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The Wizard of Oz

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Warner Bros is proud to present a special edition re-release of this beloved classic on the eve of the film's 60th anniversary. For this special edition film has been enhanced with state-of-the art technical improvements, including digital restoration and remastering in digital stereo sound.

Dissatisfied with her life on her Auntie Em's (Clara Blandick) and Uncle Henry's (Charley Grapewin) Kansas farm, Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) is attempting to run away when a twister strikes; Dorothy is knocked unconscious and, more amazingly, her entire house (with Dorothy and Toto inside) is lifted up into the funnel cloud and deposited squarely on top of the now-deceased Wicked Witch of the East in Munchkin City, in the county of the land of Oz.

Dorothy emerges from her house and meets the amazing inhabitants of this strange new land, including the munchkins and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke). After a run-in with the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), Dorothy wants nothing more than to return home. Glinda advises her to visit the mysterious Wizard of Oz, who lives at the end of the Yellow Brick Road and who has the power to accomplish almost anything. Dorothy sets out on her path and gathers others around her who are also seeking the Wizard's assistance: the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), who wants a brain; the Tin Woodman (Jack Haley), looking for a heart; and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), seeking courage. While eluding the Wicked Witch, the quartet eventually wind up in the court of the Wizard (Frank Morgan) in the beautiful Emerald City.

The great and powerful Oz, however, tells the group that they must first prove themselves worthy by bringing him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch before he will grant their requests. Following Dorothy's capture by the flying monkeys and her courageous defeat of the witch, the triumphant group returns, only to discover that the Wizard is a charlatan. Yet, he is able to show the group that each already possessed what he had always sought and, as for Dorothy, he can take her back to Kansas in his balloon. When the balloon takes off without her, Dorothy, under the guidance of Glinda, uses the magic ruby slippers to transport her back to her farm, where she lovingly declares to her family and friends, "There's no place like home."

Persons of interest

Judy Garland .... Dorothy Gale
Frank Morgan .... Professor Marvel, Emerald City doorman, The cabbie, The Wizard's guard, The Wizard of Oz
Ray Bolger .... Hunk, The Scarecrow
Bert Lahr .... Zeke, The Cowardly Lion
Jack Haley .... Hickory, The Tin Man
Billie Burke .... Glinda, the Good Witch of the North
Margaret Hamilton .... Miss Gulch, The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wicked Witch of the East
Charley Grapewin .... Uncle Henry
Pat Walshe .... Nikko
Clara Blandick .... Auntie Em
Terry .... Toto
L Frank Baum .... Author: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Noel Langley .... Screenwriter
Florence Ryerson .... Screenwriter
Edgar Allan Woolf .... Screenwriter
Irving Brecher .... Screenwriter
William H. Cannon .... Screenwriter
Herbert Fields .... Screenwriter
Arthur Freed .... Screenwriter
EY Harburg .... Screenwriter
Samuel Hoffenstein .... Screenwriter
John Lee Mahin .... Screenwriter
Herman J Mankiewicz .... Screenwriter
Jack Mintz .... Screenwriter
Sid Silvers .... Screenwriter
Victor Fleming .... Director
Richard Thorpe .... Director
King Vidor .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

The Wizard of Oz official movie site
Studios and distributors:

Warner Bros * Roadshow Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

I saw nothing. This DVD was stolen from my office but I won't name names because that won't get them back or bring the two scum-sucking culprits to justice.

Meanwhile, when I first saw The Wizard of Oz all those years ago, I was amazed by the way that it sounded just like the record (that's a giant, analog, double-sided CD) to which I'd listened, enraptured, on many a wet Sunday afternoon. Later, I went on to perform in a stage production (including a stint as a munchkin!) and astound my relatives with some awesome lip synching one Christmas. Not that that tells you what The Wizard of Oz is like but if you need me to tell you that, you won't need to buy this most perfect of baby-sitters.