Synopsis

When a tornado carries Dorothy from Kansas to the magical land of Oz, she follows the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City, hoping the Wizard can help her return home. Along the way, she befriends a Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, each seeking something they believe they lack, while the Wicked Witch pursues Dorothy's enchanted slippers.

Factoids & Trivia

• The Kansas scenes were filmed in black and white, while most of Oz was photographed in Technicolor, making Dorothy's arrival in Oz a dramatic visual transition.

• "Over the Rainbow" was nearly removed because MGM executives considered it too slow and sophisticated for a children's fantasy. It ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

• The production used 65 sets and involved thousands of performers, crew members, and contractors, making it one of MGM's largest undertakings of the period.

• The film received five Academy Award nominations and won for Best Original Song and Best Original Score. Judy Garland also received an honorary Juvenile Award.

• The Wizard of Oz was not immediately profitable for MGM. Its regular television broadcasts, beginning in 1956, helped turn the film into a major commercial success and an annual viewing tradition.

• The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1989, recognized for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.