The physical and verbal abuse that Garland went through on and off set was absolutely wild. "We wanted to provide a pristine internegative which accurately emulates the original Wizard of Oz, and provide an enduring film record for future generations to enjoy.". The picture's fine-grain master was stored at the Library of Congress. Principal photography of this fantastic adventure story began on October 13 with Richard Thorpe directing. At 79 years old, Billy Curtis height Dorothy flees with Toto but runs for home after talking to Professor Marvel, a fortune-teller and balloonist. I will return to work on one condition no more fireworks! 1957. WebLollipop Guild Members - Billy Bletcher, Lorraine Bridges, Jon Dodson, Jackie Gerlich, Bud Linn, Jerry Maren Mayor - Billy Bletcher Winged Monkies - Buster Brodie, Harry Cogg, Sid Dawson, Sig Frohlich, Harry Monty, Lee Murray, George Noisom, Jack Paul The trio (plus Toto, whose real name was Terry) approaches the Cowardly Lion's hunting grounds. In 1913, Baum founded the Oz Film Company in Hollywood and made three Land of Oz features, all of which failed. Billy Curtis on his work in High Plains Drifter (1973). Curtis became an advocate for equality, working with Billy Barty to pressure the Screen Actors Guild in the early 1970s to allow little people to have full union membership and voting privileges. Prior to that time, little people operated on waivers. Ebsen claimed to have breathing problems for the rest of his life because of "that damned movie. The script was based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which sold over a million copies and launched a long series of Oz books. ", In that time, the two makeup colors that studios had to be careful of were gold (because it was a concealer and closed the pores) and green (because of the copper). On the way she meets a Scarecrow who says he has no brain, a Tin Woodsman who claims to have no heart, and a lion who is a coward. Maren, now 94, is the last surviving Munchkin actor. What made it look pink was the idiosyncrasies of technicolor, a process that consists of the dye-transfer technique. That would equate to almost $2,300 per week in 2019. The Harold Arlen/E. No, you have no eye vision issues. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Director Victor Fleming's 1939 classic has made an indelible imprint on American pop culture, giving us durable metaphors ("the yellow brick road") and memorable lines ("We're not in Kansas anymore"). is 4 2 . Let's disclose the ones surrounding the episodic book. Phil Feiner, president of the optical division of Pacific Title/Mirage, reminds us that the first two reels of Oz, as well as the last, are black-and-white. He also appeared as Little Oscar in Oscar Mayer ads and as Buster Brown for the shoe company. "When we scanned our dupe at full film resolution, there was no loss in image quality. Marcel Delgado, the sculptor and technician who had made the models for The Lost World and King Kong, cast the bodies in rubber over aluminum armatures, with hinges for the wings. 1961. The Wizard of Oz | Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Just livin the good life, he told the Los Angeles Times. In 1951, he was a mole-man in the dark George Reeves movie Superman and the Mole-Men. The picture was produced in 1938-39, with the Great Depression slowly grinding to a close and the specter of global war looming on the horizon. The Wizard of Oz | Margaret Hamilton was a character actress who played a lot of housemaids. Is that famous line from the film accurate? Based on the book by L. Frank Baum, it tells of Dorothy and her fantasy trip to the land of Oz where witches, scarecrows, lions and talking trees all exist. You might have misheard her because she yells out, "Fly, Fly, fly.". The men who were hired to play the winged monkeys were attached to ''bat wings'' and a small motor suited to power windshield-wipers. When a Los Angeles city councilman proclaimed Feb. 12, 2013, as Jerry Maren Day, the actor was asked to reveal his secret for longevity. ", Billy Curtis, one of the Munchkin actors, remembered the event, saying, "They had to clean him off like he was a baby." (At press time, that decision had yet to be made.). Half of the time we were hanging from the ceiling, but it was a way of life for us., Sid Luft, Judy's third husband, wrote in his memoir that Judy, "unlike other actresses, could not successfully camouflage extra weight, especially because she was dancing and singing in revealing costumes. This was back in the 1930s, so the only reason Hamilton returned to the production and didn't sue MGM's entire studio after the incident was because she knew it would ruin her acting career: "I know how this business works, and I would never work again. When Jack Haley replaced him, the studio started using a safer aluminum paste as makeup. A.I. Mon, Jan 01 1934 Sat, Jan 01 1955. Curtis' big movie season was 1938-39: he was cast in The Wizard of Oz (1939) (albeit with voice dubbed by Pinto Colvig) and as the cowboy hero of the all-dwarf western The Terror of Tiny Town (1938). Judy Garland was put on a strict diet which was monitored by people specially hired to watch her by Louis B. Meyer. The Wizard of Oz | Margaret Hamilton, on the roof, awaits her cue while Jack Haley's Tin Man has a heart-to-heart with Dorothy and the Scarecrow. Two effects units operated within Cedric Gibbons' art department. Spotlessly clean. One of our people [Vince Roth] had worked in the MGM Labs optical department for 27 years, and he remembered an optical camera operator who had worked on those conversions. LeRoy wanted Ed Wynn, who felt that the part was too small. The front-projection process used today had not been developed at that time, but the close-up registered effectively on the steam in one of the larger projected images that had been attempted in color. Toto was paid much more than the three munchkins. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The only reason she didn't sue the studio was because "I know how this business works, and I would never work again. The digital artists were then able to flip the display between the source material and the processed images. The film's director slapped Judy Garland. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly American setting, a delightfully levelheaded and assertive heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature. Was the tin man shown to us not the original one? The images themselves were recorded simultaneously onto three strips of a special black-and-white film custom-made by Kodak: one strip was sensitized to record the density of cyan colors, another was sensitized to yellow and a third to magenta. ", Judy told biographer Paul Donnelly that they'd give her and Mickey Rooney, whom she made several pictures with, the pills "to keep us on our feet long after we were exhausted then knock us out with sleeping pills then after four hours theyd wake us up and give us the pep pills again so we could work 72 hours in a row. Offers may be subject to change without notice. A tornado whisks young Kansas native Dorothy and her dog Toto away to the magical land of Oz, where they befriend a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion on their journey to visit the wonderful Wizard of Oz in this beloved classic. The house has squashed the Wicked Witch of the East. This was done in exchange for allowing Clark Gable and Jean Harlow to star in Fox's Old Chicago film. In regards to having bathroom attendants, Margaret Pellegrini, one of the last surviving Munchkin actors, added that it was "the first time I'd ever had anybody help me go to the bathroom. WebThe Wizard of Oz. 1966. He was replaced by Victor Fleming, a hard-boiled former cinematographer. By manipulating the car, the effects experts could make the tornado twist and perform erratic moves. If you liked our suggestions for Wizard of Oz facts, then why not take a look at bigfoot facts or Calculator facts. If one scans a full-aperture anamorphic frame in full color, the file size would run about 45 megabytes. The heat was enormous and was especially torturous for the actors in their heavy costumes. The result was that there were scratches, embedded dirt and other anomalies copied onto the fine-grain master in 1960. The highest paying actor from the cast seems to be Ray Bolger, the Scarecrow, and Jack Haley, the Tin Man, earning $3,000 per week. Throughout the next few years, MGM started prescribing Garland even more pills to "control both her weight and her energy levels. She made, The "snowstorm" that took place in the poppy field scene was actually, Betty Danko, the Wicked Witch's stunt double, spent, Hal Roach Studios / Wikipedia/ Public Domain /, Shirley Temple was originally promised the role of Dorothy, but the deal ultimately, According to Judy Garland's biographer, her, The studio executives at MGM treated Judy Garland so terribly that they often, And the head of the studio forced Judy on a, 23 Shocking And Unexpected Movie Facts You Didn't Know Until Now, 23 Shocking And Unexpected Christmas Movie Facts You Didn't Know Until Now. He is from MA. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Harry Earles, Jerry Maren, and Jackie Gerlich, who became the Lollipop Guild kids in Munchkinland. Adjusted for inflation, that's $898 by 2021's standards. Scroll to Crew. There is a reason behind it. | Feiner notes that the original Technicolor imagery can be re-created by making separate passes with each of the three strips directly onto an answer print. There was a trap door on set that didn't open fast enough, so Hamilton got caught in the flames. Glinda tells her she can go home if she clicks the heels of the ruby slippers and thinks "There's no place like home" three times. Y. Harburg songs, especially "Over the Rainbow," were well-received. He told her to take the scenes seriously and get it done. Ebsen claimed to have breathing problems for the rest of his life because of "that damned movie.". Adjusted for inflation, that's just over $900 in today's world. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Are you also in awe of the blue and white combination gingham Dorothy wore in the Wizard of oz? WebThe Wizard of Oz (1939) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Then, MGM Studios managed to cut a deal to borrow Shirley Temple for The Wizard of Oz, the silent film. Later, Hamilton's stunt double, Betty Danko, was badly injured while riding (on wires) the witch's smoke-spitting broomstick. Apparently, they spent most of their time after work at bars and "were disorderly as hell, yelling and screaming." Safety nets and pads usually saved the day, although several "monkeys" landed in the hospital. He was paid $50 a week; the dog that playedToto, meanwhile, got $125. The mass of wires more than 1,000 altogether necessitated numerous retakes due to breaks. Chances are that no film has been seen by more people than The Wizard of Oz. The actor, who stayed active in show business long after Dorothy had returned to her home in Kansas, died May 24 at an assisted-care facility in the San It was rigged to move the full length of the 200' stage. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Everything that could have gone wrong during the making of this movie DID go wrong. Wizard of Oz was nominated for several Academy Awards and is a two-time Oscar-winning movie today. Jerry Maren, the last surviving adult Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, has died. While shooting for an iconic scene where the wicked of the west, Margaret Hamilton, had to make a grand entrance, which involved fire. The bottom of the funnel was anchored in a hidden slot that ran the length of the stage. Temple was signed to 20th Century Fox, and for years she was expected to star in some type of Oz film series. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) American Society of Cinematographers. This was because the producers thought the song to be too slow and not interesting enough for the children, and also, the studio head Louis B was of the view that the song was depressing. If we had scanned from the original fine-grain, we would have copied the abrasion and emulsion digs and that would have required extensive digital paintwork. To make this happen, a pipe was attached to the bicycle seat saddle on the broomstick, but during one of the practice runs the pipe exploded: "I felt as though my scalp was coming off. Crew. However, during one of the test runs, the pipe exploded. Casting of the Wizard was more complicated. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. WebPlayed one of the Munchkins in the film "The Wizard of Oz" CREDITS Broadway; Every Man for Himself (Dec 09, 1940 - Dec 11, Curtis [Little Boy] PlayOriginal. So, how much is Billy Curtis worth at the age of 79 years old? As the group passes through the Haunted Forest, Dorothy and Toto are seized by flying monkeys who carry them away to the Witch's castle. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Georgina Onuorah has been announced as the lead role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz this summer, produced by Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group.. I believe we bring a unique film aesthetic to the use of digital tools for restoration.". Soon after, the press stated that Temple not being cast as Dorothy was the greatest disappointment of her brief and eminently griefless career. A few decades after that, Shirley Temple commented on the fact that Judy Garland had been picked for the movie and graciously said, Sometimes the gods know best., Throughout the next few years, MGM started prescribing her even more pills to "control both her weight and her energy levels. Glinda tells Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, where a powerful Wizard can help her get back to Kansas. ", Sidney Luft also wrote in his memoir that the older male Munchkin actors apparently "thought they could get away with anything because they were so small." Bolger mugs with Mickey Rooney, the MGM star of the Andy Hardy movies who was Garland's frequent costar. That figure surprises those who only remember the black-and-white footage from the scene in which Dorothy opens the door of her Auntie Em's house to discover that a tornado has transported her to a Technicolor universe. Age information for actors in the movie The Wizard Of Oz, released on Tuesday, August 15 1939. But this was the 9th adaptation of the book 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.' Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. Aug. 15, 1939: The west-coast premiere of The Wizard of Oz at Grauman's Theater in Los Angeles. Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. With Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney hosting screenings at Loew's Capitol Theater, it set house records. Given the possible inclusion of the extra sequence, Pacific Title/Mirage was responsible for scanning some 44,500 frames (of the approximately 85,000 in the original 101-minute movie) for image processing, and then recording them back onto film. While that film was still in production, it was announced that The Wizard of Oz would also be filmed in Technicolor. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice was first considered for the Good Witch, but the final choice was Billie Burke, Ziegfeld's widow. Feiner opted to make a contact liquid-gate dupe negative of the fine-grain IP, which eliminated the worst of the abrasions and emulsion digs. The book 'Amazing Wizard of Oz' was published in July 1900, and the film was released in 1939. "We're proud of our history," Feiner says, "which includes a large amount of the optical restoration work on the Star Wars trilogy. Pacific Title was founded in Los Angeles in 1919, the very same year that the ASC came into being. Billy Curtis. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. We have estimated In that time, the 1970s, to be more precise, Kurt Warner was the set designer, and he also assisted in wardrobe management in Hollywood during the 1970s. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. TelevisaUnivision Taps Becky G for Upfront Performance (Exclusive), Former ABC News/Disney Exec Marie Nelson Named Hot Docs Fest President, James Gunn Created 600 Unique Versions of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 For Various Types of Cinemas (Exclusive), Sylvester Stallone Sets Cliffhanger Reboot With Angel Has Fallen Director, GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to The First Slam Dunk, Wes Anderson Directing Star Wars? It sort of closed the pores in my face, and when the lights got real hot and ate up all the oxygen I couldn't breathe." All of the original three-strip Technicolor film from that period was recorded on a potentially flammable nitrate-based emulsion. The Beverly Hillbillies was initially cast as the Scarecrow, but he swapped roles with Ray Bolger. (A few children were used as a well.). Also learn how He earned most of Billy Curtis networth? The actual ball was about 8" in diameter and was not moved while being photographed. A preponderance of shiny surfaces, such as the Tin Man's metallic suit, the big prop emeralds, and even the sequined red slippers, caused problems by creating distracting reflections. WebThe Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical comedy-drama fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. WebThe Wizard of Oz. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. WebCaptain of the Winkie Guard (uncredited) Buster Brodie Winged Monkey (uncredited) Ethelreda Leopold Emerald City Manicurist (uncredited) Billy Curtis Munchkin Jimmy the Crow (uncredited) On the paper attached to the frame, he wrote, "With this pencil, I wrote the manuscript of The Emerald City." The movie rights were fought over between several studios, but MGM ultimately got the rights. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. There was a lot of drama about casting over the next few years, and the part ultimately went to Judy Garland. The big cloud of dust that surrounds the bottom of a twister was made by blowing Fuller's earth and compressed air in from underneath. A few scenes, such as the establishing shot of the witch's castle, are complete paintings, 40 inches wide and without live action. Billy Curtis. One of his early roles was uncredited as a Munchkin city father in The Wizard of Oz (1939). He had a featured role as part of the circus troupe in Alfred Hitchcock's Saboteur (1942). He also appeared in Superman and the Mole Men (1951), a B-Picture intended as the pilot for the Adventures of Superman TV series. Others who were considered included Victor Moore, Hugh Herbert, Robert Benchley and Charles Winninger. at the Wyndham's Theatre. '", The studio rightfully ruled that it would be unacceptable to use real paint on the horses during the Emerald City scene. This one twisted and careened wildly. TMZ first reported the news of his death. "That eliminates the major source of cell abrasions and emulsion digs, which can occur during the duping or printing process. The Wizard of Oz | Casting Garland was a risk, but no one ever doubted her voice. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. And if you're curious, one of the costumes for the Cowardly Lion sold for over $3 million at a New York auction a few years ago. One of his most unusual roles was as the smaller version of "The Thing" (replacing James Arness) in the creature's final scene in The Thing from Another World (1951). Jack Haley was the last one to join the cast. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? They also made several complete Technicolor features and shorts in the late 1920s and early '30s. It is basically a morality film that teaches if you have hope, anything is possible. The huge camera moved smoothly and quietly over the well-lubricated tracks. The artisans also compensated for yellow dye fading. The studio's next choice was W.C. Fields a mind-boggling concept! The digital restoration work was executed on Silicon Graphics 02 platforms and several dual-processor Octanes running Matador Paint and Cineon applications software. Stories of randy Munchkinland behavior, like the anecdotes Judy Garland told frequently in her later. "We assembled and trained a staff with the appropriate skills and film sensibilities, plus the dedication needed to do the job properly," Feiner says. With Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney hosting screenings at Loew's Capitol Theater, it set house, The Wizard of Oz | Aug. 15, 1939: The west-coast premiere of The Wizard of Oz at Grauman's Theater in Los Angeles. The original look involved a blonde wig and makeup, but this was soon changed. He was perfect for the Cowardly Lion. Billy Curtis' career thrived into the 1970s, notably with solid parts in the Clint Eastwood western High Plains Drifter (1973) and the crime-caper melodrama Little Cigars (1973), in which he had second billing as a diminutive criminal mastermind. Stormy skies were created with dense smoke fed from the catwalks, while patches of spray-painted cotton attached to 8' x 4' foreground glass plates were placed in front of the camera to mask the top of the tornado and the gantry. "The supervisor, Mark Freund, has been a great optical camera operator for us for years.". If he ever found out that she ventured from what he wanted (like when he'd catch her sneaking in a milkshake), he'd give her "diet pills to speed her up and reduce her appetite. After reading about some interesting Wizard of Oz facts, including the story around the Tin Man dance, also check out wind vane facts and world bank facts. This is how the executive at MGM referred to Judy Garland. The most interesting fact is he framed the pencil that L. Frank Baum used to write the book. MGM wanted 10-year-old Shirley Temple instead. Maren now rests in the Court of Remembrance in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood, right below actress Sandra Dee, Decker said. Buddy Esben was to play the role, but while nearing the end of the shoot for the role, his lungs failed, and he was rushed to the hospital. The final method that worked was Jell-O powders. Most producers were reluctant to go forward with color films even after the much-improved three-color process was introduced in 1934. In 1984, a copy was struck from one of those intermediates. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. In contrast to their choices for their actors, the studio chose a safer option to paint the horses. With those words, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer introduced what became the most popular Technicolor fantasy ever made, The Wizard of Oz. A silent version of the book was made in 1910 by Selig Polyscope Company, which, if you want to have a look at it, is available on the internet. Impulse Pictures is proud to present APHRODISIAC! But the costumes were so unhandy.". During the process, one of the trap doors was stuck; consequently, Hamilton received second-degree burns on her face and third-degree burns on her hands. Dye fading is not inherent to the Technicolor three-strip process. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. Release Dates That was then considered to be the archival master. Encouraged by stock company actress Shirley Booth to take a little person role in a stage production, Curtis soon became a professional actor, with numerous Broadway musical productions to his credit. Each model required two wires for the bodies and two for flapping the wings. The film opened in New York on Aug. 17, 1939. In commercials, Maren picked up a paycheck as Mayor McCheese and the Hamburglar for McDonalds. This does not influence our choices. But much to the disappointment of its makers, the film did not do very well at the box office. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Sat, Jun 10 1922 Billy | and Girl of the Golden West. The actor, who stayed active in show business long after Dorothy had returned to her home in Kansas, died May 24 at an assisted-care facility in the San Diego area, his nephew Lloyd Decker confirmed toThe Hollywood Reporter. | The farmhouse, which was about 3' high, was swept aloft on piano wires. Fleming was one five directors who worked on Oz , but he left before it finished to take over, The Wizard of Oz | Fleming with actors Billy Curtis (left) and Charlie Becker (right). Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! The last one who died in 2018 was Jerry Maren, one of the adult Munchkins. were photographed separately and double-printed onto the spinning background. FAQ. "Some people say 3K, or even 2K, and 8-bit log space per pixel is sufficient, but this film is an important part of our heritage and culture," he says. Gillespie was also called in to photograph scenes in the poison poppy field, for which it was necessary to have the camera move along the ground surrounded by flowers. Jack Young, one of the movie's makeup artists, revealed that the green paint that was used to cover Hamilton's body was actually toxic because it had copper in it: "Every night when I was taking off the Witch's makeup, I would make sure that her face was thoroughly clean.
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