In 1939, MGM hoped to bring the classic children’s story The Wizard of Oz to the big screen, but the production was fraught with difficulties from the beginning and even before a single frame of film was shot, the studio nearly pulled the plug on the film. Through the casting process — which almost rivaled that of another 1939 production, Gone With the Wind — spiraling costs, on-set accidents, and a never-ending stream of directors (five in all!), one man knew that this film had to be made, Arthur Freed. Freed championed the film, the fourth director Victor Fleming, who got exactly what Freed envisioned and then had to go save that other 1939 classic before the end of production (George Cukor then finished the film), and its young star, Judy Garland (the studio wanted Shirley Temple), as well as her signature song “Over the Rainbow,” which was nearly cut because MGM felt it dragged the film to a stop and they wanted to get to Oz as quickly as possible.

It’s safe to say that without Arthur Freed, we would probably not have The Wizard of Oz to celebrate this year, it’s 75th anniversary, or not the film we know and love today. And on this wondrous occasion, the folks at Warner Brothers (which owns the classic MGM library) have gone back to the film once again — having restored it beautifully already for the 70th anniversary — to give it a new sparkle, luster, size and dimension to give long-time fans and a new generation a completely new experience when viewing The Wizard of Oz.

The Wizard of Oz was recently given a special theatrical release, having been given a new high definition scrubbing, resizing the frame for the IMAX format, and converted from it’s flat, original 2D presentation to a shockingly effective 3D presentation. Having seen the film in IMAX 3D, I can say that the film looked better than it ever had before, even five years ago, and the 3D conversion works marvelously adding a completely new depth to the image (especially to those painted backdrops that you worried Dorothy and her friends would run into while skipping down the Yellow Brick Road). The audio has also been cleaned up and given the IMAX stereo treatment and it simply sparkles with clarity.

Now, Warner Home Video has brought that newly restored and converted film to home video in several formats, including Blu-ray 3D. After Warner’s recent success with the classic House of Wax 3D Blu-ray, one can expect nothing less from The Wizard of Oz … and if you’ve been hesitant about jumping on the 3D TV bandwagon, both of these movies should be reason enough to take the plunge. Looking at the IMAX presentation to the 3D Blu-ray, the image quality is comparable, even on the smaller TV screen. Prior to this restoration, I never really noticed things like the freckles on Judy Garland’s or Billie Burke’s faces, or just how rusty the Tin Man actually was when Dorothy and the Scarecrow found him. The sharper clarity also reveals more tell-tale signs of the makeup appliances, but it’s not distracting enough to take you out of the experience.

Comparing the 3D image to the 2D image on the Blu-ray, I can confidently say the 3D image is actually a bit sharper and less grainy. The 2D image looks fine, but the grain seems to be a bit heavier, so I prefer the 3D presentation for the finer grain. Perhaps this was something that was scrubbed away for the larger format of the IMAX presentation — and sometimes the studios can go overboard with grain removal that also removes most of the film’s minute details — but it’s a much more pleasing image and there is no loss of detail. If anything, the detail is even more sharp and clear. The 3D is also just as stunning on TV as it was in IMAX, and I still can’t get over how much depth the process has given the sets. Dorothy and company look like they can ease on down that road forever. If you have a home theater system, the audio is beautifully reproduced as well.

The 3D Blu-ray package includes both 3D and 2D versions of the movie on 2 disks. Bonus material includes an all-new documentary, The Making of The Wizard of Oz, which details the film’s production from the battle over the budget, Judy Garland and “Over the Rainbow,” looks at the revolving door of directors, Arthur Freed’s impact on the film (he was also responsible for most of MGM’s best-loved musicals through the 1950s), reveals the casting changes from Buddy Ebsen’s ill-fated turn as the Tin Man to Gale Sondergaard’s much too glamorous Wicked Witch of the West, and highlights the contributions of the cast that came to make the film a classic. Those commenting on the documentary include Stephen Schwartz, Composer-Lyricist of Wicked; John Fricke, Oz historian; Robert A. Baum, Great-grandson of L. Frank Baum; Michael Sragow, film critic; Sam Wasson, film historian; Marc Shaiman, Composer-Lyricist, Hairspray; Buddy Ebsen; Leonard Maltin; Rob Marshall; and John Lahr, son of Bert Lahr. There is also archival footage with cast members and crew talking about their experiences while making the film and beyond.

Other extras on the 2-disk set are carry-overs from the 70th anniversary release including an audio commentary, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook (Angela Lansbury read a very truncated version of Baum’s book), We Haven’t Really Met Properly … (Lansbury, again, narrates biographies of the key players), Music and Effects track, Original mono track, Sing-along (songs are subtitled for those who want to sing along), Audio Jukebox (original recordings and outtakes of the film’s musical numbers), Leo Is on the Air radio promo, Good News of 1939 radio show (Robert Young interviews the cast), 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Theater broadcast (a 1950 Christmas radio broadcast of The Wizard of Oz featuring Judy Garland as Dorothy), Stills Gallery, and Trailers.

If you’re a fan of The Wizard of Oz, or if you want to introduce your kids to the movie, the new 75th anniversary presentation is a must-have for your video library. Several version of this anniversary edition are available depending upon your needs, from standard DVD to deluxe Blu-ray box set, so don’t feel left out if you don’t yet have a Blu-ray player or 3D capability. The Wizard of Oz is a true classic that almost never was, and the care that has gone into this new restoration shows that this is a film that everyone loves.

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CliqueClack, Warner Brothers and Allied Integrated Marketing want to send DC readers down the Yellow Brick Road to a very special screening of The Wizard of Oz. This year marks the film’s 75th anniversary and Warner Brothers has completely remastered the film to celebrate this momentous event. Not only that, the film will be presented in 3D and in the IMAX format! The special screening will take place on Sunday, September 15, 10:30 AM at AMC Tysons Corner. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to be entered. Winners will be selected at random to receive a special GoFoBo code that will allow up to two Admit One passes to be printed. As passes are extremely limited, we ask that you please follow the rules of the contest.

ONE entry per person, per email address. All duplicates will be disqualified. CliqueClack reserves the right to disqualify any entries that appear to be duplicates. Winners will be notified by email. Make sure you have provided your correct email address (spelling counts). Any winning entries that are returned will be discarded and a new winner will be selected. Passes do not guarantee you seats at the screening. Seating is first-come, first-served so plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the number of passes distributed or seating at the theater. Contest runs to 6:00 PM, Friday, September 13. Winners will be notified no later than 6:00 PM, Saturday, September 14.

The Wizard of Oz 3D opens in IMAX theaters for one week beginning September 20th. The deluxe home video edition will be available October 1 and can be pre-ordered through the links below. Have a look at the trailer and tell us why you want to see The Wizard!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg8PrPVqCd8

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How do you make a prequel to a movie that is regarded as a classic, and also happens to be 74 years old? Disney and director Sam Raimi have placed themselves under some pretty tough scrutiny with their audacious decision to return to the land of Oz with Oz, the Great and Powerful, said prequel to 1939’s The Wizard of Oz, and also based on the works of Oz author L. Frank Baum. And this isn’t Disney’s first time visiting Oz … anyone remember the cult classic Return to Oz, a sequel which saw Dorothy institutionalized and undergoing shock therapy?! Thankfully, this new Oz movie is not quite that dark.

The plot, in a nutshell, starts out in a drab, black and white Kansas where a traveling carnival has set up. One of the attractions is magician Oscar Diggs, who is more charlatan than showman, and who also has some relationship with a woman named Annie (Michelle Williams). Annie tells Oscar that John Gale has proposed to her, hoping he will tell her not to accept but, knowing that she’s way out of his league, he wishes her well (it’s assumed that she will eventually become Dorothy Gale’s mother). When the residents of the side show learn that Oscar has been putting the moves on almost all of the women there, giving them music boxes supposedly belonging to his grandmother, they plan to run him out of business but he escapes in a hot air balloon … just as a twister strikes.

Oscar, or Oz as he was known on stage, wakes up in a colorful new land, learns that the denizens of the land of Oz have been waiting for the wizard to come and save them from the Wicked Witch, and also learns that he’ll be rich beyond his wildest dreams so he accept the prophecy that he’s the wizard and then has to convince everyone else of his abilities. While most take him at his word, Glinda the Good Witch (Williams, again) and Evanora (Rachel Weisz), a witch with dubious character, see through his charade. Only Theodora (Mila Kunis) believes in him until her sister Evanora reveals her true self and shows Theodora the error of her ways. The sisters lay siege to the Emerald City (and, yes, one of them does turn green and pointy-nosed and -chinned), and it’s up to Oscar and his friends to save the day.

Oz, the Great and Powerful certainly has some big shoes to fill, and for the most part Raimi and company have done an admirable job of connecting this film to The Wizard of Oz. The opening black and white segment, cropped squarely in the center of the screen, has the feel of the black and white segments from The Wizard of Oz. When the film opens up to its full widescreen, Technicolor glory, it almost becomes a sensory overload (and you begin to wonder how much of what you’re seeing is real and how much is CGI). If you’ve seen The Wizard of Oz, you will certainly recognize the Winkie guards, the winged monkey (the Wicked Witch this time has ferocious flying baboons), the Yellow Brick Road, and the Emerald City throne room (a marvelous recreation of the original set).

Unfortunately, the film itself isn’t all that great or powerful from start to finish. It seriously lags in the middle, and some of the performances are a bit weak, particularly James Franco. He really isn’t the best actor, but he gives it his all and tries to win everyone over with his charm. (He was also the third choice for the role. One can only wonder how Robert Downey Jr. could have made this a more engaging character.) Mila Kunis was okay, but I still didn’t buy her sincerity. Rachel Weisz had the tougher job of playing patronizing to Oscar upon his arrival, and someone with darker motivations, and she pulled it off. Michelle Williams did the best, giving Glinda a little more depth than she ever had in the original movie, proving she is more forceful than the image she portrays to her people. Zach Braff appears in the Kansas segment as Oscar’s assistant, and in Oz he voices the winged monkey who becomes Oscar’s friend and right hand. The most engaging character, however, is a little China Girl whom Oscar finds after the Wicked Witch attacks her village, leaving her legs shattered (echoing an earlier scene when a young girl begs the magician Oz to make her walk). For a CGI creation, China Girl is the most emotional, human character in the film.

Fortunately, the film ends with a bang that redeems the sagging middle and sets up future sequels as well as the events in The Wizard of Oz (hinting at cowardly lions, scarecrows and tin men). Raimi’s signature camera work is on full display (and keep a close eye out for his cameo-ing brother Ted and BFF Bruce Campbell), and he uses the 3D effect to its fullest potential. Raimi wastes no opportunity to have thing fly off the screen (to terrific effect even during the Kansas segment), from hummingbirds and butterflies to spears and fireworks. He gives the film great depth from the tip of your nose to way past the proscenium. If you hate 3D movies, this one may just change your mind. While the film is a little over-long and may not be as great and powerful as its title character, it’s still very entertaining and even a bit nostalgic. Be warned, however, that it’s definitely not for small children. Those flying baboons are quite terrifying!

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