I think I first saw the Wizard of Oz when it was initially broadcast on American TV in 1956.
"produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), was first released in theatres on August 15, 1939. The film was then re-released nationwide in 1949, and once more in 1955. The Wizard of Oz was broadcast on television for the first time on Saturday, November 3, 1956. The film was shown as the last instalment of the CBS anthology series Ford Star Jubilee. Since that telecast, The Wizard of Oz has been shown by CBS, NBC, The WB, and several of Ted Turner's national cable channels. The film has never been licensed to any local affiliate broadcast TV station. From 1959 to 1991, the showing of The Wizard of Oz was an annual tradition on American commercial network television." From Wikipedia
The Wizard of Oz is a celebration of colour in its transition from the black and white of Kansas to the vivid colours of the land of Oz.
After the film's second broadcast on U.S. television, subsequent network telecasts became a highly anticipated family event for many. The Wizard of Oz drew large audiences annually for many decades.
The film was directed by Victor Fleming, with uncredited contributions from King Vidor and George Cukor. It stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, a young farm girl who, along with her dog Toto, is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas home to the magical Land of Oz.
Dorothy embarks on a quest to find the Wizard of Oz, who she believes can help her return home. Along the way, she meets a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) who desires a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) who yearns for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) who seeks courage. The four companions travel along the Yellow Brick Road, facing various challenges and encounters with the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) who seeks to steal Dorothy's ruby slippers and prevent her from reaching the Wizard.
The Wizard of Oz is considered one of the greatest films of all time, and it has been praised for its innovative use of color, memorable characters, and timeless songs such as "Over the Rainbow" and "We're Off to See the Wizard."
Just last week I loved seeing "We represent the Lollie Pop Guild" sung on The Big Bang Theory
2 comments:
Count me among those who watched it every year. It was always interesting to see what parts were included/excluded depending on how the edit worked to make it fit into the time slot!
Buried in Print- I think I could happily watch The Wizard of Oz once a month
Post a Comment