Monday, April 23, 2012

The Wizard of Oz

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!
The Wizard of Oz

(I know, I know – we don't normally count The, but I filled up my W already! Shhh!)

The movie. I liked the books well enough as a kid, but for me, this is one example of the movie surpassing the book. I remember watching it on TV every year growing up. I couldn’t wait for it to come back. I loved it all – even the flying monkeys! Judy’s voice blew me away and the magic of Oz was undeniable. And the scarecrow? Best of all. I still get a thrill when Dorothy opens that door into a world of colour and wonder.

Do you have any movies that were favourites when you were a kid that you still love today? Or movies you like better than the book(s)?

35 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I think this film I have seen the most , as well as seeing it as a child at the cinema, the TV always seem to repeat it at Christmas.

Great post.

Yvonne.

JeffO said...

I still haven't read the Oz books, but I loved this movie as a kid. Like you, I remember it as a yearly-ritual.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The Oz books were odd - I do remember that.
Yes, I liked the movie versions of LOTR better than the books.

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - I've never seen it at the theater - that would be awesome! :)

Jeff - I read the books when I was really young - but they never had the impact on me the movie did!

Alex - I think so too. I love the LotR books, but I love the movie even more!

Old Kitty said...

Awwww love this film so much and could watch again and again - esp. the Lion! "Stick em up, stick em up!" Yay! Take care
x

Jemi Fraser said...

Old Kitty - I love the lion too! He's such a fun character!! :)

Amy said...

I LOVED this movie so much and could still watch it over and over. Great choice!

Shelley Sly said...

Aw, I love this movie. I always loved how elements of her real life on the farm popped up in Oz (especially the people themselves), and that's given me lots of creative inspiration. Such a classic.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I loved the Oz books, but that's because my grandmother read them to me, I think! The later ones were better than the first. Scary stuff in the movie, but I asked to stay up late to watch it every year as a kid!

Lynn Proctor said...

certainly one of my favorites as a child--i watched it every year---it didn't connect with me for a few years, that it was all a dream

cleemckenzie said...

To Kill a Mockingbird was as good as the book. I also thought the Wizard of Oz was great. In fact, I liked the movie more than the book and that hasn't happened since.

You're forgiven counting the T in The. You're forgiven anything, Jemi!

Laurel Garver said...

A few examples I can think of where I liked the movie better than the book are The World According to Garp and The Fellowship of the Ring. In the first case, some thematic elements were added that improved the story, the the latter case, some kind of dull digressions were removed that helped the pacing.

BTW, I've tagged you in the "Lucky Seven" meme. I hope you'll participate when you've finished A-Z.

Rosalind Adam said...

I think you can be forgiven using the The so you could include this film. It was such an outstanding film in its time (but a bit dated now). I have to admit that I never read the book though.

S. L. Hennessy said...

I apparently watched this movie every day for a year and a half when I was little. My poor mom. A Wrinkle in Time. That's a book I loved as a kid, but probably more as I got older.

Johanna Garth said...

I love this movie too. My favorite in the Oz series was always Ozma of Oz.

Theresa Milstein said...

I won't tell. Back before On Demand and DVDs when I was young, I used to look forward to it coming on each spring. It always aired around my birthday--like a present!

LD Masterson said...

I'm going to add a disclaimer and say I never saw this in the theater - not that old - but my favorite movie (even more than the book) that I still love today is Little Women, the Katherine Hepburn version. Timeless.

Jean Oram said...

This is the first movie I watched on VHS. My dad rented it (and the player) when I was sick once. Pretty cool. Thanks for the memories! :)

(Otherwise, I was pretty much movie deprived as a kid. Although ET was pretty good.)

Jemi Fraser said...

Amy - I still watch it at least once a year. Love it :)

Shelley - I don't know if I caught all of the jokes and ironic comments the first several times I watched it - so well written :)

Elizabeth - I don't remember how many of the books I read as a kid - I think I might have gotten more out of them if I'd read them again later on.

Lynn - there are so many 'aha' moments when you watch it as an adult!

Lee - thanks! Makes me feel better!! :) It really is such a wonderful movie!

Laurel - thanks! I'll definitely do it in May - after I've recovered a bit! :)

Rosalind - the series of Oz books is huge - something like 15 books??? I didn't read them all, but I read a few!

SL - I wish I'd read Wrinkle as a kid. I loved it as an adult, but I think its magic would have been more powerful when I was younger!

Johanna - I don't remember them clearly at all - just fuzzy memories. I should reread them again one day!

Theresa - exactly! It was always an event for me (no bday though!). Glad my parents put up with me taking up the tv for it!

Linda - I've never seen Little Women. I've avoided it because I loved the book so much. Maybe I'll check it out!

Jean - I remember when we had to rent the player and the movies too! :)

Anonymous said...

When I was a kid CBS, I believe, played this every spring. And I would watch it every single time. I never got sick of it.

Unknown said...

One of the best movies ever made.

Jemi Fraser said...

Medeia - I still haven't got sick of it - it's magic at its very best :)

Clarissa - I agree! I show it to my class every year and they love it. I find it surprising how many have never seen it. :)

Anonymous said...

The Wizard of Oz is one of my all time favorite movies. My husband bought me my own copy.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I remember being excited to see it each year as a child also. I also remember waiting for Ben Hur at Easter time.

Jemi Fraser said...

Susanne - me too! Some of my students got me my copy :)

Susan - it's funny how we remember those yearly events! Love it :)

Leslie S. Rose said...

We went to my grandpa's house one year when Wizard of Oz played because he had a color TV. The first time we saw the that the witch's face was green, my brother's and I cried and hid behind the couch. I love Wicked so much because I adored Wizard of Oz.

Jemi Fraser said...

Leslie - too funny! It would have been quite the shock! :) I haven't seen Wicked yet, but I know I'd love it! :)

Beth Zimmerman said...

I like the black version (The Wiz) with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross even better! Have you ever seen it?

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - I actually haven't seen that one - although I don't really know why... I'm sure I'd love it!

Jack said...

I like the Wizard of Oz, I watch it with the girls I babysit. I plan to read the books as well, soon. At least the first one.

Jemi Fraser said...

Jack - it's SUCH a great movie! There are a bunch of books in the series - I think it's around 15 or so :)

Patricia Stoltey said...

I loved this one too -- one of the networks used to run it every year at Christmas time, and the whole family watched while we wrapped gifts, addressed Christmas cards, or played board games.

The other one I remember most is Miracle on 34th Street. For some reason, I liked it a lot better than A Wonderful Life.

Jemi Fraser said...

Pat - me too! 34th street always makes me smile and cry a little! I even like the remake (which is rare for me). Great story!!

Arlee Bird said...

Never read any of the Oz books, but I've seen the movie countless times since childhood and still think it's a great film. Plus I did 3 tours with a stage production of Wizard of Oz. It's a story dear to my heart.


Lee
Places I Remember
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog

Jemi Fraser said...

Lee - me too! I love everything about it - from the cheesy Oz scene with the primping to the flying monkeys to the witch!