"What's your favorite movie?"
Ask anyone in the film world, you might as well be asking to spit in the face of all other cinema and worship one holy entity.
Being a film major, I must remain pretentious. I have a Letterboxd, the top social media platform for cinephiles, donned with my four favorite films on my profile that I feel encapsulates my tastes. Depending on who's asking, my "favorite" could cater to many audiences; film bros, weirdos, or just overall mass appeal. There's Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010), Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You (2018), The Daniels' Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), then Victor Fleming's The Wizard of Oz (1939).
This last one may show a slightly ostracizing, over 70-year gap, but I actually think it fits pretty well with the others for my zeal for magical realism. My river of wizardry runs deep, and this post, my first of my newly minted summer vacation, will be a sweet ode to my adoration of The Wizard of Oz.
My parents love me, they really do, yet I've created this lore of sorts from the early part of my life that simply amuses me and I dare say it might amuse you, too:
There once was a channel on our living room TV that played The Wizard of Oz every night. My parents are busy people, my dad packing for trips and my mom running every operation needed to keep the house NOT on fire. I was a pretty active child, always moving and playing pretend, making worlds in my head I called my own. At night, when playtime was over but my child brain still needed stimulation, to keep me out of their hair, Mom and Dad sat me in front of the telly and immersed me in a world I felt was created for me: The Land of Oz.
A themed birthday party, a Halloween costume, a complete set of the collectable Barbies, and my passion for film further solidifying my life's purpose later, I now find myself in film school and owe a large chunk of this destination to the work of Victor Fleming. I know I'm not alone in making this film my personality, shoutout Victoria Calamito (@theozvlog) for being my newfound pioneer of all things Oz-core. The richness of cultural influence this story travels a century and a quarter, all starting with L. Frank Baum, the author of THE The Wizard of Oz in 1900.
Then 1939 with Fleming and Judy Garland, her legacy deserving of its own post entirely.
Then 1978 with Sidney Lumet, Diana Ross, and Michael Jackson in The Wiz.
Then 2003 with Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Mensel in Wicked on Broadway, which the world widely anticipates to be followed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in its first film adaptation this Thanksgiving.
And just because this is my blog, I add my personal revival of infatuation from child to teenhood with Danielle Paige's book series Dorothy Must Die (2013-17).
As you can see, there's many a name to thank for the consistent provisions of Baum's story and the universe it created, but I mostly made this post out of quasi-celebration due to the fact that I finally read the original book AND got to see the film for the first time in theaters this year. I feel like I've sealed a rite of passage in my lifelong fandom, and I know there's still just as much of that brick road to go.
ABOUT THAT BOOK...
The book is a lot darker, swarmed with commentary of its era that I actually learned about more in-depth in my history class last semester, so maybe school can be fun! I attached the video we watched if you're interested in some not-so-subliminal messaging through Baum's book.
When I say dark, it's disturbing at points.
The Tin Woodman's curse leaving his human body limbless, a backstory that's been warped by canon (*cough cough* Wicked), yet still leaves a haunt from an early 20th century CHILDREN'S novel. Different era, yada yada yada, it's FREAKY.
There's also a lot less intermittent intervention/sabotage from the Wicked Witch, seeing that Dorothy is given a kiss of protection from Glinda, a point turned to the electric shock from her ruby red slippers (silver in the book) in Fleming's film. Don't worry, these rising action bouts are made up for when there's devices such as a wish-granting cap, an unsettling delusion of the Emerald City I simply can't spoil, and creatures known as KALIDAHS, those with a body of a bear and a head of a tiger, which I won't even try to refute as the origin of the iconic LIONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS line of the film. A perfectly pleasant read, and worth the skim 1000% for the culture, for the diehards, and just to see the pioneership of the story.
Some golden quotes I grabbed in my notes:
"I have always thought myself very big and terrible; yet such small things as flowers came near to killing me, and such small animals as mice have saved my life."
"The Witch did not bleed where she was bitten, for she was so wicked that the blood in her had dried up many years before."
...TO THE BIG SCREEN.
Y'all. Her dress had pockets. These are dictionary-definition VALUABLE things you miss on the small screen. MIND-BLOWING. I smiled ear to ear from beginning to end, sang along to every song, and, un- or just fortunately, realized my first on-screen crush was indeed the Scarecrow. A goofy, gangly man who loves to dance, what can I say? I was also introduced to the aforementioned Oz Vlog, who gave a beautiful and doting pre-show feature honoring the movie well. Please give her socials a look when you get the chance, she's real impressive. Also shoutout to one of my best friends Alan who braved this viewing alongside my manic self kicking my feet and giggling the whole time. Go see the classics when they're put back in theaters. It is the honest-to-god truest way of experiencing it. Listen to your elders.
Peep my subtly themed crewneck. Shoutout Doc's Records always.
All in all, it's safe to say I owe a whole lot of who I am today to my upbringing with The Wizard of Oz, and this post only shows a more public declaration of this. My love for film and all the opportunities that may come of it: this film remains firmly rooted as the seed planted. I do it for her.
I leave y'all with my favorite quote from the film as a reminder to all:
And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.
This summer is gonna be big for the blog. I can just feel it. Looking forward to y'all continuing to give me a skim.
Cheers (and HAGS),
Mo!!!!!!!
Comments