A critical success on its 1939 release, The Wizard of Oz didn't make a profit for MGM until the 1949 re-release, earning only $3.02 million at the box office against a budget of $2.8 million – it was the most expensive production ever for the studio at the time.

Was The Wizard of Oz a financial success?

The Wizard of Oz, American musical film, released in 1939, that was based on the book of the same name by L. Frank Baum. Though not an immediate financial or critical success, it became one of the most enduring family films of all time.

How much did Judy Garland get paid for doing Wizard of Oz?

While her male co stars made 2500. to 3000 dollars a week, Judy Garland made $500 a week. Her complete earnings for The Wizard of Oz in 1939. totaled to 9580 $3, about $209,000 today. And don't worry, that rumor that Toto.

Was The Wizard of Oz a success when it came out?

Despite being popular at the box office, it would take over a year for the film to make a profit. The Wizard of Oz did become a critical success though and even won two Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

What's the most expensive film ever made?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens officially holds the record with a net budget of $447 million (although it is possible that Avatar: The Way of Water costs more if its price tag is towards the upper-end of its reported $350–460 million production costs).

The Wizard of Oz: A metaphor for the gold standard money system

How much did it cost to see The Wizard of Oz in 1939?

“But with the average national ticket prices at 25 cents (more than half of its audiences were juvenile patrons who paid a dime or 15 cents), it was not expected to recoup its $3 million in production and promotion costs.”

Did Toto get paid more than Dorothy?

But how do Terry's earnings compare to the other performers on set? Ultimately debunking a common misconception, Toto was not paid more than Dorothy, played by Judy Garland. Garland was paid $500 per week on set, which would be the equivalent of almost $11,000 in 2023 — definitely more than Terry.

Did Toto the dog get paid more than Dorothy?

Summary. Terry the dog, who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz, was paid $125 a week, more than some human actors on set. While Terry's earnings surpassed some actors, Judy Garland, who played Dorothy, made more at $500 a week.

Who is the richest in The Wizard of Oz?

Boq is the wealthiest of all the munchkins in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

What happened to the cast of The Wizard of Oz during filming?

During the Munchkinland sequence, a faulty trap door was responsible for inflicting serious burns upon Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West. She missed six weeks of filming and subsequently insisted her stand-in handle any scenes involving fire.

What age was Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz?

In 1938, when Garland was sixteen, she was cast as the young Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939), a film based on the 1900 children's book by L. Frank Baum. In the film, she sang the song with which she would be constantly identified afterward, "Over the Rainbow".

Who turned down Wizard of Oz?

W. C. Fields was originally chosen for the title role of the Wizard (after Ed Wynn turned it down, considering the part "too small"), but the studio couldn't meet Fields' fee. Wallace Beery lobbied for the role, but the studio refused to spare him during the long shooting schedule.

How old was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz?

Since she was sixteen years old at the time of filming, Garland's maturing figure was bound into a figure-hiding corset. Since fantasy films generally were unsuccessful at that time, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer portrayed Oz as a head-trauma-induced delirium, instead of a real place.

What is the true story behind The Wizard of Oz?

As conceived and written by Lyman Frank Baum in 1900, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was a political allegory of turn-of-the-century America. Written in the waning days of the Populist movement of the late 1800s, it was the story of the sad collapse of Populism and the issues upon which the movement was based.

Why was Toto taken away from Dorothy?

Apparently, Toto bit Gulch on the leg, resulting in her going to the sheriff and getting an order to put him to sleep (Toto, not the sheriff). Dorothy is beside herself, and she exclaims, “Uncle Henry, you won't let her, will you?”

How many Munchkins were children?

Actors and actresses

A Daily Variety news story from 17 August 1938, stated 124 dwarves had been signed to play Munchkins; modern sources place the number either at 122 or 124. An additional dozen or so child actors were hired to make up for the shortage of dwarves.

How many dogs played Toto in The Wizard of Oz movie?

In the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, Toto was played by a female brindle Cairn Terrier named Terry. She was paid a $125 salary each week, which was more than some of the human actors (the Singer Midgets who played the Munchkins reportedly received $50 to $100 a week).

Was Jack Haley the Tin Man?

Jack Haley was a movie and vaudeville actor who is always remembered as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939). The Tin Man role was originally was going to Buddy Ebsen, but due to allergic reaction from the aluminum powder makeup, Ebsen was taken out of the casting and Haley replaced him.

Where was The Wizard of Oz filmed?

The Wizard of Oz was filmed entirely on stages at MGM's Culver City studio at 10202 Washington Boulevard. The studio still stands today and offers visitors a look behind the curtains to see where the magic happened, as part of the Sony Pictures Studio Tour.

Was Wizard of Oz the first color movie?

The classic film The Wizard of Oz revolutionized cinema with its use of color, but it by no means pioneered it.

What is the cheapest movie that made the most money?

One of the most successful low-budget films was 1999's The Blair Witch Project. It had a budget of around $60,000 but grossed almost $249 million worldwide. It spawned books, a trilogy of video games, and a less-popular sequel.

What was the cheapest movie to make a million dollars?

Director Robert Rodriguez's breakthrough 1993 feature film, El Mariachi, was created on a shoestring budget of only $7,000, launching his career. It still holds the Guinness World Record for the lowest-budget film to gross $1 million at the box office.