10 harsh realities of rewatching The Wizard of Oz, 85 years later

The favorite classic The Wizard of Oz It premiered 85 years ago, but time hasn’t necessarily been a friend to some aspects of the iconic movie. The Wizard of Oz The cast was star-studded at the time and the movie was a big hit when it premiered. The first story written in 1900 by L. Frank Baum has received many revamps and retellings since its creation, but it is the 1939 adaptation that remains the definitive version.

The Wizard of Oz is a highly quotable dream in both black and white and Technicolor, with many of its images imprinted in the public consciousness. The film is notable for its iconic sets, performances, songs and costumes, Including Dorothy’s famous ruby ​​slippers – details that have helped it stand the test of time. However, although the film and Judy Garland’s performance are still highly revered after 85 years, the film has a few logical inconsistencies.

10

Aunt Em and Uncle Henry deny Dorothy’s claims

Despite mistreatment and emotional turmoil, the guardians do not help Dorothy

At the beginning of the film, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry brush off Dorothy’s reports of Mrs. Gulch’s treatment of Toto. Mrs. Gulch’s retaliations, which include hitting Toto with a rake for terrorizing her cat, are very serious. Despite the severity, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry don’t seem to care, and they tease Dorothy for interrupting their work. Not only do they dismiss Toto’s treatment, but they ignore Dorothy’s obvious emotional distress.

Even in the following scene, When Mrs. Gulch says she plans to have Toto”destroyed“, the two do not seem worried. Eventually, they lock Mrs. Gulch out, though only when Dorothy leaves the room. The careless scenes with Dorothy and her family are included to show how out-of-place Dorothy feels, leading her to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Despite being the film’s most iconic song, the neglect of Dorothy and Toto’s well-being is hard to rewatch.

9

The farm hand introductions are too blunt

Their lines need to set up their transformation later

Since the real farm hands are only in a few minutes of the movie, their lines have to be straightforward and hard-nosed. By saying things like “Have a little courage“and”Straw for brains“ They hint directly at their OW counterparts. The lines are incredibly specific and stylized, although they can go unnoticed when you first watch.

When they learn that these will be the actors that Dorothy sees in Oz, the set-up becomes too obvious. The letters must be memorable and stand out in a few lines To be recognizable later in the movie, especially if the double casting remains unknown. Their introduction also demonstrates a friendly and almost familial connection with Dorothy, which explains why they would appear in her dream.

8

The window does not hit Dorothy with enough force to knock her out

She is knocked out despite barely being hit

The incident of the film is when Dorothy is knocked out by a falling window in a tornadoLeading to her dreams of Oz. While looking for her family, the window in her room hits her in the back of the head and leaves her unconscious on the bed. It seems that the window is more dangerous than the storm since no other debris enters the room, which is lucky for Dorothy since she is vulnerable on the bed.

Since this film is not horror, The production chooses not to focus on the injury. However, it is notable that Dorothy does not seem to be that injured, at least not to the extent that she would be unconscious for that long. It is more convenient than realistic that she is knocked out so easily, leading to the chromatic plot of the movie.

7

The Wicked Witch of the West just wants justice for her sister

Her sister was crushed under Dorothy’s house

When the Wicked Witch of the West appears, Glinda smugly informs her that Dorothy’s house is crushing her sister. Although it is not the most mature reaction, The wicked witch vows to punish Dorothy for killing her sister. While it tells about the personality of the wicked witch, she is understandably upset with Dorothy, especially after she also claims the ruby ​​slippers.

Glinda also does not make the situation better. She sadistically torments the wicked witch, She mentions the ruby ​​slippers and talks about her as if she wasn’t there. Despite the witch’s requests, Glinda even encourages Dorothy not to give up the slippers. Although it is clear that the Wicked Witch is evil, there is no real reason for Dorothy to dislike her or for the audience to root against her, especially since she is sympathetic and sad for her sister.

6

Dorothy and Scarecrow would not be able to understand the Tin Man

They know how to oil the tin man

When Dorothy and Scarecrow meet the Teen Man, his mouth is rusty shut. They approach him and try to help him talk, though they still need to figure out what’s wrong. He tries to convey that he needs the oil. Since automated teen people aren’t typical, and this is likely Dorothy’s first encounter with one, it’s incredible that Dorothy could find what he needed and didn’t panic.

His mouth is so rusty shut that he is unbelievable, After Dorothy and Scarecrow are able to tell that he is asking for the oil can. Even on rewatch, it’s hard to tell what he’s saying, and there’s no way the two would be able to decipher him. However, if they dismissed him and continued on, the movie would lack a significant character, thus the convenience of the oiling.

5

The Oz doorman would be in trouble

He lets the group in against orders

When they first arrive at the wizard’s palace, The doorman turns the group away. He tells them that the wizard won’t see them, which is probably standard protocol for appointments with the wizard since he ends up being a fraud. The wizard seems to be very strict about who is allowed to visit and ask for help.

When Dorothy begins to cry that she will never be able to return home, the doorman sympathizes and says that he will let them in. The group then comes to the wizard, who is aware of their situation but does not expect them, knowing that he cannot grant their wishes. however, In this moment of pity for Dorothy, the doorman went against the Wizard’s wishes and granted them entry. Since he was unable to manage the guests, the doorman would probably have been reprimanded or even fired from his job.

4

The wizard seems to know what the group wants

It is unclear how he found this information

The wizard is revealed to be wise but not omniscient. Despite this, he still seems to know what each member of Dorothy’s group wants. As they approach his room, he tells them exactly what each of them is looking for, despite not initially intending to meet with them. The Wizard of Oz is quick on his feet but not omniscient, which raises the question of how He knew what the group wanted before he even spoke to them.

Apparently, an assistant may have given the information to the wizard, because their arrival was big news in the town. The group doesn’t exactly keep their desires a secret, Ez knows what they want before they even say it. However, it begs the question of How could Ez have asked someone to give him the informationAs if he should be all-knowing. Any slip or ignorance can give his charade to the people of Oz.

3

Aunt M’s appearance is probably a trick

The witch used magic to trick Dorothy

The vision of Aunt M appearing in the castle of the wicked witch is probably a trick, which is happening through the magic of the witch. Aunt Em came out in a crystal ball shouting for Dorothy, and even said “It’s me, Aunt M.” The stilted reading of Auntie Em’s lines is likely because the bewitched witch created the illusion to tease Dorothy. As if it was not enough to remind her of her loss, the witch even appeared in the ball a few seconds later, mocking Dorothy’s cries for help, showing that she was listening to the message.

Although some might argue that it was Dorothy who heard Auntie M talking to her while unconscious, Auntie M’s lines wouldn’t make a lot of sense in this context. If she had been over Dorothy’s bed caring for her, she would not have said, “where are you“Or her name. This illusion is likely the culmination of Dorothy’s frustrations at being unable to get homeMixed with her observations of the powers of the wicked witch/woman. Gulch.

2

The wicked witch keeps a bucket of water nearby

Even though she probably knows it’s her one weakness

The wicked witch is defeated when Dorothy dumps a bucket of water on her, causing her to melt. The mortal weakness is not referenced elsewhere in the film; It just happens to be lucky for Dorothy. Dorothy does not know that this is such an important weapon, and only uses the water to extinguish the fire that the witch wields at the Scarecrow. This is the second time in the film Dorothy kills one of the witches And by the way, a community of terrorized creatures helps.

This convenient death begs the question of why the witch would have a bucket of water anywhere near her in the castle. It could be argued that the witch did not know she would melt when submerged, although she surely realized she should avoid water at some point. It was almost too coincidental that the one thing that would defeat the witch would be within arm’s reach And that Dorothy would have a reason to use it against the witch.

1

Glinda says she knew how to get home all along

But she claims that Dorothy would not have believed her

At the end of the film, Glinda appears to Dorothy and tells her that she knew how to get home all along. When asked why she was withholding the information, Glinda says that Dorothy wouldn’t have believed her and that she needs to learn the way home for herself. Dorothy then recites a thoughtful and almost forced monologue about the importance of home, which Glinda agrees is the moral of the journey through Oz.

It’s almost cruel that Glinda put Dorothy through so much before telling her the secret to return home. The excuse that Dorothy wouldn’t have believed her right away is almost laughable, as Dorothy stepped out into a magical technicolor land and would likely have believed anything. Although she probably deserves an appreciation for the farm hands, Dorothy doesn’t seem to miss her aunt and uncle any more than she did when she first arrived in Oz. While touching, the scene is almost an anticlimactic ending The Wizard of Oz.