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. Additionally, The production company was Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). ", Billy Curtis, one of the Munchkin actors, remembered the event, saying, "They had to clean him off like he was a baby." Just 4 feet 11.5 inches, she could be underweight and still appear heavy or out of proportion on screen.. He is from MA. They were flown on piano wires and their wings were made to flap by means of small hidden motors. Everything that could have gone wrong during the making of this movie DID go wrong. 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. 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. WebHeck, even midget Billy Curtis (THE WIZARD OF OZ, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER) shows up to give his thoughts on pot. Throughout the next few years, MGM started prescribing Garland even more pills to "control both her weight and her energy levels. What follows is a long journey in search of a wizard who grants wishes, accompanied by a Scarecrow in need of a brain, the Tin Woodman who wishes for a heart and a Cowardly Lion, longing for courage. Margaret Hamilton was a character actress who played a lot of housemaids. Have you been quoting the line of the Witch of the West as" Fly, Fly, my pretties" when she sent her monkeys? Casting Garland was a risk, but no one ever doubted her voice. Luft recalled one event in particular, claiming, "The next day, on the set, hungover, they would make Judy's life miserable by putting their hands under her dressThe men were 40 or more years old. Among other injuries, there was a "two-inch-deep wound that nearly circled Danko's leg, which was full of bits of her costume.". It's easy to imagine any of these actors performing the role beautifully, but the final choice, Frank Morgan, proved to be the perfect Wizard. The only remaining copies were protection fine-grain intermediates made by MGM Labs in 1960. Bert Lahr was a vaudeville star famous for playing anxious and neurotic comic characters. 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. Release Date: Tuesday, August 15 1939 83 years ago . The Wizard of Oz | Judy Garland, 16, was initially considered too old and too tall for Dorothy. The book 'Amazing Wizard of Oz' was published in July 1900, and the film was released in 1939. After reciting this magical mantra, Dorothy awakens in her bed, surrounded by her aunt and uncle, the three farmhands who bear an uncanny resemblance to the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion and Professor Marvel, whom we realize is the Wizard. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. Shirley Temple had signed a contract with 20th Century Fox. 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. The Wizard of Oz 1939 movie based on the book by L. Frank Baum Billy Curtis; Heritage designation: Memory of the World (2007) Publication date: 25 August The renowned Ruby Slippers were taken for free. He recovered after six weeks in the hospital, but MGM had already borrowed Jack Haley from Fox to replace him. Apparently they spent most of their time after work at bars and "were disorderly as hell, yelling and screaming." 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. The one where EW follows up with the cast. It is basically a morality film that teaches if you have hope, anything is possible. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Producer Mervyn LeRoy helped persuade MGM's Louis B. Mayer to acquire the rights to L. Frank Baum's book and played a crucial role in the casting of the characters. Initially, he wanted to stop after the sixth book itself, but he had to continue writing due to financial issues. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. Fleming was one five directors who worked on Oz, but he left before it finished to take over Gone With the Wind. The physical and verbal abuse that Garland went through on and off set was absolutely wild. She made, According to Judy Garland's biographer, her, And the "snowstorm" that took place in the poppy field scene was actually. He had tracks made of half-tubing and designed a special dolly equipped with half-tube runners that fitted over the tracks. Maren, now 94, is the last surviving Munchkin actor. Billy Curtis may have been one of the most unusual heroes in any Western. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. Bolger mugs with Mickey Rooney, the MGM star of the Andy Hardy movies who was Garland's frequent costar. The picture's fine-grain master was stored at the Library of Congress. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. It's safe to assume that most moviegoers have experienced The Wizard of Oz through the narrow perspective of a television screen. WebLearn more about the full cast of The Wizard of Oz with news, photos, videos and more at TV Guide. The digital restoration work was executed on Silicon Graphics 02 platforms and several dual-processor Octanes running Matador Paint and Cineon applications software. He was 98. Judy Garland, 16, was under contract to MGM and was a stronger singer than Temple, but was at first thought to be too old for the part. Portrayed by rapper Master P. After Vern Schillinger's daughter-in-law Carrie gave In case she did not follow her diet, Judy was made to have diet pills to speed up the process of reducing her appetite. Ebsen was hospitalized and forced out of The Wizard of Oz's production because of the costuming and makeup. Then the individual objects that swirl past men rowing a boat, Hamilton riding her bicycle, Auntie Em in her rocking chair, etc. They were printed in the MGM laboratory's beautiful but long-extinct Sepia Platinum process, which not only gave the images a sepia tone, but lent an iridescent quality to the highlights. Ironically, Fleming later replaced Cukor on GWTW as well. Adjusted for inflation, that's $898 by 2021's standards. Maren now rests in the Court of Remembrance in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood, right below actress Sandra Dee, Decker said. This munchkin was played by the actor Billy Curtis. | The Technicolor photography for Oz was difficult because of the vastness of the sets. Born June 27, 1909 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. The Kidadl Team is made up of people from different walks of life, from different families and backgrounds, each with unique experiences and nuggets of wisdom to share with you. Here are some creepy facts about the Wizard of Oz. The camera was placed in the center and spun rapidly while the muslin remained stationary. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. creative tips and more. ", She spent six weeks recuperating in the hospital and at home. It had been dramatized on the stage and was filmed by the Selig Polyscope Company in 1910. Her screen test convinced everyone that she was ideal for the part. The Wizard of Oz | Producer Mervyn LeRoy helped persuade MGM's Louis B. Mayer to acquire the rights to L. Frank Baum's book and played a crucial role in the, The Wizard of Oz | The film opened in New York on Aug. 17, 1939. Billy Curtis (Luigi Curto) was born on 27 June, 1909 in Springfield, MA, is an American film actor. A dozen monkeys seen in the foreground and in scenes where they harass the heroes were men in costume, all selected because of their slight physiques. 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 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. A commercial artist from Massachusetts, Newcombe entered the movie field in 1922 by producing an art film entitled The Enchanted City. This was done in exchange for allowing Clark Gable and Jean Harlow to star in Fox's Old Chicago film. The Wizard of Oz | Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Ultimately, they sponged colorful Jell-O powders onto the horses: "a decision complicated by the fact that the horses invariably managed to lick off most of the Jell-O between shots.". The original look involved a blonde wig and makeup, but this was soon changed. The main camera, mounted on a huge crane, was kept moving, tracking with the subjects in most shots. Ziegfeld Follies star Fanny Brice was first considered for the Good Witch, but the final choice was Billie Burke, Ziegfeld's widow. Seldom accepting a role which demeaned or patronized little people, Curtis played an obnoxious vaudeville performer compelled to sit on Gary Cooper's lap in Meet John Doe (1941), a suspicious circus star willing to turn Robert Cummings over to the cops in Saboteur (1942), and one of the many fair-weather friends of The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957). When the Witch sets the Scarecrow on fire, Dorothy throws water on him. Your privacy is important to us. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. | 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' 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. Cast. The co-founder of MGM, Louis B. Meyer, called Judy Garland 'My little hunchback.'. "We test scanned the original fine-grain and the dupe to see if there were discernible differences in resolution, sharpness and overall image quality," he says. Victor Fleming Sun, Jun 27 1909 Wed, Nov 09 1988. He replaced Buddy Ebsen two weeks into filming after the original Tin Man fell ill from the character's aluminum dust makeup. And I dont smoke and I dont drink. The face mask that Ray Bolger wore for his Scarecrow costume was made of rubber, and it was so heavy and tight that it nearly, The studio executives at MGM treated Judy Garland so terribly that they often, In fact, Louis B. Meyer apparently had Judy Garland on a, The male actors who played Munchkins would often, In fact, a lot of the Munchkin actors were so bad that an MGM employee was literally assigned to watch over them, and several of the actors ended up getting, Margaret Hamilton suffered such severe burns on her face and hand after a stunt, And the green makeup that was used for the Wicked Witch of the West's costume was so, Although the studio used toxic paint on its actors, they decided to go for a safer route when it came to painting the colorful horses in Emerald City. I believe we bring a unique film aesthetic to the use of digital tools for restoration.". | While cleaning the warehouses of MGM, they asked Warner to give them a hand and offered him whatever costume piece he wanted for free. In commercials, Maren picked up a paycheck as Mayor McCheese and the Hamburglar for McDonalds. Bert Lahr, the Broadway comic who hadn't quite caught on in movies, was hired as the Cowardly Lion and almost stole the show from everybody. But did we not see the color correctly? They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. Did one of the Munchkins hang himself on the film's set? The first test was a failure because the rubber funnel refused to twist like a tornado. This was a very common practice on movie sets back in the day, as asbestos was fireproof (unlike cotton, which was previously used) and looked close enough to the real thing. 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. "I noticed that there were two frames, right before the pictures started, with clear lines outside the perforations," he says. Ever wonder how he would have thought of the name 'Oz'? The Adventures of Superman. Temple was signed to 20th Century Fox, and for years she was expected to star in some type of Oz film series. Though the film opened strong, it wouldn't earn its money back until 1948. The last one who died in 2018 was Jerry Maren, one of the adult Munchkins. The McDonalds character, Mayor McCheese, was played by Billy, from its creation until his death in 1988. That's presuming that the original black-and-white separations have not been scratched or damaged in other ways and that the base on which it is coated has not shrunk. 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. ", Sid Luft also wrote in his memoir that the older male Munchkin actors "thought they could get away with anything because they were so small." The actual ball was about 8" in diameter and was not moved while being photographed. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. He replaced Buddy Ebsen two weeks into filming after the original Tin Man fell ill. The artisans also compensated for yellow dye fading. It was hardly that simple. I will return to work on one condition no more fireworks! 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. 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. In contrast to their choices for their actors, the studio chose a safer option to paint the horses. 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. In this MGM classic, who we see playing the Tin Man is Jack Haley, but he was not the original Tin Man. While shooting for an iconic scene where the wicked of the west, Margaret Hamilton, had to make a grand entrance, which involved fire. After several takes, the pyrotechnics ignited too soon and she was seriously burned on the face and hand. 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. WebThe Wizard of Oz. George E. Turner American Cinematographer This article originally ran in AC, MGM, then the world's richest motion picture company, stepped gingerly into the realm of "natural color." Hal Rosson, ASC was director of photography, with Allen B. Davey, ASC serving as Technicolor cinematographer. WebCurtis' 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 If one scans a full-aperture anamorphic frame in full color, the file size would run about 45 megabytes. In such scenes, the live action was photographed on a section of the road and the masked scene was doubled into a matching blacked-out area of the painting. LeRoy wanted Ed Wynn, who felt that the part was too small. People found the book so captivating that it sold out in the first two weeks of its distribution and remained a best-seller for two consecutive years. 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 The result was that there were scratches, embedded dirt and other anomalies copied onto the fine-grain master in 1960. She had to go through a lot of physical and verbal abuse on set. Jack Haley was the last one to join the cast. The workstations were networked to an SGI Origin 2000 file server that provided high-density image storage and rapid transfer rates. Thorpe had made four great Tarzan films and the remarkable Night Must Fall, but the rushes soon convinced producer LeRoy that the director was not capturing the desired fairytale quality. Billy Curtis. is 4 2 . Fleming with actors Billy Curtis (left) and Charlie Becker (right). The Wizard of Oz | The men who were hired to play the winged monkeys were attached to ''bat wings'' and a small motor suited to power windshield-wipers. "We elected to use Cineon software for automated dust-busting, with one important provision," says Feiner. But by the end of 1938, with 25 Technicolor features in release, color had become a selling point instead of a liability. While the Munchkins were paid $50 a week, Toto, the dog, made $125 per week. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. WebThe Wizard of Oz Minor Cast Members View source This partial list of the minor cast in the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz includes extras and stand-ins and stunt players. Ken Darby. 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. 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. 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"). One of the great children's films that made Judy Garland a star. Upon alighting, it dissolves to reveal Glinda. Some of the best remembered 'beauty shots' in Oz are Newcombe composites, such as scenes in which the towering buildings of the Emerald City loom in the distance as Dorothy and her friends follow the yellow brick road. | According to Feiner, this process requires 4K x 3K of digital data with 10 bits of log space per pixel. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. It was rigged to move the full length of the 200' stage. This proved to be a key advantage on the Oz undertaking, given the job's aggressive eight-month schedule. I pray the Lord my soul to take. If you liked our suggestions for Wizard of Oz facts, then why not take a look at bigfoot facts or Calculator facts. "We're proud of our history," Feiner says, "which includes a large amount of the optical restoration work on the Star Wars trilogy. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Wizard of Oz is a fiction classic, all about magic, adventure, and make-believe. In 1973, Maren played as a child ape in the sequel Battle for the Planet of the Apes and starred in the comedy film Little Cigars opposite another former Munchkin, Billy Curtis. "I realized I had one of the dupes," Feiner says. Did you know that it took more than a year for deep grooves to leave Ray Bolger's face from the prosthetics? This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. The story exerts warmth and thrills, making it a masterpiece and a must-see film for the young and the old. 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. ", This particular incident occurred when the Wicked Witch of the West was supposed to make her dramatic, fiery exit from Munchkinland. WebBilly Curtis, Actor: High Plains Drifter. 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. To do this, she had to step on a certain part of the road and descend on an elevator. 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