the wizard of oz

The first American fairy tale became one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time.  

Originally published in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow.  The story of Dorothy Gale; who gets swept up into a cyclone and delivered to the land of Oz where she meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion; became a phenomenal success and sold out of initial printings.  Baum adapted the story into a Broadway musical two years later and eventually wrote thirteen additional Oz books.  


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought the rights to the novel in 1938 and put producer Mervyn LeRoy in charge of the project.  Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, and Edgar Allan Woolf were given credit for the screenplay; but (at least) eleven other writers were involved in the process:   Irving Brecher, Herbert Fields, Arthur Freed, Yip Harburg, Samuel Hoffenstein, Jack Mintz, Sid Silvers, Richard Thorpe, George Cukor and King Vidor.


'The Wizard of Oz' was only a moderate box office success; but it was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.  It won Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow" and Best Original Score.   The songs were by Edgar "Yip" Harburg  and Harold Arlen. The incidental music, based largely on the songs, was composed by Herbert Stothart, with interspersed renderings from classical composers.












 "Over The Rainbow" was almost cut by studio executives who thought it slowed the action of the film.  LeRoy threatened to quit if it was not included.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U016JWYUDdQ




Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh, why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow why, oh, why can't I?




"Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jn8K8EA7-Q





"Follow The Yellow Brick Road / You're Off To See The Wizard"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYvs9cB3qVk








"If I Only Had A Brain [Extended Version]"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vg2fWPjjHM




"If I Only Had A Heart [Extended Version]"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGbfs6HZDNo




"If I Only Had A Nerve"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-agvP3W0JG8






"Optimistic Voices"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nq34mISKUo








"The Merry Old Land Of Oz"






'The Wizard of Oz' 
full album:



-00:00 = "Over The Rainbow [Excerpt][Partial Take]"
-00:22 = "Main Title"
-01:57 = "Over The Rainbow"
-04:17 = "Cyclone [Extended Version]"
-06:34 = "Munchkinland"
-08:40 = "Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead (Reprise)"
-09:21 = "We Welcome You To Munchkinland"
-10:01 = "Follow The Yellow Brick Road / You're Off To See The Wizard"
-10:47 = "If I Only Had A Brain [Extended Version]"
-13:04 = "If I Only Had A Heart [Extended Version]"
-14:30 = "If I Only Had A Nerve"
-15:12 = "We're Off To See The Wizard [Trio]"
-15:38 = "Optimistic Voices"
-16:09 = "The Merry Old Land Of Oz"
-18:01 = "If I Were King Of The Forest [Extended Version]"
-19:06 = "On The Castle Wall [Extended Version]"
-21:03 = "Ding-Dong! Emerald City [Outtake]"
-22:16 = "Delirious Escape / Delirious Escape Continued / End Title [Extended Version]"






'The Wizard of Oz' 



Main Title - Prologue - Dorothy's Dilemma - MGM Orchestra MGM Orchestra1
Over the Rainbow Instrumental Arrival - MGM Orchestra MGM Orchestra3
Come Out Come Out - It Really Was A Miracle - Cast, Judy Gar Cast, Judy Garland, MGM Orchestra4
Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead - Cast, MGM Orchestra Cast, MGM Orchestra5
The Lullaby League - Munchkins Munchkins6
The Lollipop League - Munchkins Munchkins7
The Yellow Brick Road - You're Off To See The Wizzard - Cast Cast, MGM Orchestra8
If I Only Had A Brain - Judy Garland - Ray Bolger Judy Garland - Ray Bolger9
We're Off To See The Wizzard - Judy Garland - Ray Bolger Judy Garland - Ray Bolger10
If I Only Had A Heart - Jack Haley Jack Haley11
We're Off To See The Wizzard - Buddy Ebsen, Judy Garland, Ra Buddy Ebsen, Judy Garland, Ray Bolger12
If I Only Had The Nerve - Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - Bert L Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - Bert Lahr - Buddy Ebsen13
We're Off To See The Wizzard - Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - B Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - Bert Lahr - Buddy Ebsen14
The Emerald City - Cast, MGM Orchestra Cast, MGM Orchestra15
The Merry Old Land Of Ozz - Jack Haley - Ray Bolger - Ralph Jack Haley - Ray Bolger - Ralph Sudam16
If I Was King Of The Forest - Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - Be Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - Bert Lahr - Buddy Ebsen17
The Haunted Forest - MGM Orchestra MGM Orchestra18
The Attack Of The Winged Monkeys - MGM Orchestra MGM Orchestra19
The Jitterbug - MGM Orchestra MGM Orchestra20
Over The Rainbow Reprise - Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - Buddy Judy Garland - Ray Bolger - Buddy Ebsen - Jack Haley21
March Of The Winkies - The Wicked Witch Is Dead - MGM Orches MGM Orchestra22
The Witch Is Dead Reprise - Cast, MGM Orchestra Cast, MGM Orchestra23
The Wizzard's Expose - MGM Orchestra MGM Orchestra24
Finale - Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland, MGM Orch Judy Garland, MGM Orchestra25








'The Wizard of Oz' 
full movie:


Of Oz the Wizard from Matt Bucy on Vimeo.