Wizard of Oz - Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: The Wizard of Oz is an American musical fantasy film directed in 1939 by Victor Fleming. It is based off of a 1900 novel. It is 103 minutes long and is about a girl who gets trapped in a tornado and can not find her way home. She meets friends along the way and they try to find a wizard so that they can get Dorothy home.

Question #1:  How does the color and sepia tone make this film so much more successful than without color?

The movie opens with Dorothy in Kansas and with a sepia tone. This shows that her life is somewhat simple and boring and nothing different from the ordinary (sort of how films without color were during that time). After Dorothy steps into her new world, everything changes and everything is in color. There is so much color that get the viewer excited and in awe, just as Dorothy is. The color change shows the change from her old home to the place she is now and how different her life will be. The new place she is in is filled with color and adventure. She must follow the yellow brick road to get where she has to go and the color of the road is actually yellow. This was a huge advancement for movies at the time. The Wizard of Oz lives in a shiny green castle to show that he is supposed to be wealthy. 

Question #2: The music in the Wizard of Oz is still famous to this day and used in theater plays. Why was the music such a great choice for this film?

The music is very upbeat and happy and gives off a similar vibe to the one of the film having color. When Dorothy is in Kansas, the music played is different and more slow. While those songs have become famous as well, they are not as upbeat and fun as the ones while Dorothy is in the Emerald City. Music was also used to make the film more excited to explain what was going on rather than just speaking. The songs were very catchy and informative at the same time. For example, the Scarecrow sings, “If I Only Had a Brain.” He sings to inform the viewer that he wishes he had a brain and would like to join Dorothy to find the Wizard of Oz to get a brain. Doing so through song is much more entertaining and makes the viewer more intrigued and the movie becomes more enjoyable.