Responding to The Wizard of Oz

What accounts for the continuing appeal of a movie released in 1939? Well, there are a lot of things about this movie that appeal to me, it has always been a favorite of mine, but I think the main thing that has given this movie its staying power is the fact that everybody dreams of escaping sometimes, going "somewhere over the rainbow" as Dorothy would say. Being taken from the daily troubles and day to day mundane and transported to some fantasy world is a dream that I do not think will ever die. I think that is also why "Somewhere over the Rainbow" has become such a classic song, people just love the idea of waking up "where the clouds are far behind" and the "troubles melt like lemon drops". Through the whole movie we are transported to another world that feels totally real with all the details they put into the sets, costumes, special effects, really just every little detail seems perfect. But as we go through this fantasy world, we find that maybe it is not all it is cracked up to be, maybe it is not as perfect as it first seems. Dorothy immediately misses home when she gets there and has to go through hell and high water to get to The Wizard of Oz who can grant her wish to be sent home, all the while having to fend off the Wicked Witch of the West and her creepy flying monkeys. This movie reminds us that as much as we can wish and dream of some fantasy world where everything is perfect, there is nowhere where everything is perfect, there is no such thing as perfect, and when it comes down to it, we take what we have for granted and probably appreciate what we have more than we even realize and I usually leave this movie feeling happy for what I have. I think that the feel-good power of this movie, combined with the beautiful, cute, amazing, yet creepy and demented all too real fantasy world Dorothy is transported to, and touching on that human nature of a dream of escaping is what makes this movie such a classic that everyone can enjoy and that translates through generations.

Responding to The Wizard of Oz

What accounts for the continuing appeal of a movie released in 1939? Be specific! 

Make one short comment on a film technique that you noticed was (look at your handout “Film Terms” for examples) used in The Wizard of Oz. Choose one scene that you would like to discuss in detail during our next class. 

Bring your writing, word processed, to class.