It feels cliche to love it this much. It’s such an obvious choice for a favorite childhood movie. But I can’t help it. It isn’t even like I ever read the books. If I’m honest, it all started because of Dorothy. I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Years later when I heard her described as ‘chubby’ in commentaries about the movie, I was so confused. Chubby? Hardly. To me, she was perfect.
I’ve seen the movie countless times, to the point where I not only know nearly every line, I also know hand movements and head tilts. I own the collectors edition hardback copy of the script. I can sing the scene in Munchkin Land from the Coroner to the Lollipop Guild. I know how to spot nearly all of the many goofs and bloopers, like how Dorothy’s pigtails change from scene to scene and how props reappear in the wrong places.
I love reading about the making of the movie, like how the Wicked Witch of the West was originally scripted to be glamorous and beautiful since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a movie that was so successful the year before, had a glamorous evil Queen. Or how “Over the Rainbow” was almost permanently cut because it was too long and they thought it was degrading for Dorothy to sing in a barnyard.
It was 1939 when The Wizard of Oz was released on the big screen. Now, we have a chance to see it in the theater for a special one night only 70th anniversary event this Wednesday, September 23. Find out if your city is showing the movie in the theater. And then be sure to tell me all about it, because unfortunately, mine is not.
Definitely going to see it! This is a childhood favorite of mine too. It’s such a shame that it’s not showing near you! The number of theaters it’s playing on in southern California feels like an embarrassment of riches…
I don’t know anyone who does not like The Wizard of Oz. My kids would watch it over and over and never tire of it. (Just because you get big does not seem to make a difference, either.) A fantasy that tells you how important your home is and beautiful music: a magical combination.
Mike got the 70th edition blu-ray for his birthday! (Well, he doesn’t have it yet. It comes out next week.)
Thank you so much for sharing this! I am so excited. It is coming to my city. This is my little girl’s favorite movie. (She’ll be 6 in a month!) I cannot wait to take her to it. I am so glad that you posted this because I had not seen anything about it. I love your blog. Your writing is a amazing. You are such an inspiration. Thanks again!
My daughter was obsessed with this movie for a number of years. At almost nine, she still loves it & wants to collect things, she’s just not running around the house dressed as Dorothy 24/7. Believe me, we’ve had our share of ruby red slippers around this house & bless Target for selling them – I don’t think we could have survived her first five years if they didn’t.;)
Thanks for the heads-up about the theatre showing – I’ll have to check it out.
oh girl – you got me all excited…until I read your last line. And by the way, I miss you…how are we missing on Sundays?
Oy – this movie weirded me out so bad when I was little – I was afraid of tornadoes into my college years! But if you really wanted to see it in a theater, they are showing it in one that is about 20 minutes from my house… You should come visit!
ooohhh, i wanna go!!! maybe i can get a sitter….
oh… i didn’t read all the way to the end to see that our city isn’t showing it!!! i mean, concord’s not that far!
Oh, one of my favorites too and now my girls love it! I doubt it will be showing anywhere near me, so I will have to pop in the VHS–or maybe a splurge is in order–a new DVD!! LOL!
I heart Judy.
i am still trying to talk my husband into going.
i have such fond memories of watching it every year. at my gramma’s. lying on her big bed with my cousins… enjoying it, all the while feeling the anticipation of being afraid of those darn flying monkeys. i agree… dorothy was perfect. beautiful. and those red slippers… i’m going to have to work harder to talk him into it. i really wish you could go…
How funny you should blog about this today. Last night I watched this with my kids. One of our fall traditions…I won’t let them watch it any other time, although we have it on video….
Just to let you know, they are releasing a fully remastered and digitally enhanced version for bluray
Just thought I’d let you know. [Yes, I'm a nerd.]
It’s showing here — Concord Mills. 75 minute drive. Wanna come?
The Wizard of Oz Fest was held in our town (Chesterton, IN) this weekend. It’s a **very big deal** here!
I’m the same way with The Princess Bride. Okay, maybe not THAT much of a classic, but I get what you’re talking about. I had the chance to see Oz this summer…We have a gorgeous old (like, built in 1890) theater that, during the summer, shows classic movies like Oz and Casablanca and Gone with the Wind. Did I go see any of them? No. I was a little busy. And when I wasn’t busy, I was exhausted. But I reeeeeally hated to miss them!
give yourself a gift and read the book!!!
Wonderful memories for me too. I loved my dad’s impression of the lion…my sister and I would laugh until we cried. Recently, I introduced this movie icon to my daughter…we did have to hide our eyes during the flying monkey scenes—too intense for her 4 yr. old brain to absorb.
This movie scared me as a child… my first memory of having a nightmare. But I loved it anyway. I actually met the grandson of L. Frank Baum during the 50th anniversary…. One of my students (from the So. CA university at which I worked) was a broadcast major doing an internship at CNN in LA. I took a day off from work to hang out with her. She actually interviewed the grandson, as I sat off to the side in the studio. Oh, the studio just happened to be Larry King’s Hollywood set. The grandson thought I was someone important, which was hilarious. It was definitely a fun, fun day! I hope you get to see the movie on the big screen. Blessings!
If I hadn’t just started an Old Testament study at church last Wednesday night, I’d be there! I had no idea about it until you mentioned it, though. It will be showing here in Greenville, SC at one theater for one showing. Darn I wish I could go.
One of my all time favorites, along with Gone With the Wind, which was released that same year. I remember my Mom taking us to see GWTW on the big screen for one of its anniversaries. Nothing quite like seeing them in the theater.
ooooohh!! It IS playing in my city!! I don’t think I will be able to make it though as my boys are sick and my husband is out of town with work
Have you seen the “sci-fi” version – Tin Man? I am so not a sci-fi person, but the made for tv movie was pretty cool!! We’d watched it online I think and then my husband bought me the DVD for my birthday. Love it!
A few years ago at Women of Faith, Sheila Walsh shared some of the lessons she learned about God from the Wizard of Oz. It made me want to see the movie and read the book all over again. The book she wrote about it is “God Has A Dream For Your Life.” I haven’t read it, but if the book is half as good as her talk, it would be well worth the read.
I also have great memories watching the Wizard of Oz and Gone With The Wind. I am so thankful DVDs were invented since then so I don’t have to wait a whole year in between viewings!
I wish I could have seen this in the theater again. However for Christmas my boyfriend bought the new 70th Anniversary BluRay edition for me and it looks amazing. Almost like being a child watching it for the first time. It’s my all time favorite movie, hands down. And I always cry when she sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow! ox