The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 MGM Classic Revised and Expanded Edition: The Artistry and Magic of Teh 1939 MGM Classic

by Jay Scarfone

PUBLISHED ON THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE OF THE AUGUST 15, 2004!¶°The Wizard of Oz° is one of the most popular and beloved motion pictures of all time. Seen by over one billion people worldwide since its 1939 premiere, Oz is an indelible part of our national consciousness and our earliest childhood memories. Why does this movie endure despite modern advances in film make-up and special effects? This lavishly illustrated book explores the construction of Oz at the height of Hollywood's golden age and under the auspices of filmdom's greatest studio.¶Details about Oz's make-up, costumes and special effects are revealed, accompanied by rare stills, Technicolor test frames, and blueprints over 300 color and B&W illustrations, many published for the first time! Actual costumes and props now priceless treasures are presented from the archives of memorabilia collectors, supplemented by never-before-conducted interviews with Oz's cast and crew. Written by the nation's leading Oz authorities, and with a foreword by the Cowardly Lion's make-up man, °The Wizardry of Oz° is a fascinating trip over the rainbow, from concept to realization. This book is an absolute must for Oz fans, film scholars, devotees of Judy Garland and Hollywood's golden era, or anyone who's ever wondered, "How'd they do that?" while watching this classic.

Genres: Media Tie In

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Russell Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 MGM Classic,” by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman is a fascinating and imminently readable companion to the film classic. This edition, revised and expanded in 2004, was the most exhaustive book about The Wizard of Oz published at that time. The book goes behind the scenes, explaining make-up, costuming, set design, special effects, and publicity strategies for the movie. All of it is quite interesting, never bogging down in technical details. The book is also filled with pictures from the film and from the technical aspects. My biggest criticism is that often a blueprint takes up most of a page while a color still from the film illustrating the blueprint is so tiny it is hard to see any details. The blueprint itself is largely a cypher, for most of us have no idea how to read a blueprint, plus the type is faded anyway. A larger still and a smaller blueprint, for me, would have been more enlightening. There are now on the market, perhaps, better books about this film. In fact, I actually thought I was ordering a more recently published book. But this one is definitely worth the read and celebrates this magnificent movie in all its glory. In a world where most movie effects are accomplished by computer generated imagery, going behind the scenes of The Wizard of Oz, definitely created by the wizardry of the human mind and hand, is amazing.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally got to this beautiful book in it's entirety after flipping through it for years. Beyond inspiring. The work and craftsmanship that went on to make the film would school amateur and professional alike. So many great alternatives to CGI from camera angles, to special effects, to costuming and makeup. Love the film. Love knowing what was behind it as a creative adult.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Oz books for collectors/Oz fans. Super detailed. 10/10.

[Bethany Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read! Great in-depth look at one of the greatest classics of all time! Very visual with great photos. If you're not interested in the technical side, the book can be a tad boring. However, any Wizard of Oz fan would enjoy the book, even just for the photos.