The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc Special Edition) Reviews

• An OZ-some DVD Experience

  
  By A3TZB9SXJCFMFJ on 1999-12-12
  Like most baby boomers, I've watched this film dozens of times in the past on broadcast TV, then VHS tape, then LaserDisc ... but I had never actually SEEN "The Wizard of Oz" until this newly restored DVD came out. It's an amazing transfer. The sepia-tone Kansas sequences are startlingly sharp and clear, and the Technicolored world "Over the Rainbow" is truly dazzling. I found myself fascinated by details I had never noticed before: the glittering corn stalks in the Scarecrow's field; the mirror-like floors of the Emerald City; the polished buttons on the guardsmen's uniforms. Incredibly, even the individual grains of red sand in the Witch's hourglass stood out and glistened! All these minor-but-sumptuous visual details served to heighten the magical spell that the film has always woven, enhancing the performances, the story, and the music.

  The DVD extras are a mind-boggling embarrassment of riches. The "Making Of" documentary hosted by the incomparable Angela Lansbury is worth the price of the DVD alone, but there's so much more: an international poster gallery, interviews with cast members, deleted scenes, production stills, radio clips, etc, etc. There's enough material to keep even the most casual viewer fascinated for hours, and a true Oz buff will be occupied for days!

  If you only bought a DVD player to watch this one disc, it would well be worth the expense. Treat yourself, and fall in love with this classic film again ... for the first time.
  
  

• Wizards, Witches and Oz, oh my!

  
  By A3SMT15X2QVUR8 on 2001-09-04
  See it again for the first time -- introduce it to a child. Oz is as magical today as when L. Frank Baum first told the tale. Who does not want to go "Over the Rainbow?"

  The thrill of watching Dorothy fight to keep Toto, then running away just as a storm is brewing is drama that children can feel. Discovering a magician who is able to "see" Dorothy's past, and remind her of Aunt Em's love for her is a message for all generations.

  Although we know much more about the effects of tornadoes now than when we were children through the child's eyes we can still find that we are caught up in the storm. The swirling images that pass Dorothy's window as the house whirls and finally lands was filled with special effects were magical in 1939; they still are.

  The magic of sharing that moment when Dorothy opens the door into a world of color still makes children shiver with enchantment. I remember one night when my parents were out, and I sneaked into the living room. I kept the volume on the black and white TV low so that no one would come for me. It was nearly midnight when that door to OZ opened. I was keenly disappointed that Oz was not in color, I was sure that this moment would fill my world with color. That is the wonder of childhood.

  A child will tremble at the Wicked Witch of the East, and be enthralled as Glenda, the good witch of the North, floats to the ground in an iridescent bubble. Children are frequently called "Munchkin" and they are surprised to discover Munchkinland.

  It is so easy to forget that Judy Garland is acting because her big eyes, wide smile, innocence, and voice are Dorothy. Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion, and Ray Bolger, who is the scarecrow, has given a legacy to film and heritage that is a genuine treasure. Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the East, has terrified children for more than six decades, and continues to do so.

  There is no place like home. 5 stars.

  Victoria Tarrani
  
  

• Not a restoration, but an entirely different view of the film.

  
  By ARFCORBCTKX1J on 2005-10-30
  There's no need to discuss "The Wizard of Oz" itself, a classic among classics (though I'll have something to say about its "philosophy" later on). You probably want to know whether the UltraResolution transfer justifies the purchase.
  
  It does. Oh, yes it does.
  
  "The Wizard of Oz" has always looked good, one of the better Technicolor films. Unlike "Gone With the Wind", which was generally dark and desaturated, and which UltraResolution greatly improved, I didn't expect much enhancement for "Oz".
  
  Was I ever wrong. I stared with my jaw hanging open. "Oz" is the best UltraResolution transfer by far -- and the others were not exactly chopped liver.
  
  The improvement in detail and sharpness is startling, especially as the original prints did not seem obviously lacking in either. Even more amazing is the expansion of the tonal scale. Dark scenes (particularly those in the forest and outside the "witches" castle) are now filled with rich detail. Have you ever noticed how beautiful the Winkies' red, white, and gray uniforms are? I hadn't -- until now.
  
  These enhancements combine produce the biggest improvement of all -- a major revelation of _texture_. The "feltiness" of many costumes is obvious. The burlap of the Scarecrow's face is now plainly visible, particularly in the close-up where he misstates the Pythagorean Theorem. And the Lion's costume is a thick pile of fur you want to reach out and stroke. You can see every last strand of hair.
  
  I'm exaggerating only slightly when I say the improvements of this UltraResolution transfer are not much less than those from cleaning the Sistine Chapel's frescos. It's as if layers of murk and grime -- that you never even knew were there! -- have been stripped away. Until you view it, you cannot imagine what this film (that is, the original camera negatives) _really_ looks like. It's a shame the people who created "Oz" never got to see it this way.
  
  The image quality is so high that I often felt as if I were looking through a window at live performers. (Well, almost.) No matter what versions you already have, you won't be disappointed with this one. I watched it twice in two days, and I might even view it a third time tonight.
  
  My only quibble is that several matte paintings do not blend properly, because the hues at the join lines do not match those of the scene. This could have been fixed; I suspect it seemed too much work for a small improvement. (A friend suggested that these sorts of things are left in because videophiles enjoy finding them.)
  
  As to the differences between the two- and three-disk sets... The latter includes a packet of original programs and promotional material of the sort we haven't seen in 40 years ago. (Remember the 50-cent deluxe programs for road-show films?) There's also a set of 10 reproductions of Kodachrome publicity photographs. For this viewer, these extras alone justify the higher price.
  
  The third disk will be of most interest to lovers of all things Oz. It includes a handsomely produced biography of L. Frank Baum (interesting enough that you might want to watch it more than once), plus all the silent Oz films and a Technicolor Oz cartoon. The existence of these is well-known to anyone familiar with the history of Oz productions, but they've never appeared (as far as I know) in any home-video format.
  
  The films are problematic. The two from Baum's production company are the best -- they have style, charm, and imagination. The others are cheesy ripoffs that bear little relation to the original book. The Larry Semon -- a once wildly-popular but now virtually forgotten cartoonist and comic * -- version is especially obnoxious, as it is little more than a vehicle for Semon's brand of physical comedy. The Baum estate is at least partly to blame -- _any_ movie version must have seemed more attractive than none, especially as the technology to make a convincing version of "Oz" would not exist for another 15 years.
  
  The film's opening titles praise the book's "kindly philosophy", which seems to be either "You already have everything you need to be happy", or "The answer to your problems lies within yourself". These are not so much "kindly" as reflections of the hard-nosed "All your problems are your own fault" and "If you're not a success, it's because you're lazy" homilies that grew out of the great opportunity for personal development and material success this country offered.
  
  I believe L. Frank Baum had something a bit different in mind. "The Wizard of Oz" is a fairy tale in which magic has no bearing on the issues at the center of the story. I believe Baum wanted to discourage children from fantasizing that magic could be a solution to one's problems.
  
  The four principals make a grueling journey to the Emerald City, then find the wizard is a humbug. (What a shame the blander "fake", "fraud", or "phony" have replaced that delightful word.) He posesses no magic to supply wit, love, or grit, which the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion have demonstrated they already have.
  
  Baum's "moral" is simple -- Love, wisdom, and courage are what we need to get through life. No one can _give_ them to us, because we _already_ possess them, and all we need to do is express them.
  
  "Is that right?"
  
  "That's all it is."
  
  

• If you are new to DVDs, this should be your first purchase!

  
  By A1ZRYVKJJX24KX on 2000-05-01
  Of the DVDs I own or have rented, this one is the most impressive. The special features are numerous and incredible. Who knew that Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tinman or that Ray Bolger had a wonderful dance scene that was deleted from the final cut of the movie? I especially enjoyed the interviews with the cast and the commentary on the other vintage movies that were also released in 1939 (if only we were so lucky to have as many outstanding movies to be released in one year as were released in 1939).

  Besides the special features that make this DVD a must own, the sound and picture qualities are superior. Since I was old enough to remember, I watched The Wizard of Oz on TV every year. Now, I get to watch it with my daughter in all of its glory and splendor on DVD. Though the hallway to the Wizard doesn't seem nearly as long and the Wicked Witch is not quite as scary (as when I was a child), the magic of the movie remains. If you loved the movie as a child and you are looking for an exceptional quality DVD that your family will enjoy for years and years, you must buy this DVD! Recapture the magic of the first time you saw The Wizard of Oz by watching it on DVD.
  
  

• A ten-star movie

  
  By on 2000-05-25
  The first video I purchased for my new (!) VCR is my favorite movie of all time, The Wizard of Oz. The VHS version is delightful from beginning to end -- from the vivid colors of Oz to the wonderful behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film hosted by Angela Lansbury. I fondly remember waiting for that week in March when Oz would be shown on TV, and now I can watch it whenever I want (probably this weekend!).

  Oz is the only film I can think of that qualifies as outstanding in every way. The score is unforgettable, the story is entertaining and moving, and the casting is perfect -- can you really imagine any other actors in those roles? I love Judy Garland's performance, but I think that the performances of her co-stars-- Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, and Margaret Hamilton -- are simply amazing and too often underrated. Watching Oz as an adult has made appreciate how much talent each of these individuals brought to the film. Oz is one of those rare films that I find something new in every time I watch it (and for you Oz buffs, it's the Tin Man who releases the rope holding the Wizard's balloon, not the Scarecrow -- keep your eye on him in that scene!).

  Give yourself a real treat and buy the remastered Oz in VHS or DVD. It's an investment that pays more each year, believe me.
  
  

• Botched DVD Presentation Of A Five Star Classic
  By A31QLSGDGB30H5 on 2000-06-17
  The ranting I've given is for the DVD, not the film which is five stars and one of the greatest of all time. If you've owned the previous DVD release of this film, and also have the magnificent "Ultimate Oz" laser disc set, I can guarantee you, you will be in for a disappointment with this new DVD release from Warners. The incredible deep color of the film's look in the "Ultimate Oz" set is shockingly gone from this transfer. Now instead of looking magical, Oz looks just....well, normal. John Fricke's wonderful audio commentary has been eliminated too (probably because it is technically licensed by MGM/UA video, which no longer owns the rights to the film), and while the rest of the supplements are duplicated there is one incredible goof that I can't believe no one else has caught on to before. For the "Jitterbug" deleted scene supplement Warners has erroneously used the stills/home movie segment and set them not to the finished song track (as laser disc supplement does) but instead to the choreography rehearsal track where we hear the flat monotone of Donna Massin standing in for Judy Garland with the rest of the cast to a piano track instead of the orchestrated version. It makes for a very unpleasant looking juxtaposition and left me feeling that I hadn't gained a thing with the DVD release. I plan on sticking to the laser disc set myself. And for a better picture that shows the magic of Oz as it *should* be seen snatch a copy of the out of print MGM DVD while you still can!
  
  
• "I'll get you my pretty...and your little dog too!"
  By A18RQ2URRGIIEA on 2003-09-05
  It is highly doubtful that director Victor Fleming and the cast of "The Wizard of Oz" could possibly have imagined that their film recorded in 1939 would still be watched and endearing children and adults alike 64 years later! Film audiences in 2003 may flock to theaters to see the latest computer-generated special effects, but that has not diminished the power of this film that was created with special effects by people who never heard of computers, as well as filming in color which was still relatively new for both studios and audiences alike in 1939.

  "The Wizard of Oz" was based upon the children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" written in 1900 by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919). The story is about a young girl named Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) who is being raised by her Aunt Emily 'Auntie Em' Gale (Clara Blandick) and Uncle Henry Gale (Charley Grapewin) on a farm in Kansas. After getting upset that her dog Toto (played by a dog named Terry) might be taken away because of the ramblings of their neighbor Miss Almira Gulch (Margaret Hamilton), Dorothy decides to run away. However, Dorothy and Toto are caught in a horrific storm that whisks them away to a magical land called Oz where she meets people and characters that nothing like what she knew in Kansas: Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), and many others. (The film's cast had approximately 200 people.)

  One interesting aspect to the film was that scenes in Kansas were filmed in black and white, while scenes in Oz were filmed in color. This was the first time that many audience members had seen a film done in full color in 1939 and the transformation from black and white to color is still dramatic today. Actor Frank Morgan plays five different roles in the film (including Professor Marvel), and several other cast members play dual roles (Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr). Songs used in the film include the following:

  * "Over the Rainbow", sung by Judy Garland. This became Judy Garland's signature song and is probably the most famous song from the film.
  * "We Welcome You To Munchkinland", sung by the many cast members playing the Munchkins.
  * "Follow the Yellow Brick Road", sun by the many cast members playing the Munchkins.
  * "If I Only Had a Brain", sung by Judy Garland and Ray Bolger.
  * "We're Off to See The Wizard", sung by Judy Garland and Ray Bolger.
  * "If I Only Had a Heart", sung by Jack Haley (and off-screen voice of Adriana Casselotti).
  * "If I Only Had the Nerve", sung by Bert Lahr, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger and Jack Haley.
  * "The Merry Old Land of Oz", sung by Frank Morgan, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and the cast members of the Emerald City.
  * "If I Were King of the Forrest", sung by Bert Lahr, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, and Jack Haley.

  Overall, "The Wizard of Oz" is one of the best films of all time and deserves a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. This film will continue to entertain for many decades to come and is well worth having your collection. If you want to try something different, play Pink Floyd's album "The Dark Side of the Moon" while watching the film instead of listening to the film's normal soundtrack. Also, the DVD contains many extras, including outtakes and excerpts from the 1914 and 1925 silent film versions.
  
  

• Why it's not in Widescreen...
  By A1XF3T6WDAJIAQ on 2005-11-03
  I've read a few negative reviews here complaining about this release because it's not in the widescreen format and wanted to explain why. This movie was originally released in 1939. Movies weren't shot in the widescreen format until the 1950s. Widescreen was a format used by Hollywood to combat a new form of entertainment that they feared would put them out of business...television. This is why television originally had the aspect ratio of 4:3, because it matched the aspect ratio of movies at the time. There was a "fake" widescreen version of the Wizard of Oz released in 1955, but it wasn't true widescreen, how could it be since the master prints are in the 4:3 aspect ratio? MGM simply cut the top and bottom of the picture to fit a widescreen format. Fortunately, this version hasn't seen the light of day since it's release in 1955.
  Just wanted to clear that up for people wondering why there's no widescreen format.
  
  
• A classic that trancends generations!
  By on 1999-11-23
  I bought this video for my 3 1/2 year old nephew. Like most people my age, I have fond memories of watching it every year on CBS, and looking forward to it as an annual event. Since my nephew is into "Pokemon", "Star Wars", etc., I didn't think he would really enjoy it as much as I did (and still do). Surprise! He (as well as his 8 year old sister) was spellbound from beginning to end. Hearing his startled gasp when Judy Garland opens the door from sepia to the full color world of Oz made my week. That was on Friday. The next evening, I was babysitting him again and he wanted to watch it yet again. His mom told me he had watched it twice again that day! There are not too many films that can captivate generation upon generation of viewers - "Oz" is one of the very few. If I could give it more than five stars, I definitely would. (My nephew has already memorized some of the songs too!)
  
  
• American Capitalism at its finest
  By A3FBTJCCNQXW2U on 2005-10-24
  Hurry up folks and buy this new Wizard of OZ DVD on Tuesday. Dont forget to get the super duper special 5 disk mega collection 2 years from now...
  
  This is a cool set for anyone who doesnt own the normal 1 disk DVD already, otherwise save your money. The 1 disk special edition was phenomenal.
  
  I give the greedy corporate machine 1 star for it's greed. I give Wizard of Oz 5 stars because it's one of the greatest movies ever. Oz had better special effects then most movies that came out 40 years later. Casting was great. Script was great. If I didnt love the movie so much I wouldnt mind the corporate machine bleeding it dry.
  
  haha, Im already getting negative responses. Whatever, throw your money away. The truth is that the 1 disk edition is almost equal to this 3 disk edition. This is just a big money making scheme. Hollywood cant make good movies anymore so they are leaching off the classics. go waste your hard earned money. How many times will you actually watch the extras??? uh, like once...
  Jessep was right. you cant handle the truth
  
  
• What All DVD Releases Should Be Like!
  By A2Q90UILXT8BNI on 2000-08-29
  When I saw that the Wizard of Oz was released on DVD, I grabbed it without a second thought. I've loved this movie since a child, but never owned a copy of it. I think everyone here has established that the movie is an all-time classic, so this review will focus on the DVD itself.

  I think this DVD should be used as an instruction manual, or rough guide in how to make a great DVD. Studios in Hollywood, directors, and anyone else into DVD production should be forced to sit and take notes. The extras and features on this thing are amazing. You've got the wonderful movie itself, a behind-the-scenes documentary, outtakes, deleted scenes, biographies of all the stars, some great facts about the movie and the stars that will probably surprise you, studio pictures, theater trailers and stills, clips of the Wizard of Oz cartoon, many audio supplements, and a lot more! There is also a few hidden surprises on the disc, if you know where to look.... (In the 'Oz Characters' section off the special features menu, go to the first page of Glinda's info. Select the glowing orb above her wand, and find some hidden pages on the Munchkins. On the first info page for the Wicked Witch, select the hour glass for some hidden pages with info on the flying monkeys).

  You can spend hours just going through the extras on this release. While so many studios are using this medium to just shovel their old releases onto and cash in, The Wizard of Oz release truly shows the power of DVD, and is what all DVD releases should be like.
  
  

• Audio track is the great achievement of the 2005 restoration
  By A3N0JYM2X5KUQB on 2005-12-13
  While the visual quality is superb, the great achievement of this (2005) restoration is the audio track. As the "making of the restoration" feature points out, the original music track was recorded from 4 microphones, making it possible to restore the music to a true Dolby 5.1 track. There are sound effects I had never heard before, such as the leaves being stripped from the trees during the "twister", and the bass accompaniment to the singing opens up the dynamic range of the music.
  
  As for the visuals, we encounter that bane of digital formats--too much perfection. The opening scenes in sepia tone Kansas are so perfectly restored that small amounts of projector "flicker" from print imperfections appear in some backgrounds that were not apparent in the first dvd restoration. Make no mistake about it, though, the sharpness and accurate color are a feast for the eyes.
  
  If you're wondering whether to go with the 2- or 3-disc version, you'll want to know that the third disc contains the 5 silent "oz" movies made before WWI. They are not necessarily fun to sit through, but instructive to see how much of the costuming concept for the main characters seems to have been inspired by that very first effort. If you're not a film student, the 2-disc set will give you all the bang for your buck.
  
  
• This DVD is missing parts of the movie.
  By on 2003-06-24
  I've seen this movie every year since I was three. I finally bought the DVD and was very disappointed to find the whole part after the Wicked Witch melts isn't on this version!! No Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!
  
  
• Quite possibly the best DVD ever released.
  By A37NL9EDUT23IV on 2006-01-31
  Over the last few years, Warner Bros. has raised the bar for DVD treatments of classic films from their studio as well as MGM and RKO films owned by Turner Entertainment. In 2004, Warner Bros. released a 4-Disc Collector's Edition of Gone With The Wind, raising the bar even for themselves, as well as other studios. While some studios have failed to meet the high standards, Warner Bros. outdid themselves in 2005 with their two DVD reissues of The Wizard of Oz. When they announced the release of the 3-disc DVD, I became so excited for this DVD release. This movie makes me SO happy, and I thought it was time that it got a set like this.
  
  If you don't want to spend all this money for this deluxe box set, the 2-Disc Special Edition is also a wonderful option. Although you lose the third disc, which we'll discuss in just a minute, and the wonderful print extras, if those don't matter much to you, it won't matter. All of the other wonderful bonuses from discs 1 and 2 are still there as well as the new pristine restoration.
  
  However, I would now like to discuss the content of this beautiful 3-disc set.
  
  Packaged in a gorgeous digipack with a slipcase holding the digipack and the two folders of print extras, you already know just by looking at the package that this will be a wonderful set.
  
  Disc 1 contains the set's centerpiece - the movie, newly restored to pristine clear perfection in Warner Bros. revolutionary Ultra Resolution process. First, all color records are scanned at a high resolution and perfectly aligned for the clearest image ever. Then, one frame at a time, dirt, scratches, film tears, etc. are removed. Finally, color correction is done to make sure the colors pop out at you, but aren't overly saturated. The result is the best video edition EVER of Oz. Details are brought out like never before. Also included are featurettes on the cast, restoration, as well as a wonderful audio commentary. Unlike the boring commentary on GWTW, Oz's commentary is exciting and informative.
  
  Disc 2 contains the main bonus features, most of which are ported over from Warner's 1999 single-disc DVD, and this is the disc that delves into the making of the movie. The main bonus feature is the 1990 making-of documentary "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" which really goes in depth into the making of the movie. Most Oz fans have seen this already, so I need not talk about it in detail. Also from the 1999 DVD are the trailers, stills galleries, audio vault, (Although a new addition is in the audio vault - the Christmas Day 1950 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast, with Judy Garland as Dorothy.) short films from the vault, special effects tests, Harold Arlen's home movies, and outtakes. Three new featurettes are included - a TCM documentary featuring filmmakers, surviving cast members, and many others, titled "Memories Of Oz," where these people reminisce about making the movie, their feelings about the movie, etc. The second featurette is called "The Art Of Imagination." More filmmakers talk about the technical aspects of the making of the film and how it influenced the way they make movies. Finally, "Because Of The Wonderful Things It Does," narrated by Brittany Murphy and featuring interviews with authors, filmmakers, and others, discusses how The Wizard of Oz has made an impact on our culture. These new featurettes are a WONDERFUL new way to delve into the world of Oz.
  
  Exclusive to this set, the third disc salutes L. Frank Baum, the man who penned the original 14 Oz books. A new documentary, "The Man Behind The Curtain," discusses his life. Then, we are treated to 4 full-length silent film versions and one 1933 musical color cartoon version of Oz. The silent films are in fairly good condition, with the 1925 version featuring Oliver Hardy given a good cleanup, color tinting, and a new score. It is also possible that this was the inspiration for the farm hands becoming Dorothy's Oz friends in thr 1939 movie. The cartoon has seen better days, but it shows where the inspiration for filming Kansas in black-and-white and Oz in color may have come from, and all in all, it's a cute cartoon.
  
  The bonus material doesn't stop with the DVDs. Also inclued are two folders of print extras. One contains ten beautiful glossy reproduction of Kodachrome publicity portraits and on-set photos. And the other contains a glossy page with posters, premiere invitation and ticket reproductions, the premiere program, MGM Studio News, and Photoplay Studies. These gorgeous reproductions truly make this box set a real treat for big Oz fans.
  
  In conclusion, if you are a fan of The Wizard Of Oz, the 2-Disc Special Edition is a wonderful DVD. If you're hardcore enough to buy this 3-Disc set, go for it! In my opinion, this is the best DVD ever made, and Warner Bros. has set a new high standard for themselves and other studios for DVD releases. Now, if the studios can meet these standards is another story.
  
  
• Why no commentary?
  By ABH6Y8IOXGM27 on 1999-12-11
  I already expected this DVD Gift Set to be 5 stars in every way, and for the most part it is, but i was just wondering if anyone else out there has the Laserdisc "Ultimate OZ" set that came out a few years ago. It has everything this new package has (minus the great menu scenes) but something that i was sad to see is missing from the DVD version: where is the running commentary from OZ expert John Fricke? That was one of my favorite parts of the Laserdisc OZ special edition and i guess i just assumed it would be included here. I feel sorry for those OZ fans who might never get to hear the interesting and fun facts and anecdotes. For example: the coat that Professor Marvel wears was bought from a second-hand store and when they turned out the pockets the letters LFB were stitched inside-Baum's widow confirmed that the coat had indeed belonged to her husband; the female voice heard during the TinMan's song ("wherefore art thou Romeo") is the voice of Snow White- without the success of that movie OZ might never had been made; when Jack Haley replaced Buddy Ebsen thay shot for three days before anyone noticed that he was wearing Buddy's shiny Emerald City outfit instead of the rusty one for the woods scenes- the footage had to scrapped at an estimated cost of $60,000- another time when Oz production was almost shut down. There are also great stories about all the major players and hpw they felt about OZ and each other. Well, maybe you don't care to know all this but it added another fun dimension to my OZ watching and I'm curious why DVD owners were left out. Otherwise i couldn't be happier with the transfer of this classic and would definitely recommend it OZ- and DVD- fanatics alike.
  
  
• Deluxe Edition well worth it!
  By on 1999-12-08
  When I was deciding which version of The Wizard of Oz to purchase, I missed the one line, buried in a review, which detailed the differences between the Deluxe Collector's Edition VHS and the standard Collector's Edition. I did note the difference in price, but I decided to risk the extra money, figuring there HAD to be SOME difference.

  I was most pleasantly surprised. It arrived packaged in a beautifully-designed box large enough to pass for a college dictionary, but no book was this. It was a treasure chest instead. At the heart of it was the special edition of the film (including a wonderful backstage documentary, original trailers, and a fabulous scene which for some unfathomable reason was left on the cutting room floor), which was packaged in "clamshell," and suitable for inclusion on anyone's video shelf. But I won't be putting it with my other videos; I'll be finding a special place for it, because I don't want to separate it from the other treasures in the chest. For, in order to get to the video, one must first go through a fabulous reproduction of the continuity script, which includes all the dialogue and banter (and even song lyrics!) which were sadly deleted from the film before its release, and through a charming collection of photos and movie posters.

  All in all, this is a wonderful package which I recommend most heartily. If you have the extra cash, by all means, get it. If you don't, save up until you do!
  
  

• The FULLSCREEN version is the ORIGINAL version Mr. Kidman!
  By A1F6YKB2SO7ODN on 2005-10-07
  "The Wizard Of Oz" was not filmed in the widescreen format. The versions already available on dvd and video are the ORIGINAL versions as seen in theaters 66 years ago, and every year since! So if you're waiting around for this movie in widescreen, DONT! Do your homework Mr. Kidman and write reviews based on fact, NOT fiction!
  
  
• Great DVD box set in glorious Technicolor!
  By A29460NEDCMSEK on 2005-10-27
  After watching this new film to video transfer from original 3 strip Technicolor elements, I have to wonder why the film industry do not make films using this wonderful process anymore. The three strip Technicolor process, similar to modern high end 3-CCD video camera, split light into 3 primary colors (Red,Green,Blue) and recorded seperately on three strips of 35MM films. When you recombine them you creat a full color image with astounding color quality, never possible with a modern single strip color film. This new DVD version they scanned the original nitrate Technicolor R/G/B negatives digitally with 4K resolution, and recombine them using digital edge detection for optimum alignment. The result is amazing with bright, rich colors and image details that is truely spectacular.
  
  
• Simply, a classic!
  By A35WVFSULRE1G9 on 2005-11-24
  They don't make them like this anymore. No bad language, nudity, sexual inuendos, graphic violence, etc. This is Hollywood when Hollywood was wholesome. A fast paced fun, entertaining, joyful film. The colors are vibrant and alive. The story, a great teaching tool for anyone of any age. Now days, Hollywood makes films like American Pie and Showgirls, what a shame. Thank you for this outstanding restored dvd version of this fantastic film. I loved it as a child, and my nephews and nieces love it. This film will be passed on for generations and enjoyed by all that view it. Thank You. Lets all dream a little bit and forget about lifes stresses. May our troops over seas stay safe.
  
  
• This Film is an Outrageous Sacrilege!!!!!!!
  By A18JT28R8LGXHK on 2006-11-12
  Many people will consider giving this movie such a low rating a sacrilege.This is understandable because so many people have grown up watching this film.I too loved this movie at a certain period of my life.The period between my birth and when I turned ten.That was when I read the book.The book is perhaps one of the greatest literary works ever created.It has now been awhile since I first read it,but I still remember the excitement I felt with each new chapter.I finished it in a few short hours.Since then,I have reread it several times,and each time it has been just as enjoyable.It is a true classic that people of all ages can enjoy.My brother reads as little as possible, but even he loved it.The movie,on the other hand,has gotten worse with each subsequent viewing.It deters from the book in almost every way possible.It makes a mockery of each character through a combination of poor writing and horrible acting.Judy Garland is an absolutely abominable choice to play the plucky heroine,Dorothy Gale.In the book,Dorothy was a little girl of about eight or nine and she was brave and clever.In the film,she is whiny,cowardly,fretful,and slightly stupid.She is also portrayed as being around fifteen.Making her this old distorts the book and her older age doesn't fit with her childish behaviour and appearance.Besides wrecking the book,this movie when looked at clearly is a terrible film.Don't misunderstand me,I am a fan of musicals.However,this film made for an atrocious musical.Practically every single song was ANNOYING!!!!!Also,the "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" number did not suit the plotline as it was in the book.This brings me to the BIGGEST,MOST AWFUL,distortion of them ALL!!!In the book,Dorothy really went to OZ!!!!!Not only that,she returned to Oz several times in other OZ books.Eventually,she even moved there to live!!!In making the whole experience a dream,the entire story of OZ was destroyed.Having said that,this movie receives a 1 in my opinion.Even so,I realize that many people will persist in liking this movie despite my words of wisdom.If they do sill consider this movie a favorite after reading the book,then the 3-Disc DVD is the edition to purchase.The features look good and the picture is restored.As for me,I will spend my money on better things.
  
  
• Worst remastering in the history of digital technology!
  By on 2000-04-09
  Actually, no, it isn't. I've just seen other people whoactually love certain movies give them a bad review just so thatpeople will read them, and I thought I'd use that strategy too. To get to the point, this remastered Wizard of Oz is unlike anything I've ever seen before! It is simply the best film restoration done to date. When I went to see the movie when it was rereleased to theatres a while back, I did not appreciate the newly cleaned up picture as much because movies always look worse in the theater than they do on video, right? But talk about surprise! When I first put this DVD into my player, I was completely amazed at the brilliant restoration job Warner Bros. has done! It looks and sounds clearer than it ever has before, and that's not just because it's on DVD! I would say the part of this remastering that amazed me the most was when Dorothy first steps out of her house after the tornado, and is awed by the beauty and wonder the Land of Oz! You get a much better realization of how amazed Dorothy is by all the colors and spectacle that was missing in her life back home. You appreciate this newly restored edition the most when you compare it side by side with previous video releases. If you love this movie, and do not own this release on VHS or DVD, BUY IT! It is 20 times better than any other video release of this film. So, what are you waiting for, my pretty? Buy this video, "or I'll bite you myself!"
  
  
• The Wizard Of Oz Was Filmed In Fullscreen! It Was NOT Filmed In Widescreen!
  By on 2005-10-15
  The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite classic movies and I used to have the movie on video tape but I now have it on DVD. I have the old DVD release and I love it and I'm glad that I gave my old video tape away and bought the DVD! Judy Garland was superb and so was the rest of the cast! The DVD is really very good, it has been lovenly restored and the the colors and sound are great and we get things like deleted scenes which is very rare for an old movie because they usually didn't keep stuff like that. FYI: Like some previous reviewers I have read several reviews by people who are whining about the DVD's not showing The Wizard of Oz in Widescreen and are demanding a widescreen DVD and I felt That I also needed to comment. Okay, I don't know when other countrys that make movies came out with widescreen movies but I do know that the Wizard of Oz which debuted in movie theaters way back in 1939 wasn't filmed in widescreen! It was filmed in fullscreen and the first American widescreen movie didn't come out until 1953 so some people seriously need to do some research and get their facts straight before they review an old movie like The Wizard of Oz!
  
  
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!
  By ALPVMB5P07GPM on 2005-07-24
  Warner Bros. once again is releasing The Wizard of Oz on 2 new DVDs. There will be a 2-Disc DVD version and a 3-Disc DVD version. The 2-Disc only has the first 2 discs included on this one. The 3-Disc version includes all these features:
  
  Disc 1:
  New 2005 "Ultra Resolution" digital master from restored film elements
  New commentary by historian John Fricke with selected archival audio comments by Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Ken Darby orchestral and vocal arranger), John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen(The original Tin Man), Mervyn LeRoy, John Lee Mahin and Jerry Maren
  Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
  We Haven't Really Met Properly...supporting cast profile gallery, narrated by Angela Lansbury
  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz storybook, read by Angela Lansbury
  Theatrical trailer gallery
  5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack
  Original mono and music-and-effects-only audio tracks
  Languages: English (Both Dolby 5.1 & original mono) & French
  Subtitles: English, French and Spanish (feature film only)
  
  Disc 2:
  Documentaries on the movie's creation and impact:
  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic hosted by Angela Lansbury and Memories of Oz -- two original TV specials
  All-New: The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz, Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
  Harold Arlen's onset home videos
  Outtakes and deleted scenes
  It's a Twister! It's a Twister! The tornado special effects tests
  Vintage vault featurettes
  Extensive stills gallery
  More than six hours of audio-only treasures, including an "Oz jukebox" of recording session materials, radio shows and promos
  
  Disc 3:
  Four hours devoted to Oz creator L. Frank Baum, who published his first Oz book in 1900.
  New documentary L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain
  Pre-1939 versions of Oz on screen
  
  The Wizard of Oz (1910)
  The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914)
  His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz (1914)
  The Wizard of Oz (1925): restored silent version featuring Oliver Hardy and Larry Semon, with a new, fully orchestrated score by Robert Israel
  The Wizard of Oz (1933 Cartoon)
  
  Some other bonuses include print reproductions of:
  The Wizard of Oz Comes to Life
  Eight-page Grauman's Chinese Theatre Souvenir Premiere Program from August 15, 1939
  Studio's Invitation to The Grauman's Premiere and the envelope that included tickets to the original Opening Night -- with a newly designed commemorative ticket
  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio News
  Sixteen-page edition of the studio's internal "house organ" newspaper, celebrating the release of The Wizard of Oz for the week of August 14, 1939
  Photoplay Studies
  Rare secondary-education study guide to the film -- Volume V, Number 12 (circa August 1939) -- completely devoted to The Wizard of Oz, with articles revealing surprising insights from its producer, director, cameraman and scenarists.
  Deluxe Collectors' Portfolio
  Reproductions of original 1939 Kodachrome publicity stills, including nine portraits and on set photographs.
  
  This is a real treat from Warner Bros.
  
  
• Don't mind negative reviews
  By A2K4VLQDQN76EP on 2005-11-07
  Yesterday I received this box set and I can gladly say that is one of the most amazing products I have got from Amazon.
  Don't even consider buying another version or collection from this movie and although you might have to spend some extra dollars, the value is excellent.
  You will get 3 discs with the most extensive information and features made so far about this movie and you will also get the collectors items inside the box such as the picture cards (a total of ten fine prints) and the theater programs that are replicas of 1939 and can be seen as exquisite memorabilia.
  I can not feel nostalgia about that era since I was born in 1969, but I now realize how important this movie was for all those generations and I think that will still be consider one of the most enjoyable movies from the past century
  
  
  
• Maybe Not So "Horrific" Sepia
  By A1WUEAZFC6QSCT on 2005-11-20
  An earlier reviewer was complaining about the sepia tone during the Kansas segment. She felt that "the Kansas segment was never meant to be sepia". I was under the impression that it was originally shown in sepia. I remember there being a big deal about it during the 50th anniversary when we got the chance to see it on the big screen.
  
  A little bit of web searching found this reference:
  
  "The Kansas scenes were filmed in black and white, but processed so that they appeared in sepia tones -- essentially brown-and-white. For a time, the sepia tones were dropped, and Kansas was shown on television, in theaters, and on videotape in black and white, and the only sepia in The Movie was Aunt Em's appearance in the Witch's crystal ball. For The Movie's fiftieth anniversary in 1989, the sepia was restored, and has been there ever since."
  
  I have not watched this version yet (I am ordering my copy of the 3-disc set tonight), so I can't comment on the reddishness of the sepia (her other complaint), but the sepia tone does belong.
  
  And this movie is DEFINITELY FIVE STARS!!!
  
  
  
• a note to BenjaminKidman
  By A1TVE5G8L9EQ3I on 2005-10-11
  For the reviewer, BenjaminKidman, it's very unfair that you give this dvd edition a bad review because you say they didn't put it in widescreen format. Let me inform you that the film isn't in widescreen format, simply because it was never filmed in widescreen. It was filmed in scope, therefore, impossible for the studio to release it in that version. Before you give something a totally BAD review, read up on your materials and information first. I think this a totally awesome re-release on dvd and i'm sorry you won't be buying it because of your mis-information. I, on the other hand, can't wait!
  
  
• An exquisite restoration of an immortal screen classic
  By AT07UZQQR7ZEH on 2005-12-09
  
  In a beautiful green and black box, the new three disk THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)DVD gift set is a feast and ideal holiday present for Judy Garland and L. Frank Baum fans and children of all ages the world over. It has taken me the better part of a week to get through all of its myriad delights, starting on disk three with a lovely biography of Mr. Baum, his life, and his Oz books. Three hours or so long, disk three also includes a generous sampling of Oz silent films, including a restored version of Larry Semon's 1925 version. The silent Oz films are, truthfully, not very good. But maybe you need to see mediocre Oz movies to fully appreciate the miracles that MGM created in the late 1930s.
  
  Disk two is at least SIX HOURS long, ranging from brand-new documentaries on the creation and and restoration and legacy of the 1939 masterpiece, to outtakes and deleted scenes, to how they did the tornado sequence, to literally hours of song rehearsal audio tests, to several theatrical trailers, to a very nostalgic hour-long (including the Maxwell House coffee commercials) 1939 radio program devoted entirely to the movie. This disk goes on and on forever; you are going to have to do it in two nights, even skipping over repetitious song rehearsals. Try doing the 2000 filmmaking documentary and the AUDIO VAULT material on a second night along with the movie.
  Then do the rest of disk two after you have seen the film.
  
  The 1939 movie is on disk one and has been magnificently restored, frame by frame, from a mint-condition nitrate camera negative. I have never seen THE WIZARD OF OZ with color this beautiful, images so clear, and sound so crisp and new-sounding. This restoration is a true thing of beauty. Even if you only want to see the movie and not all of the bonuses, this restored print is worth the $35 it costs from Amazon.com. The entire three box set is almost a bargain at $40 retail for Christmas or Hanukkah or birthdays.
  
  Last, but not least, the three disk OZ set has two vanilla-colored folders: (1) Ten 1939 Kodachrome color on-set publicity photos and portraits of the cast; and (2) A wonderful promotional kit that includes MGM Studio Publicity News, education guides, and world premiere 1939 souvenir booklet and Grauman's Chinese Theatre ticket replicas.
  
  Aside from the exquisite four disk GONE WITH THE WIND, I can't think of a more beautiful, labor of love home video edition of a movie than the three disk THE WIZARD OF OZ. Every family should have a copy to watch whenever they like and not when Ted Turner wants us to see it on cable TV.
  
  
  
  
• Belongs in everyone's collection for its magic
  By A33RDFYADJUYJQ on 2000-07-16
  Probably the greatest children's/family film ever made is The Wizard of Oz. Everyone of my generation can remember the yearly ritual of watching it on TV, as American as watching the Super Bowl or something. But it is even better on this DVD thanks to fantastic color and excellent special features. In fact it is probably the most packed-to-the-gills DVD I've ever seen, special feature wise, even if the menu is a bit temperamental at the outset (DVD makers need to start putting menus exclusively on dark backgrounds so you can clearly see your choices highlighted, by the way).

  The making-of-documentary is quite good. Going into detail about casting choices, costume development, problems with cumbersome costumes, and the special effects tricks being revealed--why, the movie was truly like the Star Wars of its day. In fact, I think the tornado effect still holds up (i.e. the one in the background while Dorothy is trying to get into the shelter while the wind is blowing like crazy). The lady who played the Wicked Witch is actually quite funny in real life, as she recounts when the producer said she would be the witch. "The witch?" she asks. "Yeah, what else?" he replies.

  I believe every home collection should have the finest examples of films in any genre, so this one definitely belongs.
  
  

• Uneducated of the World, Listen Up....
  By A2TYAL88IXRSEV on 2005-08-21
  FIRST (directed to the Educated): "The Wizard of Oz" is a timeless classic that belongs in everyone's DVD collection. In October 2005 there will be both a 2 and 3 DVD Special Edition, boasting enhanced video and audio, along with many extras. I hope the new edition will also correct some of the technical flaws contained in the bonus features of the currently available DVD; the Margaret Hamilton interview, for example, had a glitch. It would be pointless for me to add another review of this film gem that everyone on the planet knows so well. Still want to read a review? There are over 390 to choose from. Read on.
  
  SECOND (directed to the Uneducated): For the last time, Widescreen (CinemaScope) and Stereophonic Sound were technologies unavailable, thus not used, in films until the early 1950's. In 1953 "The Robe" became the first CinemaScope (Widescreen) film made. It also contained Stereophonic Sound, although I am not certain if it was the first film that was produced in Stereophonic Sound. But this I can tell you, "The Wizard of Oz" (released in 1939) and all other films that were produced prior to 1953 were NOT filmed in Widescreen or Stereophonic Sound. Okay? Got that? Hopefully, this information will put to rest the endless remarks criticizing the DVD producers for not releasing "The Wizard of Oz" and other pre-1953 films in Widescreen and/or Stereophonic Sound, formats that were non-existent at the time that these films were made. To really blow your minds: After 1953 there were certain films that were made in Widescreen but not in color, and other films that were made in color but not in Widescreen. Do some research folks, because we are all sick and tired of the subject. Case in point: You can expect "Beauty and the Beast" to be available in Widescreen and Stereophonic Sound, but don't expect the same of "Pinocchio". Happy viewing, and enjoy the new edition of "The Wizard of Oz" coming in October 2005.
  
  
• I'd Give This 5 BILLION Stars If I Could!
  By A35JNV0V6Y9RQ1 on 2005-10-18
  That's right, I'd give this new Special Edition Wizard of Oz 5 billion stars if that were an option. As an Oz fan, I have multiple copies of the movie, but won't hestitate to purchase this one. It will be very nice to have so much information in one outstanding package. The Wizard of Oz is, undoubtedly, a classic that inspires all ages from 2 to 102! AND this version has John Fricke! Who wouldn't love that?! :-)
  
  

• The Wizard Of Oz: Selections From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Special Edition)
• The Wizard Of Oz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Deluxe Edition
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 100th Anniversary Edition (Books of Wonder)
• The Story & Songs Of The Wizard Of Oz - Special Edition: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack