"The Wizard of Oz", 1939: a review

One of the most beloved movies of all time, the 1939 musical/fantasy, The Wizard of Oz, one of the best kids animated movies of all time, featured a 14-year-old Judy Garland as little girl Dorothy. It is usually ranked as one of the top ten movies of all time and has provided many memorable quotations, characters, and scenes. You must see it at least 5 times to truly appreciate all it offers!

The plot involves Dorothy’s imagining a whole new world when a tornado lands on her family’s property, knocking her out. In her dream, Dorothy finds herself in Munchkinland where she observes, “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

Helped by a good “witch” Glinda, Dorothy sets out with her ruby slippers on to get help from the Wizard in Emerald City. On the journey, she meets up with the Scarecrow, played by Ray Bolger, who explains that he would be so happy, “If I only had a brain.”

Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, played by Bert Lahr, and the Tin Man, portrayed by Jack Haley, all want something from the Wizard so they journey together on the Yellow Brick Road. The Wicked Witch of the West hounds them all. At one point, she threatens them, “Don’t make me release the flying monkeys!”

This awful witch gets hers when Dorothy inadvertently throws water on her, causing her to disappear as she cackles, “I’m melting; I’m melting.” After many scary adventures, they all get what they need, including Dorothy.

Near the end of the movie, Glinda appears again, instructing Dorothy to tap her ruby heels together, while saying the words, “There’s no place like home”. She does this and slowly awakes back in Kansas, still saying the phrase, “There’s no place like home”, surrounded by her real-life friends, who look a lot like her dream pals. This is a great movie to watch during the holidays. The Wizard Of Oz takes you on an epic journey that will be truely love by generations to come especially during the festive Christmas season.