The Wizard of Oz 10 Facts – Behind the Classic

Released in 1939, The Wizard of Oz became one of the most recognizable films in movie history. Starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, the MGM musical brought L. Frank Baum's fantastical world to life with groundbreaking color, memorable songs, and some surprisingly difficult production challenges.

• Black to Color — The film famously shifts from sepia-toned Kansas to dazzling Technicolor Oz, making Dorothy's arrival feel like stepping into another world.
• Dorothy's Wig — Judy Garland was initially supposed to wear a blonde wig as Dorothy, but the idea was abandoned early in production.
• A Burning Entrance — Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch, suffered serious burns during filming when a special-effects sequence went wrong and her makeup caught fire.
• Very Hot Sets — Technicolor required enormous, powerful lights that could push the temperature on set above 100°F (38°C), making the long filming days even more exhausting.
• Multiple Directors — Victor Fleming is credited as director, but the troubled production also involved George Cukor and Norman Taurog, among others, during its development and filming.
• Toto Was Real — Dorothy's famous companion was played by a real Cairn Terrier named Terry, who reportedly became an important part of the production.
• A Huge Cast — MGM needed more than 100 performers to portray the Munchkins, including members of a European performing troupe and additional actors recruited through a talent search.
• Over the Rainbow — Judy Garland's performance of "Over the Rainbow" became the song most closely associated with her career and was later used as her entrance music for many performances.
• Not an Instant Hit — Despite becoming a beloved classic, the film initially struggled to make a profit because of its enormous production and promotion costs. It became profitable after later re-releases.
• A Lasting Legacy — The 1939 movie remains the best-known screen adaptation of Baum's story and helped make Oz, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion enduring parts of popular culture.

Think you know your Oz? Take the quiz and see how many of these behind-the-scenes facts you remembered!