Writer: Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf
Director: Victor Fleming
Major Actors: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charlie Grapewin, and The Munchkins
Year Released: 1939
Story: The story of The Wizard of Oz is about a girl who gets knocked out in a tornado. As we are taken into her dream we see the different struggles the girl is dealing with mentally. Feelings of being lost in life is what the dream symbolizes. Dorothy cannot seem to find her way back home without a few trials along the way. In the process she meets friends that are struggling with different things in life as well. But together, they are all able to find their place in the world.
Plot: Dorothy is struck in the head by a window in a tornado and is knocked unconscious. As we are taken into Dorothy's dream we watch Dorothy meet a few new friends in need of some personal things as well. The scarecrow would like a brain, the Tin Man needs a heart, and the Cowardly Lion needs Courage. All of these qualities are things that Dorothy wished she had when battling Almira Gulch. Throughout the journey in Dorothy's dream, the Wicked Witch (Gulch) sets up a few struggles such as setting the scarecrow on fire and the field of poppies that makes everyone fall asleep. As the group of friends finally arrive at the Emerald City, the Wizard demands that they bring the broom of the witch in order to receive their gifts (heart, brain, courage, and Dorothy's way back home). Knowing that they must kill the witch to get the broom they all find the courage to go and claim the broom. Dorothy ends up being snatched and is the witch's prisoner. So it is up to the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion to outsmart the witch and free Dorothy. Upon being trapped by the guards and the witch, Dorothy reaches for water to save the Scarecrow from burning. Accidentally, the water splashes on the witch and she melts. The group of friends bring the broom back to the Wizard where they receive their gifts.
The film follows chronological order. Each of the events follows one after the other, rather than jumping back and forth from present to future to we can see that Dorothy is first knocked out. Then we are taken into her dream. After that, we see that Dorothy wakes up and is in her bed at home in Kansas. During the dream we are never taken back to reality. Instead we stay focused in the dream and then she wakes up to reality. The use of chronological order allows the audience to understand that she is in a dream and not recalling things from the past. We are able to understand her desire to feel like she belongs and is apart of something more than herself. The audience is also able to see the struggles that most teenagers go through. Most of us would agree that life somewhere else must surely be better but often grow up and realize we have much to be thankful for.
The elements of story building allows the audience to identify what the problem is. Dorothy does not feel that she fits in at a home and wants to run away. We can also see that her vision of the other side is distorted. People tend to believe that life is greener on the other side. And often times are disappointed when we discover the truth. The story takes place in Kansas where all of the colors are light and dark shades of brown. When Dorothy is knocked out she opens the door to a land of beautiful vibrant colors. Oz is enchantingly beautiful but Dorothy and the others quickly learn that evil is all around them. Running away from home is no longer as glamorous as Dorothy thought. She is afraid of all of the dangers that come along the way and all she wants to do is get back home. Character development is another great tool used in the story. The Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion are the farmers at the beginning of the story. Each of the farmers give little hints as to which role they play in Dorothy's dream.
If the story had been presented in another way, perhaps only showing the film in black and white I think the movie would not have been exciting. Our dreams are deep and the choice of color allowed the dream to seem real as most dreams do. Character development was also key in the story. If there was not as much detail in each of the characters, perhaps we would not fully understand the purpose of the journey. And the chronological order in which the story was written could have followed a non-linear approach which could result in confusion of the story. And may not properly represent the problems that lead to a happy ending.
References:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvdbeaver.com%2Ffilm2%2FDVDReviews47%2Fwizard_of_oz_blu-ray%2Flarge%2Flarge_wizard_of_oz_blu-ray1x.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvdbeaver.com%2Ffilm%2Fdvdcompare%2Fwizard.htm&h=1080&w=1920&tbnid=aOf-tkymNAPv9M%3A&zoom=1&docid=eIF1PUgignXG6M&ei=XG7aU93mDomHogTZ-YDACw&tbm=isch&ved=0CCkQMyghMCE4yAE&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=761&page=11&start=226&ndsp=23
* This image also shows the setting in Kansas where life is not so wonderful. You can see the use of light and dark brown showing destinction that a storm is headed in. Symbolizing trouble ahead for Dorothy.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macgambling.com%2FuploadedImages%2Fgamesandcash%2FNewsImages%2Forg_37401_ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamesandcash.com%2Fcategory%2Fslots%2Fwizard-of-oz-ruby-slippers-slots-mega-big-win-at-jackpot-party-casino-201212090002%2F&h=553&w=725&tbnid=Ddd8hwDCjKf8NM%3A&zoom=1&docid=Xae7D8uGkMW86M&ei=SG7aU5KVHYnpoASwjIGQCw&tbm=isch&ved=0CFsQMyhTMFM4ZA&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=679&page=9&start=183&ndsp=22
* The image shows Dorothy's ruby red shoes symbolizing danger while on a yellow brick road which symbolizes friendships to be made and offers a bright cheery mood to the set.
Plot: Dorothy is struck in the head by a window in a tornado and is knocked unconscious. As we are taken into Dorothy's dream we watch Dorothy meet a few new friends in need of some personal things as well. The scarecrow would like a brain, the Tin Man needs a heart, and the Cowardly Lion needs Courage. All of these qualities are things that Dorothy wished she had when battling Almira Gulch. Throughout the journey in Dorothy's dream, the Wicked Witch (Gulch) sets up a few struggles such as setting the scarecrow on fire and the field of poppies that makes everyone fall asleep. As the group of friends finally arrive at the Emerald City, the Wizard demands that they bring the broom of the witch in order to receive their gifts (heart, brain, courage, and Dorothy's way back home). Knowing that they must kill the witch to get the broom they all find the courage to go and claim the broom. Dorothy ends up being snatched and is the witch's prisoner. So it is up to the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion to outsmart the witch and free Dorothy. Upon being trapped by the guards and the witch, Dorothy reaches for water to save the Scarecrow from burning. Accidentally, the water splashes on the witch and she melts. The group of friends bring the broom back to the Wizard where they receive their gifts.
The film follows chronological order. Each of the events follows one after the other, rather than jumping back and forth from present to future to we can see that Dorothy is first knocked out. Then we are taken into her dream. After that, we see that Dorothy wakes up and is in her bed at home in Kansas. During the dream we are never taken back to reality. Instead we stay focused in the dream and then she wakes up to reality. The use of chronological order allows the audience to understand that she is in a dream and not recalling things from the past. We are able to understand her desire to feel like she belongs and is apart of something more than herself. The audience is also able to see the struggles that most teenagers go through. Most of us would agree that life somewhere else must surely be better but often grow up and realize we have much to be thankful for.
The elements of story building allows the audience to identify what the problem is. Dorothy does not feel that she fits in at a home and wants to run away. We can also see that her vision of the other side is distorted. People tend to believe that life is greener on the other side. And often times are disappointed when we discover the truth. The story takes place in Kansas where all of the colors are light and dark shades of brown. When Dorothy is knocked out she opens the door to a land of beautiful vibrant colors. Oz is enchantingly beautiful but Dorothy and the others quickly learn that evil is all around them. Running away from home is no longer as glamorous as Dorothy thought. She is afraid of all of the dangers that come along the way and all she wants to do is get back home. Character development is another great tool used in the story. The Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion are the farmers at the beginning of the story. Each of the farmers give little hints as to which role they play in Dorothy's dream.
If the story had been presented in another way, perhaps only showing the film in black and white I think the movie would not have been exciting. Our dreams are deep and the choice of color allowed the dream to seem real as most dreams do. Character development was also key in the story. If there was not as much detail in each of the characters, perhaps we would not fully understand the purpose of the journey. And the chronological order in which the story was written could have followed a non-linear approach which could result in confusion of the story. And may not properly represent the problems that lead to a happy ending.
References:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvdbeaver.com%2Ffilm2%2FDVDReviews47%2Fwizard_of_oz_blu-ray%2Flarge%2Flarge_wizard_of_oz_blu-ray1x.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvdbeaver.com%2Ffilm%2Fdvdcompare%2Fwizard.htm&h=1080&w=1920&tbnid=aOf-tkymNAPv9M%3A&zoom=1&docid=eIF1PUgignXG6M&ei=XG7aU93mDomHogTZ-YDACw&tbm=isch&ved=0CCkQMyghMCE4yAE&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=761&page=11&start=226&ndsp=23
* This image also shows the setting in Kansas where life is not so wonderful. You can see the use of light and dark brown showing destinction that a storm is headed in. Symbolizing trouble ahead for Dorothy.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.macgambling.com%2FuploadedImages%2Fgamesandcash%2FNewsImages%2Forg_37401_ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamesandcash.com%2Fcategory%2Fslots%2Fwizard-of-oz-ruby-slippers-slots-mega-big-win-at-jackpot-party-casino-201212090002%2F&h=553&w=725&tbnid=Ddd8hwDCjKf8NM%3A&zoom=1&docid=Xae7D8uGkMW86M&ei=SG7aU5KVHYnpoASwjIGQCw&tbm=isch&ved=0CFsQMyhTMFM4ZA&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=679&page=9&start=183&ndsp=22
* The image shows Dorothy's ruby red shoes symbolizing danger while on a yellow brick road which symbolizes friendships to be made and offers a bright cheery mood to the set.
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