Throughout 1939, Hollywood experienced a very productive year, releasing numerous quality films. In August of 1939, MGM Studios released The Wizard of Oz, which was directed by Victor Fleming. The film is based on a book written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. (Magill 82)The charming story by Baum was an instant hit in the United States, and therefore many agree it was well worth it to transform the widespread story into a movie. Although The Wizard of Oz is a playful movie that has been enjoyed throughout the years by Americans of all ages, the film offers a deeper message and several historical connections to suggest an anti-war viewpoint, as well as give Americans a sense of hope through some of the roughest years in history, the 1930s. Released on August 25, 1939, the film tells the story of an All-American teenage girl from Kansas, named Dorothy. She and her dog, Toto, get caught in a tornado in Kansas and end up in the fictional Land of Oz, which is populated by unfamiliar beings- some being good and others being evil. In this imaginary land, Dorothy encounters a number of people and befriends many of them, such as the scarecrow, tin woodman, and the lion. The film describes their journey to Emerald City to seek the Wizard of Oz, who they hope can grant them the things they wish. In the end of the story, the four adventurers discover that the so-called wizard is just a fraud and a humbug. However, "Oz" quickly becomes apologetic and finds ways to help them, offering them hope and encouragement. Finally, the magic takes place in the last scene, as we see Dorothy tap her ruby red slippers three times, and say "There's no place like home." After a long journey of hardships, such as defeating the evil Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy...
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... of a way out of difficult times. All in all, the film has helped reinforce the anti-war philosophy while giving an optimistic viewpoint for the future of America.
Works Cited
Bellman, Samuel Irving. “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Overview.” Discovering
Authors 2003: n.pag. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 13 Apr 2011.
Magill, Frank N. Magill’s American Film Guide. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press Inc,
1983. Print.
Myers, Kim. “MGM's THE WIZARD OF OZ: Political Satire of FDR and His "New
Deal.” Web. 23 Apr 2011.
“The Great Depression and New Deal.” Hist 1302 Online. Web. 23 Apr 2011.
Thomson, David. Biographical Dictionary of Film. New York: William Morrow and
Company, Inc., 1976. Print.
Verdon, Michael. “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and
Fantasy Literature: n.pag. Magill on Literature Plus. Web. 28 Apr 2011.
This film represents our indigenous culture and regardless of what happens we can find good in a situation. Together the black and white community can come together and achieve more than they could ever do by themselves.
The narrative begins with Dorothy, who lives on a farm in a black and white setting presuming the absence of vitality and the insufficiency of a place that was in poverty at the time. However, when Dorothy is picked up by a twister and wakes up in the Land of Oz, she finds herself in a completely opposite environment full of life, beauty, and color filled with new found opportunities. On her quest to Emerald City, Dorothy is presented with a few characters who are The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, and The Scarecrow who all feel like they need something more to complete them and they all seek out the “all powerful” wizard to obtain the things they want. The items they yearn for were a brain, a heart, and courage. Three things that we learn to utilize with experiences we go through. The characters eventually realize that they have always had what they have been longing for after the many obstacles they came through on their journey. In the end, Dorothy says, “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
My reception of this film was so positive because of my knowledge, experiences and values. I have always enjoyed learning about the 1960’s and admired the political activism and change that occurred in that time period. I grew up in a very liberal home, where we were freely able to discuss controversial topics and form our own opinions.
In its best moments, the movie is a strong, anti-war documentary. It has truly moving moments of bereaved loved ones, mangled bodies in the streets, incredulous soldiers in Iraq, angry Iraqis and innocent teenagers being manipulated into enlisting. In this way, the movie presents a version of the war on Iraq that isn't shown much in the media. It improves our understanding of the war by giving it a human face.
For Conclusion, director Spielberg and writer Zusak both achieve goals of appealing to the readers pathos and logos. Director Spielberg focusing on guilt that occurs during war, and writer Zusak focusing on how courage and cawardice can be a disadvsntage or advantage based on the situatuion. Both movie and book taken place during World War II .
Frank Baums, The Wizard of Oz is arguably one of the most popular films made. Even though it was released in 1939, nearly three-quarters of a century ago, the film continues to entertain audiences and speak to them in a personal way. The question that comes to the mind when analyzing this film is: What is it about this film that gives it such timelessness? When reflecting on the film’s timeless qualities, it seems clear the plot is one of the things that enable it to maintain its relevance. Primarily, the plot of The Wizard of Oz is timeless because it is such an excellent example of the heroic journey, both in literally and cinematically. This journey of self-awareness is a metaphor for growth, which is something we all search to discover at some time in our lives.
Scene: This scene in the film comes just after the house has been picked up in the twister. Dorothy's house has been lifted up into the sky and suddenly dropped back down to earth in the middle of the Land of Oz. In the scene itself, Dorothy leaves her home to see that she is "Not in Kansas anymore," and finds the new and amazing world of the munchkin city in front of her. She also meets Gwendela the good witch as her journey in Oz begins.
There is a scene in this movie where the coach takes the team on a long run in the middle of the night. They end up at the break of dawn at a cemetery. The coach tells the young men of the battle that was fought on that ground. He told of the blood shed on those grounds that turned the whole area red. This can help many people that want to make a difference in this world. They had to stand up for their new knowledge to people that they love and trust.
The seriousness is enough to make you lose faith in humanity for a second, but catch your attention and evoke deep and reflection thought into the truth that goes on in the part of society that is unknowingly ignored by the population because it gets constantly overshadowed by media and the government. More importantly, the film reminds us that progress will move forward only when those at the top of authority realize they need to relate with and answer to the people who want change, answer to the voices of people those broken, traumatized, who truly need
In The Wizard of Oz (1939), Dorothy and her friends journey to the Emerald City in seek of Oz – the great and powerful wizard. Upon finally reaching him, Dorothy’s dog opens a curtain to reveal that the Wizard is merely an ordinary man speaking into a microphone while using various knobs and levers to create a smoke-and-mirrors effect. In many ways this story is similar to the creation and interpretation of religion by individuals within society.
This movie is a wonderful production starting from 1960 and ending in 1969 covering all the different things that occurred during this unbelievable decade. The movie takes place in many different areas starring two main families; a very suburban, white family who were excepting of blacks, and a very positive black family trying to push black rights in Mississippi. The movie portrayed many historical events while also including the families and how the two were intertwined. These families were very different, yet so much alike, they both portrayed what to me the whole ‘message’ of the movie was. Although everyone was so different they all faced such drastic decisions and issues that affected everyone in so many different ways. It wasn’t like one person’s pain was easier to handle than another is that’s like saying Vietnam was harder on those men than on the men that stood for black rights or vice versa, everyone faced these equally hard issues. So it seemed everyone was very emotionally involved. In fact our whole country was very involved in president elections and campaigns against the war, it seemed everyone really cared.
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 film directed by Victor Fleming, which follows Dorothy Gale on her journey through the magical land of Oz. Dorothy is swept away from a farm in Kansas to the land of Oz in a tornado and embarks on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return to her home in Kansas. The director, uses a number cinematic techniques such as camera angles, lighting, colour and dialogue to portray a central theme of There’s no place like home.
Although there were many concepts that were present within the movie, I choose to focus on two that I thought to be most important. The first is the realistic conflict theory. Our textbook defines this as, “the view that prejudice...
The Wizard of Oz is a film created by MGM Studios in 1939, directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Frank Morgan as the Wizard and Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch of the West. The Wizard of Oz is commonly known as the classic film of American cinema and is loved by many people. It can be classified as a Family, Fantasy, Musical film due to the touching messages told throughout the film, the magical special effects featuredn and the beautiful musical numbers highlighted in the film.
Not only does this movie deal with the issues of society, but it points to biblical scriptures that help lead us in the right direction. The biggest lesson that this film taught me was that if I put my complete faith in God, then no matter what happens, he will provide, watch over, and take care of me. I learned that expressing belief in God is not enough. I have to live everyday believing and trusting him and I have to show my trust and faith through my actions and my words.