How did the Lion become the Wizard of Oz?
His caretaker, Oscar Diggs, was the man who would become the Wizard of Oz; this man took the Lion on a balloon ride one night, which resulted in the two becoming stranded in Oz. The film Oz the Great and Powerful shows Oscar Diggs driving away an attacking lion with a smoke bomb, suggesting that this lion is Dorothy's future companion.
How dangerous was the Wizard of Oz?
From the very beginning of filming, The Wizard of Oz was the site of all kinds of dangerous accidents and unsafe working conditions. For starters, the white snow that fell on the actors during the famous poppy field scene was actually pure asbestos.
What happened to the Lion in Dorothy Must Die?
From the 2014 Dorothy Must Die novel by Danielle Paige, an adaptation that is a dark sequel to the original Oz series where Dorothy and her friends have been corrupted by her use of magic and the gifts they received from the Wizard, the Lion has become a giant, brutal warrior who walks on his hind legs, draining the fear from others to increase ...
Who is the Cowardly Lion in Wizard of Oz?
Recent works and parodies. He is played by Raoul Trujillo The Cowardly Lion appears in Dorothy and the Witches of Oz played by Barry Ratcliffe. He appears on Earth in the form of Dorothy Gale's lawyer Bryan Jennings.
What happened to the Lion in Wizard of Oz?
In the end of the story the Cowardly Lion eventually received what he desired, and in Baum's subsequent Oz books he becomes one of the most respected and bravest beast in all of Oz.
When did the Lion from The Wizard of Oz died?
December 4, 1967Bert Lahr, original name Irving Lahrheim, (born August 13, 1895, New York, New York, U.S.—died December 4, 1967, New York City), American stage and screen actor who was best known for his dynamic portrayal of the Cowardly Lion in the film The Wizard of Oz (1939).
Was the Lion in The Wizard of Oz real?
The Cowardly Lion's costume weighed almost 100 pounds and was made with real lion pelts. His hefty tail was attached to a square block inside the Lion's backside." You can see it as he and the Tin Man scale the cliff to the Witch's castle.
What did the Lion get in Wizard of Oz?
But Dorothy's chums insist he keeps his promise. The Wizard presents the Scarecrow with a certificate, the Tin Man with a clock and the Lion with medals. He is a wise man who knows that the human qualities of brains, heart, and courage cannot be given. As such, he offers his gifts allegorically.
Is anyone still alive from Wizard of Oz?
LOS ANGELES — Jerry Maren, the last surviving munchkin from the classic 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" and the one who famously welcomed Dorothy to Munchkin Land, has died at age 99.
How old was Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz?
sixteenIn 1938 when she was sixteen, Garland was cast as the young Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939), a film based on the 1900 children's book by L. Frank Baum. In the film, she sang the song with which she would be constantly identified afterward, "Over the Rainbow".
How did the Cowardly Lion tail move?
How did the Lion's tail move? Look carefully in some scenes, and you can see for yourself. It was on a fishing line, and there was a man in the stage rafters with a fishing pole who would swish it around. Lahr would sometimes hold the tail, and those are the scenes where the line was let loose.
Why did Dorothy slap the Lion?
The Lion headed toward Toto, but Dorothy stopped him by slapping the Lion on its nose. The Lion stopped and apologized. He told the others that he made loud roaring sounds, so the other animals would not realize he was a coward. The Cowardly Lion decided to join the group.
Is Dorothy's hair real?
Judy Garland was originally supposed to wear a blonde wig and heavy baby doll makeup. However, the director decided to go with a natural look instead. 9. The Wicked Witch's makeup was toxic, so actress Margaret Hamilton lived on a liquid diet to avoid accidental ingestion.
What did Lion think he did not have?
The Lion said that he was a coward and thought that he did not have courage! The Lion said that it was a mystery and that he supposed that he was born that way. All the other animals in the forest naturally expect the Lion to be brave, for the Lion is everywhere thought to be the King of Beasts.
Does the Scarecrow have a brain?
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator W.W. Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one.
Why did the Tin Man want a heart?
The tinsmith replaced the woodsman's torso, but was unable to replace the heart. Now completely made of tin, but without a heart, the Tin Man became cold and indifferent to the girl and the marriage never occurred. He wants a heart so he can rekindle his love for the girl and marry her.
How much did the Wizard of Oz movie cost?
Budget. $2.8 million. Box office. $29.7 million. The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Often seen as one of the greatest films of all time, it is the most commercially successful adaptation of L. Frank Baum 's 1900 children's fantasy novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Who wrote the Wizard of Oz?
The songs were written by Edgar "Yip" Harburg and composed by Harold Arlen.
What is the difference between The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Wizard of Oz?
Among the many dramatic differences between the film and the novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, are the era (1900); the character of Dorothy Gale, who is not given an age in the novel but depicted as much younger than Judy Garland in the illustrations; and the magic slippers, which are Silver Shoes .
What year was the Wizard of Oz movie based on?
1939 movie based on the book by L. Frank Baum. "The Wizard of Oz (film)" redirects here. For other films with this title, see The Wizard of Oz (disambiguation) § Film. The Wizard of Oz. Theatrical release poster.
Where was Wizard of Oz filmed?
Filming for The Wizard of Oz started on October 13, 1938 on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio lot in Culver City, California, with Richard Thorpe as director, replacing original director Norman Taurog, who filmed a few early Technicolor tests and was then reassigned.
Who was the director of Oz?
On February 12, 1939, Fleming hastily replaced Cukor in directing Gone with the Wind. The next day, the studio assigned Fleming's friend, King Vidor, to finish directing The Wizard of Oz ( mainly the early sepia-toned Kansas sequences, including Garland's singing of " Over the Rainbow " and the tornado ). Although the film was a hit on its release, Vidor chose not to take public credit for his contribution until Fleming died in 1949.
Did Cukor shoot Gone with the Wind?
Cukor did not shoot any scenes for the film, but acted merely as a creative advisor to the troubled production. His prior commitment to direct Gone with the Wind required him to leave on November 3, 1938, when Victor Fleming assumed directorial responsibility. As director, Fleming chose not to shift the film from Cukor's creative realignment, as producer LeRoy had already expressed his satisfaction with the film's new course.
What happened to Hamilton's hand?
According to Yahoo Lifestyle, the emergency occurred as Hamilton suffered a second-degree burn on her face and a third-degree burn on her hand after the special effects team set the pyrotechnics off too early during the filming of her Munchkinland exit scene.
What happened to Danko's leg?
While shooting the famous "Surrender Dorothy" skywriting scene, Danko's left leg was injured when the Witch's broomstick (which was actually a smoking pipe) exploded. The Wizard of Oz stuntwoman spent nearly two weeks in the hospital and endured lifelong scars from the accident that sent her flying off the broom.
What was the Tin Man's replacement?
The Tin Man's replacement, Jack Haley, was painted with a less toxic aluminum paste but he still ended up with an eye infection from the silver makeup. This week marks 80 years since the 1939 Hollywood premiere of the beloved film “The Wizard of Oz.”.
Who played the Tin Man in the movie?
Dorothy (Judy Garland), the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) and the Tin Man (Jack Haley) were all covered with dangerous, 100% industrial-grade asbestos despite the fact that the health hazards of asbestos were known at the time. Asbestos exposure is associated with lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Did the special effects kill the cast of Wizard of Oz?
While MGM shelled out big bucks to produce the fantasy film, the Oscar-nominated special effects nearly killed several cast members, according to Time. In the book The Making of The Wizard of Oz, writer Aljean Harmetz noted that some of the dangerous special effects seen in the movie had never been attempted before.
How much did Wizard of Oz make?
The movie made $3 million at the time, a slim $300,000 over its budget, the highest ever for its studio. However, The Wizard of Oz ended up being the third biggest hit of the decade, behind Gone With the Wind and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, grossing $16 million in total.
Why does Dorothy get in over her head in the Wizard of Oz?
The Wizard of Oz makes Dorothy into an innocent damsel in distress, who gets in over her head in Oz in order to learn a lesson about family, one that convinces her to go back home. However, the books paint Oz as a credible refuge for Dorothy and make Dorothy into a much stronger character.
Why did Cukor throw out Dorothy's wig?
He wanted her down-to-earth radiance to be a counterpoint to the fantasy of Oz, giving the audience an emotional anchor to carry them through the film.
What were the scarecrows banned from?
Their getups were considered so frightening that Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley were banned from the MGM lunch room , not allowed to eat with the rest of the cast.
How did Jean Harlow die?
The studio planned on trading her for Clark Gable and Jean Harlow — but the deal got nixed when Harlow unexpectedly died of liver failure at 26. Recent reports suggest that the toxicity of Harlow’s hair dye may have been partly to blame for her untimely death. 3.
Why was the Tin Man so stiff?
Haley didn’t have a much easier time with his costume. In addition to getting an eye infection from the makeup, the get up for the Tin Man was incredibly stiff, in order to resemble tin. If Haley wanted to take a rest in the costume, he had to lean against something instead of sitting down.
What does the green in the wizard's eye mean?
In the original text, the characters are required to wear glasses that make everything appear green even though the city is “no more green than any other city.”. The green is a deception, like the wizard’s many other tricks, referred to as “humbugs” in the novel.
Who was the actress that did the skywriting for Wizard of Oz?
The studio still decided to go forward with the skywriting scene, hiring a stunt actress named Aline Goodwin to finish the take. Perhaps it was this level of dedication that made The Wizard of Oz the most popular film in movie history, but that is an achievement that certainly did not come without a price.
What was the white snow that fell on the actors during the poppy field scene?
For starters, the white snow that fell on the actors during the famous poppy field scene was actually pure asbestos.
Why did Ebsen bow out of the movie?
Ebsen had to be hospitalized due to the allergic reaction , and ultimately had to bow out of the film entirely. He suffered lifelong health effects and breathing problems as a result of his time as the Tin Man, and he never even got the chance to appear on screen.
What happened to Margaret Hamilton when the Wicked Witch leaves Munchkinland?
When the Wicked Witch leaves Munchkinland in a pyrotechnic display of fire and smoke, Margaret Hamilton was supposed to drop through a trapdoor. However, the door malfunctioned, and Hamilton suffered second and third degree burns on her face and hands.
How long did Hamilton have to take off from the Wicked Witch?
Hamilton had to take six weeks off to recover before she returned to the set, on the condition that she would not do any more scenes involving fireworks.
Did Haley get an eye infection?
The paint gave Haley an eye infection, however, and filming had to be delayed while he recovered. Luckily, Haley was able to keep the job, and he did not appear to suffer any long lasting effects from the Tin Man's makeup. Even more dramatic accidents also occurred while on set.
Overview
The Cowardly Lion is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is depicted as an African lion, but like all animals in Oz, he can speak.
Since lions are supposed to be "The Kings of Beasts," the Cowardly Lion believes that his fear makes him inadequate. He does not understand that courage me…
Books
The Cowardly Lion makes his first appearance in the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He is the last of the companions Dorothy befriends on her way to the Emerald City where he ambushes her, Toto, Scarecrow, and Tin Woodman. When he tries to bite Toto, Dorothy slaps him. She calls the Lion a coward and the Lion admits that he is. The Cowardly Lion joins her so that he can ask The Wizard fo…
Film portrayals
In the 1914 film His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz, the Cowardly Lion was played by Fred Woodward.
In the 1925 silent film The Wizard of Oz, directed and starring Larry Semon, the Cowardly Lion was played in disguise by Spencer Bell.
In the classic 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion was a humanoid
Recent works and parodies
• In the 1961 animated TV series, Tales of the Wizard of Oz and its sequel, the 1964 NBC animated television special Return to Oz, the Lion (here named Dandy Lion) was voiced by Paul Kligman.
• In a 1979 episode of The World's Greatest Super Friends, Wonder Woman temporarily became the Lion after a tornado took her, Superman, and Aquaman to Oz. While passing Mister Mxyzptlk’s dangerous landscape, she had lower legs of an African lion. She did not get returned to normal u…
Speculated origins
In the original Oz books, the Lion's origins were never explicitly stated. However, many works since then have either hinted at or revealed elements of backstory for the Cowardly Lion. Partly due to the large amount of written material about Oz, many of these stories are contradictory to each other or to the "Famous Forty" Oz books, and many fans do not accept them as canonical. The canonical books give no indication the Lion did not originate in Oz, essentially as a normal, i…
Political interpretations
Some historians, such as Henry M. Littlefield in American Quarterly, have suggested that Baum modeled the Cowardly Lion after politician William Jennings Bryan, or politicians in general.
See also
• Lions in literature
Overview
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. An adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's fantasy novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the film was primarily directed by Victor Fleming (who left the production to take over the troubled Gone with the Wind), and stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke and M…
Production
Production on the film began when Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) showed that films adapted from popular children's stories and fairytale folklore could still be successful. In January 1938, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought the rights to L. Frank Baum’s hugely popular novel from Samuel Goldwyn. Goldwyn had toyed with the idea of making the film as a vehicle for E…
Plot
Teenager Dorothy Gale lives on a Kansas farm owned by her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, who are assisted by three farm hands: Zeke, Hunk and Hickory. When Dorothy's dog Toto bites the wealthy Almira Gulch, Miss Gulch obtains a sheriff's order authorizing her to seize the dog to be euthanized. Toto escapes and returns to Dorothy, who runs away to protect her dog.
Cast
• Judy Garland as Dorothy
• Frank Morgan as Professor Marvel (also the Wizard of Oz/Gatekeeper/Carriage Driver/Guard)
• Ray Bolger as "Hunk" (also the Scarecrow)
• Bert Lahr as "Zeke" (also the Cowardly Lion)
Special effects, makeup and costumes
Arnold Gillespie, the film's special effects director, employed several visual-effect techniques. Developing the tornado scene was especially costly. Gillespie used muslin cloth to make the tornado flexible, after a previous attempt with rubber failed. He hung the 35 ft (11 m) of muslin from a steel gantry and connected the bottom to a rod. By moving the gantry and rod, he was able to create the illusion of a tornado moving across the stage. Fuller's earth was sprayed from both t…
Music
The Wizard of Oz is famous for its musical selections and soundtrack. Its songs were composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg. They won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow". The song ranks first in the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs and the Recording Industry Association of America's "365 Songs of the Century".
Post-production
Principal photography concluded with the Kansas sequences on March 16, 1939. Reshoots and pick-up shots were done through April and May and into June, under the direction of producer LeRoy. When the "Over the Rainbow" reprise was revived after subsequent test screenings in early June, Garland had to be brought back to reshoot the "Auntie Em, I'm frightened!" scene without the song. The footage of Blandick's Aunt Em, as shot by Vidor, had already been set aside for rear-pr…
Release
The film premiered at the Orpheum Theatre in Green Bay, Wisconsin on August 10, 1939. The first sneak preview was held in San Bernardino, California. The film was previewed in three test markets: in Kenosha, Wisconsin and Dennis, Massachusetts on August 11, 1939, and at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on August 12.