The Wizard of Oz (70th Anniversary Two-Disc Special Edition)
Product ID: 37408892
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When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn't start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz 's TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz--the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)--have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy's enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film's still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it's loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it's required viewing for kids of all ages. --Jeff Shannon On the discs The 2009 Wizard of Oz Two-Disc Special Edition DVD has the sharp 2005 restoration using Warner's Ultra Resolution process and an accompanying featurette on how it's done. The technicians also discuss how the sound was remixed, though that would have been more effective had it included surround-sound demonstrations (the featurette is in 2.0). Other features include a commentary track by critic John Fricke supplemented by vintage cast interviews (he offers a lot of trivia, and debunks the myth that Shirley Temple was ever close to getting the Dorothy role); profiles of nine cast members and clips of other movies they appeared in (including Toto); a lightly animated 10-minute storybook narrated by Angela Lansbury; and the original mono track and a music-and-effects track. New for 2009 is a sing-along track that you can turn on as you watch the movie or you can select from 10 numbers to sing along with karaoke-style subtitles. The second disc has the Lansbury-hosted documentary The Making of a Movie Classic ; outtakes and deleted scenes, including Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow" reprise and the home-movie recording of "The Jitterbug"; sketches and stills and composer Harold Arlen's home movies; audio underscores and radio programs; 1979 interviews with Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, and Jack Haley; 2001 and 2005 behind-the-scenes featurettes; a 1950 Lux Radio Theater broadcast; and other items too numerous to mention. --David Horiuchi The Wizard of Oz (70th Anniversary Two-Disc Special Edition) [DVD] Review: A Timeless Classic Brings the Magic Home: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Edition DVD - Okay, so I’m gonna tell y’all about one of the most magical things I ever bought - "The Wizard of Oz" 70th Anniversary Special Edition DVD. I got it years ago, and it's still one of the best things we own. Every year, without fail, we pop it into our DVD player and travel down the yellow brick road. Now, I'm sure we all remember the first time we saw this masterpiece, right? The adventures of Dorothy, Toto, and her band of lovable misfits - the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. And who could forget that Wicked Witch? Gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking’ about her! And in this edition, she's just as wicked and the colors just as spectacular as I remember. The DVD comes with two discs, they're loaded with so many extras, it's like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. There are some fun facts from a film critic, which were neat to listen to. Made me feel like I was on a trivia game show or something'. There’s even a sing-along feature that’ll have you belting "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the top of your lungs - not that I'd ever do such a thing, of course! What really gets me though, are the extras that show you what went on behind the scenes. There’s a whole documentary about how they made the movie, and you even get to see some scenes they didn’t include in the original. It’s like being given a key to the Emerald City! As a long-time fan of the film, I really appreciated the details. It was like unwrapping a present and finding something more amazing with each layer. The colors are so vibrant, and the sound is just right. I felt like I was right there in Oz, skipping along with Dorothy and her crew. Long story short, this DVD is more than just a movie - it’s an experience. It brings back all the feelings from the first time I watched it, and then some. This 70th Anniversary Edition of "The Wizard of Oz" gets a big, hearty, five-star rating from me. So, if you're looking for a bit of magic and nostalgia, don't hesitate to pick this up. You won’t regret it! Review: Great movie… every time! - This is always a good choice! The 70th edition had several features available that were great to look at.
K**O
A Timeless Classic Brings the Magic Home: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Edition DVD
Okay, so I’m gonna tell y’all about one of the most magical things I ever bought - "The Wizard of Oz" 70th Anniversary Special Edition DVD. I got it years ago, and it's still one of the best things we own. Every year, without fail, we pop it into our DVD player and travel down the yellow brick road. Now, I'm sure we all remember the first time we saw this masterpiece, right? The adventures of Dorothy, Toto, and her band of lovable misfits - the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. And who could forget that Wicked Witch? Gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking’ about her! And in this edition, she's just as wicked and the colors just as spectacular as I remember. The DVD comes with two discs, they're loaded with so many extras, it's like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. There are some fun facts from a film critic, which were neat to listen to. Made me feel like I was on a trivia game show or something'. There’s even a sing-along feature that’ll have you belting "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the top of your lungs - not that I'd ever do such a thing, of course! What really gets me though, are the extras that show you what went on behind the scenes. There’s a whole documentary about how they made the movie, and you even get to see some scenes they didn’t include in the original. It’s like being given a key to the Emerald City! As a long-time fan of the film, I really appreciated the details. It was like unwrapping a present and finding something more amazing with each layer. The colors are so vibrant, and the sound is just right. I felt like I was right there in Oz, skipping along with Dorothy and her crew. Long story short, this DVD is more than just a movie - it’s an experience. It brings back all the feelings from the first time I watched it, and then some. This 70th Anniversary Edition of "The Wizard of Oz" gets a big, hearty, five-star rating from me. So, if you're looking for a bit of magic and nostalgia, don't hesitate to pick this up. You won’t regret it!
S**S
Great movie… every time!
This is always a good choice! The 70th edition had several features available that were great to look at.
K**N
My favorite movie for spring or anytime I’d like.
I got this movie because when I was growing up the family watched it on tv and when I was in third grade I was in the play in school I love it.
B**S
Beyond the Rainbow...
This is the classic that everyone refers to when comparing stories from Oz. This is one I sincerely hope they let stand as it is, as remaking movies seems to be the rage these days. Yes, no doubt they could remake it, but it would never stand up to the energy of the original and no doubt lose a lot in translation despite the flash of current CGI. These were classic characters and with all the flaws of the moviemaking industry at the time, did a wonderful job of creating the Land of Oz. I think some things should remain as they are, to show future generations of the past, as well as keep alive a wonderful tale, a fairytale story that didn't generate in Europe, or anywhere else, but was created right here in America.
P**N
SIMPLY AMAZING!!!
First, I'd like to say that Amazon is amazing with shipping speed! We ordered on Monday with 2 day shipping (Prime) and received the movie on Tuesday!!!! This was fabulously redone; the color is astounding and the clarity is phenominal! My kids were so happy with the sing-a-long's in the bonus features. It was so cute to see them singing and dancing along with the movie. My kids normally don't like 'funny colored' movies but this one they had absolutely no complaints about. They even wanted to re-watch it immediately after. We own the VHS older version of the movie and this is BY FAR much better!! Simply Amazing!!
J**N
eternally magical!
I have watched this movie probably 50 plus Times in my life and still enjoy the magic of Judy Garland and the entire cast. "There's no place like home" is a line that applies to most of us. The picture and sound quality were great! Delivery of the film was fast. The best thing for me this time was that I showed the film to a small group of friends after dinner at my home recently, and two of them, both in their sixties, had never seen it. They loved the movie. No, WIZARD OF OZ hasn't lost its charm.
J**E
A piece of Americana
What an amazing film, heart-wrenching and beautiful. This is more than an American film, this is Americana, it transcends cinema and it's pure art regardless of the container it is in. It may not be among the 10 best films according to film critics but it has to be in the lists of 10 most loved ones by American (with the heart in the right place), right there with Gone with the wind. A piece of America. Not more and not less. The extras in disc 2 are also a wealth of info on the making of the movie.
S**I
Great movie - wish it was widescreen
Will start off by saying the movie itself and the restoration is worth 5 stars (or more)! If, for any reason, you haven't seen The Wizard of Oz, stop what you're doing and watch it, preferrably with your kids (but not mandatory). I knocked off a star from my overall review as when this title was first made available on Amazon, it clearly stated that this version was Widescreen. Imagine my frustration when it came to my house and it was standard aspect ratio - even the box clearly states it's the standard version. Why Amazon would list it as Widescreen is beyond me. I don't think it was intentional, and I see that the description has been corrected. Still, the movie is awesome and I'm considering getting the Blu-Ray version to play on my PS3's player.
L**A
Worth it!!!
Plays like new. Quality movie & special edition details are the best
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