When Judy Garland was cast in the role of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, she was not their first choice. Producers Arthur Freed and Mervyn LeRoy indeed wanted her cast from the beginning, but the studio chief wanted Shirley Temple from 20th Century Fox.

Who almost got the role of Dorothy?

But the role almost went to another multi-talented child star: 11-year-old Shirley Temple.

Who turned down the Wizard of Oz?

Shirley Temple was the favourite to play Dorothy, but her singing skills were not strong enough. The role was ultimately a big break for Garland, then a contract player at MGM. The film originally featured the Wizard as the central character, and both W.C. Fields and Bert Lahr turned down the part.

Why didn t Shirley Temple get the role of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz?

Roger Edens, MGM composer and Garland's mentor, dubiously made an appointment to hear Shirley Temple sing on the Twentieth Century-Fox lot. He returned to Metro to report that Temple lacked the robust vocal chops required for the extravaganza being prepared, and the part of Dorothy remained Judy Garland's, as intended.

Why was Judy drugged for Wizard of Oz?

"While filming 'The Wizard of Oz', Garland was receiving criticism about her weight and had her food rationed by the studio. "She soon began taking amphetamines, which the MGM studio willingly gave to young actors and actresses in order to give them the energy to continue filming for hours at a time.

The Wizard of Oz | 75th Anniversary "Dorothy Meets The Scarecrow" | Warner Bros. Entertainment

Why did the witch want Dorothy?

“The Wizard of Oz” - musical film

…the evil witch's sister, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), vows to kill Dorothy in order to avenge her sister and retrieve the powerful ruby slippers.

Who is the real villain in Wizard of Oz?

In Baum's subsequent Oz novels, it is the Nome King who is the principal villain; the Wicked Witch of the West is rarely even referred to again after her death in the first book. The witch's most popular depiction was in the classic 1939 film based on Baum's novel, where she was portrayed by Margaret Hamilton.

Who was the most coward in the story The Wizard of Oz?

The Cowardly Lion makes his first appearance in the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He is the last of the companions Dorothy befriends on her way to the Emerald City where he ambushes her, Toto, Scarecrow, and Tin Woodman. When he tries to bite Toto, Dorothy slaps him.

Who played the most roles in Wizard of Oz?

Morgan is best remembered for his performance in The Wizard of Oz (1939), in which picture he played a total of six roles, most notably the Wizard, which included the carnival huckster "Professor Marvel", the gatekeeper at the Emerald City, the coachman of the carriage drawn by "The Horse of a Different Color", the ...

Which character will Dorothy miss the most?

9. "I think I'll miss you most of all." Thus Dorothy says goodbye to the Scarecrow. Why the strange partiality? Because, in an earlier draft of the script, Dorothy and the Kansas counterpart of the Scarecrow are sweet on each other.

Who did Dorothy miss most in Wizard of Oz?

Dorothy will miss the Scarecrow the most because the Scarecrow joined Dorothy from almost the start of her trip. In essence, he was her FIRST friend in a scary strange land.

How old was Judy Garland when she played Dorothy?

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.

What is The Wizard of Oz real name?

Oz explains that his real name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs. To shorten this name, he used only his initials (O.Z.P.I.N.H.E.A.D.), but since they spell out the word pinhead, he shortened his name further and called himself "Oz".

How old was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz?

In the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy was played by Judy Garland, who received an Academy Juvenile Award for her performance. Since she was sixteen years old at the time of filming, Garland's maturing figure was bound into a figure-hiding corset.

Who did Michael Jackson play in Wizard of Oz?

Michael Jackson, a former Motown star and close friend of Ross, was cast as the Scarecrow.

Who is the heartless character in the Wizard of Oz?

The Tin Woodman states unequivocally that he has neither heart nor brain, but cares nothing for the loss of his brain.

Who did the lion represent in the Wizard of Oz?

The Cowardly Lion is another main character introduced in the story. He represents William Jennings Bryan, according to Littlefield. This is because Bryan was unable to get the votes of the industrial workers in the election.

Why did the Tin Man cry?

Once, indeed, the Tin Woodman stepped upon a beetle that was crawling along the road, and killed the poor little thing. This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to hurt any living creature; and as he walked along he wept several tears of sorrow and regret.

Is Glinda the bad witch?

The Wizard of Oz – 1939 MGM film

Dorothy (Judy Garland, right) with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke) in The Wizard of Oz, 1939. In the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz, Glinda is the Good Witch of the North. She is played in the film by Billie Burke.

Is Glinda good or bad in Wicked?

Glinda isn't evil. Stuck up, self-centered, yes. But not evil. as Kristen Chenoweth plays her in the musical.

What was Dorothy afraid of?

The Wicked Witch of the West is very scary – she is green, ugly and very mean. She cackles and threatens to kill Dorothy. The trees in the forest have faces and talk. The forest is dark and creepy with screeching owls– Dorothy is afraid of meeting wild animals.

Why does the witch kiss Dorothy?

She kisses Dorothy on the forehead, a magical act that serves to protect Dorothy on the journey, because "no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed by the Witch of the North".

What is the meaning of the ruby red slippers?

In the movie, the slippers represent the little guy's ability to triumph over powerful forces. As the item that she – a simple teenage farm girl from Kansas – steals from the dictatorial Wicked Witch and ultimately uses to liberate the oppressed people of Oz, they're nothing less than a symbol of revolution.

Is Glinda The Wicked Witch's Sister?

She introduces herself as Glinda and explains that the true Wicked Witch is her half-sister, Evanora. Years ago, she poisoned their father, the King, so she could rule Oz uncontested. Before he died, the King predicted that a powerful Wizard would come and take his place.

What does Dorothy call Oz?

Even Dorothy had hope that "The Great and Terrible Humbug," as she called him, would find a way to send her back to Kansas, and if he did she was willing to forgive him everything.