Film Critique: Wizard of Oz - Term Paper Example

dy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Frank Morgan as Marvel Wizard, Ray Bolger as scarecrow/Hunk, Bert Lahr as Cowardly Lion/Zeke, Jack Haley as Tin Woodman/Hickory Twicker, Margaret Hamilton as Witch of West/Miss Gulch, Billie Burke as Glinda/Good Witch, Pat Walshe as Nikko, Charley Grapewin as Uncle Henry and Clara Blandick as Aunt Em. Some of the songs that have featured in the movie are; ”A Night on Bald Mountain”, “Over the Rainbow” and “If I Were King of the Forest.” This paper elaborates on the plot of the film, the techniques of filming used, the Mise en Scene, technology used, the impact of the film on society/individual and how the society affects film production.

The film “The Wizard of Oz” is nowadays considered to be an example of classic works of cinema and one of the best films ever shot. This is completely true because everything in this movie looks perfect down to the last detail. One of the reasons for its being that significant is that it raises such problems which are referred to as those always encountered by people independently of their qualities and features. The film was shot based on the fairytale book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by Frank Baum, “…whose Oz books have gladdened millions…” (MacFall 1956), and the audience was already familiar with the plot when the film was shown.

The film begins when Dorothy Gale, an orphaned teenager living on a Kansas farm with her aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Dorothy contemplates about going “over the rainbow” after Miss Gulch hits her dog, Toto harder on the back with a farm tool prompting the pet to bit her. Miss Gulch makes an attempt to take Toto to the sheriff but her effort becomes unfruitful. As Dorothy returns home with Toto, she realizes that she will no longer reunite with her family as she has been cut off from them by the tornado.

Dorothy takes refuge in a house nearby only to be hit by a loose window, she starts dreaming and finds herself together with Toto in a magical,