ever made as it continues to dazzle for generations upon generations. It truly is “magical” and if you are a 3D enthusiast and you totally love and admire ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ film and it is impossible not to be dazzled by this high-quality reimagining of one of Hollywood's most beloved and enduring film. ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ in 3D is not just a gimmick; it's an immersive, eye-filling, often wondrous cinematic experience that will thrill and delight those willing to accept its transformation. But if you have a 3D setup, by all means pick up this terrific release. There are few ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ fans more protective of the movie's legacy and purity than for me personally, and I whole heartedly embrace this 3D upgrade, which has been produced with the utmost care, respect, and sensitivity to the film's original vision and presentation and also gives a new generation to see why when this 1939 film was so loved when people first saw the film. But most of all, it is your ultimate duty to purchase this ultimate 3D version of ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ,’ because it will make you fall in love all over again with this Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release and you will see why this ‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’ 3D release is a justified 10/10 movie. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
