75 years ago, one of the most endearing children's science fiction films in the history of contemporary art was released. A gallery of unforgettable characters - little Dorothy and her friends The Scarecrow, The Tin Man and The Lion, each in search of solutions to their deepest problems - product of the imagination of an American writer born in the second half of the 19th century, was installed in the collective imagination of many subsequent generations, earning the status of a classic of literature and family cinema. The Wizard of Oz is one of the most popular fantastic stories and it is good to remember this anniversary, which is celebrated worldwide, and especially by the Mecca of Cinema that will pay tribute to it in the next installment of the Oscar Awards . On this note, an invitation for everyone, teachers and students, to meet again -or experience for the first time- the magic of this all-time classic.
In 1939, a movie with a fantasy theme stole the hearts and dreams of millions of people. In it, a very upset teenager makes a decision that she never thought would lead her through a series of adventures through a world of dreams that will show her "that there is no other place like home."
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the premiere of the musical film The Wizard of Oz (The Wizard of Oz ) , perhaps better known than the children's book that gave rise to it, entitled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by Lyman Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. It was initially published in 1900 by the George M. Hill Company of Chicago, and since then it has been one of the most published books both in the United States and in Europe.
The film adaptation is not entirely faithful to the novel, but manages to rescue the spirit of the book, which stands out as the first children's story with characters and places typical of the United States , at a time when all children's stories described European landscapes and characters. Thanks to its great success, its author wrote thirteen more books about the land of Oz.
The film, it goes without saying, is already an all-time classic, and precisely for this reason this year, the Oscar awards , will pay tribute to him on his 75th anniversary. In 1939, the film was nominated in four categories, including best picture, and ultimately won two statuettes for best soundtrack and best original song, for Over the rainbow. , melody composed by E. Y. Harburg, which became immortal thanks to the sensational recording made by Judy Garland , protagonist of the film.
To briefly tell the story that this film tells us would be to deprive our readers of the gratifying experience of appreciating it with all the surprises it offers us. For that reason we will only give some generalities to arouse your curiosity if you have not seen it yet.
Our protagonist is Dorothy Gale, a young orphan who lives on a farm in Kansas with her aunt and uncle, her dog Toto and the local workers. When her little pet is in danger, Dorothy decides to run away from home to protect him but, in the middle of her escape, she is caught by a tornado that hits her in the head and takes her to the magical and wonderful world of Oz.
The adventures that this girl will experience will leave as many life lessons in her as in the viewers, since the way back home will not be easy or fast, and will be full of moments emotional that will make us reflect on the importance of valuing our life at home, that place where, despite the problems, we always have the love and support that all of us need from our families.
The story of the Wizard of Oz It also leads us to the eternal search for what we need to feel happy and fulfilled, a journey through everything we want to be but what, many times, we do not dare for superficial reasons and without real support. The odyssey of Dorothy and her friends invites us to ask ourselves what stops us from doing what we really want and the answers that are presented to us are surprisingly simple, showing us that everything we need is within us and we are almost never aware of it. .
The film lasts just over an hour and a half and is full of endearing songs, fantastic characters and a lot of color starting from Dorothy's arrival in the world of Oz. In fact, it was one of the first films to successfully use the then revolutionary technique of technicolor in cinema, combining it with classic black and white filming. A milestone in the history of the seventh art.
If you are willing to defy the parameters of modern cinema, full of computerized visual effects and artificial animations, this film offers you the opportunity to enjoy a simple, warm and all-encompassing story. the family. It can be quite a challenge but, at the same time, it is a great opportunity to develop the appreciation of our children and students and why not, ours too.
Currently, this story, which seems very clear to those who see the film, has a theatrical version that tells the story of Oz before the arrival of Dorothy, a musical widely acclaimed for 10 years in the best theaters in the world and that can change your perception about what is good and bad or what seems so. Wicked is the title in English of this work that leaves its viewers speechless, after so many years of being sure of knowing who is who in that fantastic and magical world.
For all these reasons and many more, we recommend you not to miss the movie The Wizard of Oz , in its original version, that will undoubtedly give him more reasons to understand his success over time and the well-deserved tribute he will receive after reaching his first 75 years.