THE WIZARD OF OZ

1939, Warner Brothers

Live action

Rating: PG

Approx. 102 mins.

THE STORY:

Life on her aunt and uncle's farm is not very exciting for adolescent Dorothy (Judy Garland), and the last straw comes when her crabby busybody neighbour, Miss Gulch (Margaret Hamilton), arranges to have Dorothy's dog, Toto, taken away and destroyed. Unable to accept this, she and her dog run away. She doesn't get far, however, before she runs into a travelling salesman/ psychic (Frank Morgan) who sneakily convinces her to go home.

Along the way, she finds herself in a tornado and gets hit on the head by flying debris. Seconds later, black and white Kansas is transformed into technicolour Oz, and Dorothy's house has landed right on top of the Wicked Witch of the East. In doing so, she has started a feud with the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), who wants to kill her for her ruby slippers.

Dorothy makes 3 friends, and they all travel to the Emerald City to have the Wizard (Frank Morgan) grant their wishes. When they find the Wizard, he gives them the seemingly impossible task of bringing him the Wicked Witch's broomstick. They embark on this quest and discover that Oz is both a wondrous and a terrifying place. Eventually they accomplish their task, unmask the 'Wizard,' and get Dorothy back home.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

•  none

VIOLENCE:

• none

TEACHING POINTS:

•  There's no place like home.
• "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with."

THE UPSHOT:

This was my absolute favourite movie bar none as a child-- and still in my top 5-- so I really wanted the 4 year-old in the room to love it. I was terrified that it would be like when I tried to introduce her to other movies and books I had loved, and that she would find it hokey or boring or old. But no, she loves it! 

What can I say about Wizard of Oz that hasn't been said? Great music, great story, great cinematography, great characters. An absolute classic.

5/5