Without a doubt, The Wizard of Oz is one of the most-watched movies of the past century. It was a huge commercial success, grossing over $24 million in the United States. Back in 1939, that was a huge amount! Of course, it also touched the lives of many children from different generations.
The film was directed by Victor Fleming, and it was a film adaptation of the children’s book called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. However, those are things that everyone knows about the movie. We shall now be going through some lesser-known facts that even the most-hooked fans might not have heard of!
Isn't She Pretty In Pink?
Most of the costumes used in the film were designed by MGM’s Gilbert Adrian, including Dorothy’s famed dress. We're all used to seeing Dorothy strolling around in her light blue dress with her friends. However, the dress wasn’t all blue.
At that time, they were using their then-innovative method of Technicolor to shoot the film. As a result, it was easier for them to shoot with a light blue and light pink dress instead of a blue and white one. Although it wasn’t all pink, like in the picture, most folks don’t realize that it wasn’t white at all!
‘Fly My Pretties Fly’ Was Never A Line In The Film
Arguably, one of the most memorable and iconic scenes in this film involved the Wicked Witch. It was when she sends out her army of flying monkeys to get Dorothy. However, there does seem to be some misconceptions about the line that she uses to command them.
There are many references in popular culture wanting her to be saying ‘Fly my pretties fly’. But upon re-watching the film, one can see that she’s just telling them to ‘Fly! Fly! Fly!’. Although the scene may create an urge to call an exterminator on her, she doesn’t ever call them pretty. She did, however, used the word on Dorothy once.
From Silver To Ruby Red
Many pairs of slippers were made for this movie. As a matter of fact, no one knows exactly how many. Currently, there are five that have been known to survive. One of them was stolen from the museum where it was being showcased in 2005. But it was eventually recovered in 2018.
The slippers, though, were originally thought off and designed to be silver. Their color only changed when the movie was being filmed. The screenwriter Noel Langley thought they’d look better on Technicolor if they were made on the characteristic ruby color. Nowadays, even Lady Gaga is said to own a pair of the originals.
The Tin Man-Scarecrow Conspiracy
Now, this is a tricky part. Practically every legendary film has gone through some production issue while being filmed. Buddy Ebsen or Jed from the Beverly Hillbillies series was cast to play the role of Scarecrow by MGM. However, for some reason, he switched roles with Ray Bolger, who was playing the Tin Man role at the time.
As it turned out, the excessive makeup that Buddy had to wear made him ill. Enough so that he would be hospitalized and have breathing problems for the rest of his life. He didn’t end up playing in the film, and Jack Haley came to substitute him.
The Sweetest Tears Known To Man
As you now know already, the production had some issues with the Tin Man role. But once they were all solved, the result was amazing. To this day, it’s one of the most memorable characters ever created out there. As required by the script, there was a great emphasis put on him and his feelings.
Even though he’s thought to have been crying machine oil, as it turned out, the oil wasn’t looking exceptional on camera. The production ended up spending much time trying to find a way so that his tears looked more compelling. They ended up using chocolate syrup to shoot the scenes.
Terry, The Well-Paid Dog
The film had many characters that are remembered as fan-favorites, and arguably, Toto was one of them. Toto was a female Cairn Terrier called Terry. She lived between 1933 and 1945 and was one of the best-known dog actresses in Hollywood! She was so famous that she earned more than many human actors out there!
To be exact, Terry was then earning $125 per week, while many actors were earning anywhere from just $50 to $100! Terry ended up having her name permanently changed to Toto after the film’s success and went on to play in 16 other films. There's a memorial dedicated to her at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
...And This Pooch Was Even Better-Paid Than The Munchkins!
Munchkinland is probably one of the most unforgettable cities in the movie. Its people, the Munchkins, were described to be of the same height as Dorothy, so actors with short stature were cast as well as average-sized children. The Singer Midgets performing group was also part of the cast.
As it turns out, despite how famous the group was back in those days, they only earned around $50 a week—less than Toto! As if that wasn’t enough, it is speculated that their manager Leo Singer kept half of their weekly pay to himself!
The Munchkins' Legacy Today
The Munchkins went on to play an incredibly important role outside of the movie. It was arguably the first-ever large meeting of little people in the United States, a gathering which eventually led to the creation of an organization. The Little People of America was founded some years after the film was finished.
Nowadays, the organization has over 6,000 members as of 2010 and has done incredible work in bettering the lives of people with dwarfism as well as their families. One of the founders was Billy Barty. He wasn’t part of the film’s cast, but he's had quite a successful career as an actor himself.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow Was Almost Axed Out Of The Film
There is absolutely no doubt that Somewhere Over the Rainbow is a great song. It has influenced and inspired generations of people since the film was released. But would you believe that the song was almost not included in The Wizard of Oz?!
In one of the preliminary cuts of the film, some of the producers and creators thought the song was irrelevant and slow. Thankfully, some insisted on it staying. The song went on to become the greatest legacy that the film has left behind, and one of the best songs ever used in Hollywood.
A Dark Urban Legend Surrounding One Particular Scene
Many stories are being told about the film and its making. Yet, this is probably one of the most absurd ones out there. In the scene where Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow skip down the Yellow Brick Road, there's a strange shadow visible in the background. Many people who saw the film quickly made up their own theories.
For some reason, the one that stuck the most was about a Munchkin who allegedly committed suicide on the spot. The truth is that they had hired some birds from the Los Angeles Zoo to roam the studios. What we see there is but a crane moving its wings.
The Witch Had To Enter A Hospital
Most of the special effects used to make the movie included some brand-new techniques, and some of them went horribly wrong. In fact, most of the on-set incidents happened during the fiery entrances and exits of the Wicked Witch in Munchkinland.
Margaret Hamilton had to be hospitalized for six weeks after suffering second and third-degree burns on her face and hands. Also, her double’s broom exploded while filming, landing her in the hospital for eleven days! Thankfully, they both fully recovered. Margaret was brave enough to come back on set to film the remainder of the scene.
Her Makeup Was Lethal
We’ve already gone through how the Tin Man's makeup was toxic. However, the one used on Margaret, who played the evil witch, wasn’t any better. In fact, the copper-based makeup was so toxic when ingested that she had to be specially fed while wearing it.
Even though such full-face changes are harmless nowadays, back then, it was an entirely different story. For weeks after the filming had already concluded, Margaret was tinged green! Good thing, unlike the first Tin Man, Margaret didn’t suffer any life-long conditions from all the green makeup used on her.
... And Her Scenes Were Cut Off
As if everything that Margaret Hamilton had gone through while filming the movie weren’t enough, many of her scenes and lines were eventually cut off. Although she will forever be remembered for playing the iconic villain, many of her scenes were deemed too scary for little children.
As a result, at least a dozen of her lines were changed. Many of her actual scenes were completely cut or altered for the final version of the film, as well. That’s not to say that what’s left wasn’t scary, though, because they still gave us the chills.
The Professor And The Wizard Were The Same Person
To be fair, this is a better-known fact, but many people fail to realize how many roles Frank Morgan played exactly in the film. He was, of course, the person that played the role of the wonderful Wizard of Oz. But on top of that, he was also the fortune-telling Professor Marvel.
Frank was definitely a legend. Although he suffered from his addiction to alcohol, that never stopped him from being a professional while filming. He passed away a decade after the film was released when he had a heart attack while filming Annie Get Your Gun.
...And So Where Three Other Characters
As if two major roles weren’t enough, Frank also got to play three other characters for the movie. He played the Gatekeeper at the Wizard’s Palace, the Guard, and the Carriage Driver from the Emerald City. What is absolutely certain is that the film wouldn't have been the same without Frank in it.
As Margaret Hamilton once said, he often used to carry around a small briefcase with anything he might need in it—including his drinks for the day! As he passed away before the film’s television premiere, Frank sadly didn’t get to witness how impactful The Wizard of Oz had become.
A Clothing Coincidence So Great, No One Believed It!
Much like every other aspect of the film, the clothing department had its hands full. Every character of the movie had to look a specific way, and the clothes had an important part to play in it. For Professor Marvel’s role, they wanted him to wear clothes that seemed to have once dripped of elegance.
They went on a second-hand store nearby and bought an entire rack of old coats to choose from. The coat that made the cut had a label on its pocket signed for L. Frank Baum, the actual writer of the story. Both his tailor and his widow confirmed it was his.
Many Folks Didn't Believe It Was Actually L. Frank Baum's Coat
Once the story of the coat was made public, many people argued that it was but a publicity stunt. After all, what are the odds of it actually happening? L. Frank Baum died in 1919, two decades before the film was released. The incident was dubbed as one of the greatest lies ever told for publicity.
On the other hand, its very existence was reaffirmed by many of the films’ cast members. In The Making of The Wizard of Oz book, the entire story surrounding the coat is explained. It even included how they tracked down Baum’s tailor and wife, whose words are still the only proof to this day.
Glinda The Good Had Good Genes
Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, was played by Billie Burke. Although unnoticeable, she was actually 54 years old at the time of the filming. What’s strange about it is that even head to head with Margaret Hamilton, the age difference is not visible!
Billie either had good genes or was using the perfect anti-aging product given how young she looked. In real life, she had an almost 18-year age difference from her enemy, the Wicked Witch. However, in the movie, it’s hardly visible. Billie passed away 31 years after the film was first released.
Ray Bolger's Unexpected Commitment To Scarecrow's Character
Believe it or not, in the beginning, there was some uncertainty regarding which role Ray Bolger should play. Of course, he eventually was assigned the character of Scarecrow. This role stuck around him a bit longer than anticipated—literally!
The mask which he had to wear was actually glued to his face. Having prosthetics glued on his face wasn't really a glamorous experience. And worse, after spending months at a time wearing it, his face ended up being morphed. For almost a year after the movie was finished, Ray's face was actually shaped like that of the Scarecrow’s character!
A Secret Connection With Snow White
Even though Snow White was released by Walt Disney and The Wizard of Oz by MGM, the two films are linked and have a hidden connection! In fact, both films were released at around the same time.
Adriana Caselotti might not have turned out to be an internationally known actress, but her voice might as well have been. She was the person who gave Snow White her singing voice. As it turned out, some years later, she went on to say the ‘Wherefore art thou, Romeo?’ line on the Tin Man's song, If I Only Had A Heart.
Judy Garland Wasn't Childlike Enough To Be Dorothy
The success that Judy Garland found with The Wizard of Oz was unimaginable. However, it wasn’t a walk in the park for her at all. Anyone who’s followed her later career and life knows about her addiction to pills and substances. After all, it later led to her death.
Judy had to lose weight and wear a special corset to make her body look more childlike while filming. She needed to have a slimmer figure and a smaller chest to look more like a child. She went on to win numerous accolades for the role. However, the film was arguably the one that had left her scarred the most.
She Was The Production's Third Choice For The Role
Despite how amazing Judy was in the film, she was actually not the first choice for the character. As a matter of fact, she wasn’t even the second one! The first person they considered to play the role of Dorothy was Shirley Temple, who was 11 years old at the time.
After Shirley declined, they asked Deanna Durbin, who also turned down the offer. That was when they decided to ask Judy to be part of the cast. As it turned out, her performance was so unique that she was even awarded the Juvenile Award by the Academy in 1939.
Can You Imagine Dorothy As A Blonde?
Many things changed as the movie was being filmed, and one of them was the way Dorothy looked. At first, the production pictured her to be blonde. So when Judy started out filming her first scenes, she had to wear a blonde wig. But shortly after, they decided it wasn’t necessary.
There was so much emphasis put on the way Dorothy looked that even her dress was specifically chosen to serve a purpose. Its gingham pattern was chosen to blur out Judy's body, making it look more childlike. As far as her hairstyle goes, thankfully, she didn’t have to wear that wig.
It Was 100ºF In The Land Of Oz
One of the difficulties that came with shooting in Technicolor was that everything had to be shot under very specific lighting conditions. The technique required the studio to be exceptionally lit, and the strong lights in the studio sometimes brought the temperatures up to 100ºF!
As if wearing these gigantic fur costumes wasn’t enough for most of the cast, they had to do it in such high temperatures as well! They production instructed them to drink loads of water. Some actors have even claimed to have suffered permanent eye damage from all the light.
The Cowardly Lion's Costume Was Made From Real Lions!
Although the entire movie was a masterpiece, one of the most mention-worthy transformations that happened for it was that of Bert Lahr's. He was lucky enough to be cast for the role of the Cowardly Lion, but no one warned him about what he would have to go through because of this role.
Bert's costume was made from real lion skin and fur. Plus, it weighed almost 100 pounds. Imagine having to wear that in 100 degrees heat! On top of that, his mask was made with foam latex, which was made by the exceptional makeup artist Jack Dawn. He was one of the first ones to use this method.
Garland And The Tin Man Became Briefly Related
This fact might not necessarily have anything to do with the film itself, but it can certainly be characterized as a happy coincidence. Years after the film was published, the young actors that participated in it eventually made their own families. Liza Minelli is one of Judy’s daughters, who was famous for playing in films like Cabaret.
She is 73 years old today and has gone through four marriages herself. One of them was to Jack Haley Jr.—Tin Man’s son! Jack Jr. was a producer and a director himself, and he was Liza’s second husband. They were married for five years in the ‘70s.
The Witch Before She Turned Wicked
Margaret Hamilton’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch might have been scary, but the truth is that she was actually a kindergarten teacher. That was her job before she became an actress. It is safe to say that Margaret was a sweetheart in real life. After all, she had acted both before and after the film.
Her fascination with acting started out at an early age. As a matter of fact, it was her parents that pressured her into studying it in the first place. She made her stage debut in her 20s, and by the age of 37, she was able to become incredibly famous for her acting skills.
Hollywood's Most Expensive Tornado
No matter how many years go by, the tornado scene in the film will always be considered as a special effects masterpiece. After trying out a couple of things to film the tornado (and failing), the production ended up creating a 35-foot-long shock made of muslin.
They used compressed hoses for the flying debris and filled the studio with dense clouds made of grey smoke. To this very day, the scene is highly realistic, and one of a kind. It cost them merely $12K to make the tornado alone. In 1938’s currency, that was definitely a gigantic amount!
The Crystal Ball Went Back To Its Creator
There was so much thought and experience put into making this film that even the crystal ball itself had its own story to tell. You'd be surprised to know that it was the same crystal ball that was in The Mask of Fu Manchu and Magician films in 1932.
Like much of the film’s memorabilia, the ball was last sold in 2010 for over $126K. It was handcrafted by a special effects specialist to have a diameter of almost 25 inches. For years, it was thought to be lost, but it was later found in a prop house owned by Kenneth Strickfaden, the person that created it.
The Wizard Of Oz Had A Hidden Tribute to L. Frank Baum
At the end of the film, when the Wicked Witch of the East is declared dead, the production only found it fitting to make a tribute for the story’s creator, L. Frank Baum. The very certificate used in the film marked the 18th anniversary of his death.
Although it’s not visible in the film, the certificate of death that the munchkin holds in his hands writes the date May 6, 1938. Baum passed away on May 6, 1919, at the age of 62 after suffering a stroke. His remains lie in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale.