This is how the executive at MGM referred to Judy Garland. Wizard of Oz Although he won Oscars in 1944 (Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo) and 1947 (Green Dolphin Street), his most celebrated achievement is the tornado in Wizard. Jack Young, one of the movie's makeup artists, revealed that the green paint that was used to cover Hamilton's body was actually toxic because it had copper in it: "Every night when I was taking off the Witch's makeup, I would make sure that her face was thoroughly clean. Her screen test convinced everyone that she was ideal for the part. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly American setting, a delightfully levelheaded and assertive heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature. He had been spotted by an MGM scout while performing in a show at the Bond Hotel in Connecticut and was the youngest of the 124 adult actors to suit up as a Munchkin. ), The original black-and-white negative photographed by Hal Rosson was lost in a 1970s fire at The George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. Completely untrue. I believe we bring a unique film aesthetic to the use of digital tools for restoration.". Like the silver makeup of the Tin Man, Margaret Hamilton's (The Witch of the West) green makeup was poisonous. Is that famous line from the film accurate? The Wizard of Oz | Producer Mervyn LeRoy helped persuade MGM's Louis B. Mayer to acquire the rights to L. Frank Baum's book and played a crucial role in the, The Wizard of Oz | The film opened in New York on Aug. 17, 1939. WebLollipop Guild Members - Billy Bletcher, Lorraine Bridges, Jon Dodson, Jackie Gerlich, Bud Linn, Jerry Maren Mayor - Billy Bletcher Winged Monkies - Buster Brodie, Harry Cogg, Sid Dawson, Sig Frohlich, Harry Monty, Lee Murray, George Noisom, Jack Paul Paul Adams: stand-in for Frank Morgan Stafford Campbell: stand-in for Ray Bolger Betty Danko: stand-in and stunt double for Margaret Hamilton Jimmy Fawcett: stand-in for Bert Lahr Aphrodisiac!: The Sexual Secret of Marijuana Official Sites When Feiner inspected the Scarecrow scene, the image seemed slightly off. Though the film opened strong, it wouldn't earn its money back until 1948. Billy Curtis Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family There was a trap door on set that didn't open fast enough, so Hamilton got caught in the flames. Louis B. Mayer, the top man at MGM, bought the rights from Goldwyn for $75,000 in June of 1938. With Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney hosting screenings at Loew's Capitol Theater, it set house, The Wizard of Oz | Aug. 15, 1939: The west-coast premiere of The Wizard of Oz at Grauman's Theater in Los Angeles. WebActor Age Check - How old was Billy Curtis in The Wizard of Oz? 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Ebsen claimed to have breathing problems for the rest of his life because of "that damned movie. Shocking Facts About "The Wizard Of Oz" Movie And WebCurtis' big movie season was 1938-39: he was cast in The Wizard of Oz (1939) (albeit with voice dubbed by Pinto Colvig) and as the cowboy hero of the all-dwarf western The Terror of Tiny Town (1938). Oscars honor classic on Sunday; take a trip back in time with historic vintage pics, Credit: Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio. The resulting composite was back-projected outside Dorothy and the window. Meaning, if seen from the perspective of the present year, 2021, Toto made $116,792 yearly. But, the things that happened behind the curtains to make all the wonderful effects come to life are surrounded by myths and speculations, some true and some false. When a Los Angeles city councilman proclaimed Feb. 12, 2013, as Jerry Maren Day, the actor was asked to reveal his secret for longevity. It would have been next to impossible except that Technicolor had just introduced its new, "faster" film, which today would have an ASA rating of about 50. They tried using food coloring, "but the colors were not subtle enough." In 1984, a copy was struck from one of those intermediates. If he ever found out that she ventured from what he wanted (like when he'd catch her sneaking in a milkshake), he'd give her "diet pills to speed her up and reduce her appetite. Did Dorothy wear a pink shirt or a white one? However, Toto jumps out of the gondola to chase a cat and Dorothy chases after him as the balloon is carried away. For that effect, they used, Betty Danko, Margaret Hamilton's stunt double, spent, Hal Roach Studios / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) / Everett Collection / MGM, Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Man, but the aluminum dust in his makeup was so, The actors who played Munchkins were only paid, And Terry, the dog who played Toto, was paid nearly three times as much as the Munchkins. Hamilton suffered burns during the shoot. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. I. E. Chadwick produced a silent Wizard in 1925 which also flopped, despite featuring Larry Semon as the Scarecrow, Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodsman, and Charlie Murray as the Wizard. The Kansas scenes at the beginning, directed by King Vidor, were photographed in black-and-white. Finally, they can now see it in a cinema the way it is meant to be seen. At 79 years old, Billy Curtis height Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. Dye fading is not inherent to the Technicolor three-strip process. Luft recalled one event in particular, saying, "The next day, on the set, hungover, they would make Judy's life miserable by putting their hands under her dress. However, scanning from a black-and-white element at full film resolution yields about 13 megabytes per frame a rate that allows for more efficient data management at faster speeds. ", Judy told biographer Paul Donnelly that they'd give her and Mickey Rooney, whom she made several pictures with, the pills "to keep us on our feet long after we were exhausted then knock us out with sleeping pills then after four hours theyd wake us up and give us the pep pills again so we could work 72 hours in a row. ", Sid Luft also wrote in his memoir that the older male Munchkin actors "thought they could get away with anything because they were so small." She was small, however, and careful costuming and a bust-flattening undergarment made her appear much younger. That would equate to almost $2,300 per week in 2019. It had been dramatized on the stage and was filmed by the Selig Polyscope Company in 1910. Jerry Maren, the last surviving adult Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, has died. She made, According to Judy Garland's biographer, her, And the "snowstorm" that took place in the poppy field scene was actually. Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Based on the book by L. Frank Baum, it tells of Dorothy and her fantasy trip to the land of Oz where witches, scarecrows, lions and talking trees all exist. Company Credits Act now to receive 12 issues of the award-winning AC magazine the worlds finest cinematography resource. The Wizard of Oz (1939) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb The dancing Scarecrow sequence was an outtake stored on 250 feet of film less than three minutes of screen time in the CRI (Color Reversal Intermediate) format. The images themselves were recorded simultaneously onto three strips of a special black-and-white film custom-made by Kodak: one strip was sensitized to record the density of cyan colors, another was sensitized to yellow and a third to magenta. WebBorn with dwarfism, actor Billy Curtis famously played a Munchkin city father in The Wizard of Oz in 1939. Fleming was one five directors who worked on Oz , but he left before it finished to take over, The Wizard of Oz | Fleming with actors Billy Curtis (left) and Charlie Becker (right). As the group passes through the Haunted Forest, Dorothy and Toto are seized by flying monkeys who carry them away to the Witch's castle. This was back in the 1930s, so the only reason Hamilton returned to the production and didn't sue MGM's entire studio after the incident was because she knew it would ruin her acting career: "I know how this business works, and I would never work again. By manipulating the car, the effects experts could make the tornado twist and perform erratic moves. Ultimately, they sponged colorful Jell-O powders onto the horses: "a decision complicated by the fact that the horses invariably managed to lick off most of the Jell-O between shots.". Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action. Spotlessly clean. It was as though someone had taken the top of her hand and peeled it like an orange. Wizard of Oz was nominated for several Academy Awards and is a two-time Oscar-winning movie today. Feiner opted to make a contact liquid-gate dupe negative of the fine-grain IP, which eliminated the worst of the abrasions and emulsion digs. The camera was placed in the center and spun rapidly while the muslin remained stationary. Billy Curtis Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB The film's director slapped Judy Garland. --Billy Curtis, Lord High Mayor of Munchkinland Judy Garland starred in The Wizard of Oz when she was 16. Upon alighting, it dissolves to reveal Glinda. After reading about some interesting Wizard of Oz facts, including the story around the Tin Man dance, also check out wind vane facts and world bank facts. Then the individual objects that swirl past men rowing a boat, Hamilton riding her bicycle, Auntie Em in her rocking chair, etc. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In his palace, Toto pulls aside a curtain, revealing a man operating levers that create the illusion of the Wizard. The artisans also compensated for yellow dye fading. In Oz, frames were hand-painted in order to create the transition to color. LeRoy wanted Ed Wynn, who felt that the part was too small. The one where EW follows up with the cast. ", The images were stored on the high-speed disk array for display at 2K resolution. So, how much is Billy Curtis worth at the age of 79 years old? One of his most unusual roles was as the smaller version of "The Thing" (replacing James Arness) in the creature's final scene in The Thing from Another World (1951). "It took an aesthetic eye," he explains. While it is true that they used to visit Culver City in their free time, anything else, says Time, is gossip. The face mask that Ray Bolger wore for his Scarecrow costume was made of rubber, and it was so heavy and tight that it nearly, The studio executives at MGM treated Judy Garland so terribly that they often, In fact, Louis B. Meyer apparently had Judy Garland on a, The male actors who played Munchkins would often, In fact, a lot of the Munchkin actors were so bad that an MGM employee was literally assigned to watch over them, and several of the actors ended up getting, Margaret Hamilton suffered such severe burns on her face and hand after a stunt, And the green makeup that was used for the Wicked Witch of the West's costume was so, Although the studio used toxic paint on its actors, they decided to go for a safer route when it came to painting the colorful horses in Emerald City. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. The tale begins in Kansas, where Dorothy lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and enjoys the friendship of three farmhands: Hunk, Zeke and Hickory. Fantasy was still a hard sell in the Thirties, but it became easier in 1937 following the immense success of Walt Disney's first feature-length cartoon, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. Billy Curtis Release Date: Tuesday, August 15 1939 83 years ago . MGM wanted 10-year-old Shirley Temple instead. Billy Curtis may have been one of the most unusual heroes in any Western. Before Dorothy can break in her new heels, however, the Wicked Witch of the West swears vengeance. The picture was produced in 1938-39, with the Great Depression slowly grinding to a close and the specter of global war looming on the horizon. To make this happen, a pipe was attached to the bicycle seat saddle on the broomstick. The trio (plus Toto, whose real name was Terry) approaches the Cowardly Lion's hunting grounds. Ruby Slippers Principal photography wrapped on March 16, 1939, after five months of production. Glinda tells her she can go home if she clicks the heels of the ruby slippers and thinks "There's no place like home" three times. With those words, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer introduced what became the most popular Technicolor fantasy ever made, The Wizard of Oz. Ebsen claimed to have breathing problems for the rest of his life because of "that damned movie.". The cigars just for show.. They began including two-color Technicolor sequences in silent features as early as 1924, with The Uninvited Guest. The actors and people on set had to endure several hardships while shooting for the film. Aug. 15, 1939: The west-coast premiere of The Wizard of Oz at Grauman's Theater in Los Angeles. The most interesting fact is he framed the pencil that L. Frank Baum used to write the book. For instance, the cowardly Lion costume worn by Bert Lahr was authentic, meaning it was made from a real lion and weighed approximately 90 lbs (40.8 kg). Was the tin man shown to us not the original one? Scroll to Crew. ", MGM Labs had set up a production line to copy the nitrate film onto CRIs, recording from the emulsion side rather than the base side. The MGM Optical Department photographed the film's titles. We all know that the film Wizard of Oz is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's book titled 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900, its illustrator was W.W Denslow. Judy Garland Dorothy Gale. Its worldwide fame is applaudable, and the film has gone down the history pages as one of the amazing classic films by MGM studios of all time. This was done in exchange for allowing Clark Gable and Jean Harlow to star in Fox's Old Chicago film. Judy Garland was put on a strict diet which was monitored by people specially hired to watch her by Louis B. Meyer. This was quite common during those times because asbestos was fireproof, and the use of cotton ceased because it was not fireproof. An oft-told legend maintains that the tornado was created by manipulating a windblown silk stocking through a tabletop set. were photographed separately and double-printed onto the spinning background. Our thanks to Fred Detmers, Buddy Ebsen, Lois January, and the late George Cukor, Billy Curtis, Marcel Delgado, Harold Rosson, ASC and Harry Wolf, ASC. Gillespie had a 35' wind sock cast in thin rubber and ordered a steel gantry specially built and suspended from the ceiling. Interesting, isn't it? He recovered after six weeks in the hospital, but MGM had already borrowed Jack Haley from Fox to replace him. Though the film opened strong, it wouldn't earn. Temple was signed to 20th Century Fox, and for years she was expected to star in some type of Oz film series. The three join up and travel to the Emerald City, where a terrifying apparition appears and finally agrees to help them all if they will bring him the Wicked Witch's magic broomstick. Note: This article includes stories about suicide and assault. Stories of randy Munchkinland behavior, like the anecdotes Judy Garland told frequently in her later years, were more publicity than reality. 1957. and the Hollywood premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theater was lavish. WebTHE WIZARD of Oz Review Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer A Victor Fleming Production with: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Buddy Ebsen, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charley Grapewin and the Munchkins In fact, the costumes were so unbearable for all three men on set that Judy Garland remembered how "each one was making bets as to which makeup was the most difficult all the way through the picture.". Some strange and weird props were used for the movie, including chocolate syrup for tears, a brown paper bag as a prosthetic, a cumbersome cowardly lion costume, bizarre stuff in Tin Man's oil, and several others. Danko made only $35 for completing the broomstick stunt and $790 for everything else she did in the movie. Glinda tells Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, where a powerful Wizard can help her get back to Kansas. This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Billy Curtis (born Luigi Curto; June 27, 1909 November 9, 1988) was an American film and television actor with dwarfism, who had a 50-year career in the entertainment industry. The bulk of his work was in the western and science fiction genres, portraying a little person. When the movie was hit, 1939, the makeup industry was far behind where it is today, especially in the quality of makeup. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 79 years old group. While the Munchkins were paid $50 a week, Toto, the dog, made $125 per week. All Rights Reserved. However, another tall dancer, Ray Bolger, wanted the part so badly that he replaced Ebsen, who was then assigned to play the Tin Woodsman. Mervyn LeRoy, a long-time Warner Bros. director, was lured away to MGM with a lucrative contract offer. Release Date: Tuesday, August 15 1939 83 years ago . Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. The fine-grain intermediate provided by The Library of Congress showed no visible signs of vinegar syndrome or shrinkage, and it had a stable base. The movie rights were fought over between several studios, but MGM ultimately got the rights. In commercials, Maren picked up a paycheck as Mayor McCheese and the Hamburglar for McDonalds. On some sets, as many as eight cameras about a third of Technicolor's inventory were used, with one getting the overall scene while others were hidden among the scenery for tighter shots. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The mass of wires more than 1,000 altogether necessitated numerous retakes due to breaks. It might startle you to know that Dorothy wore a pink and not white shirt. The Wizard of Oz | Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! The studio tries several alternatives to make the horses appear mystical and magical. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Finally, one of the producers and an assistant producer said they would quit if the song were not added, and so it was made the film's part, a famous one. The Wizard of Oz | The film opened in New York on Aug. 17, 1939. With Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney hosting screenings at Loew's Capitol Theater, it set house The film opened in New York on Aug. 17, 1939. With Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney hosting screenings at Loew's Capitol Theater, it set house records. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 27 June. Gillespie was also called in to photograph scenes in the poison poppy field, for which it was necessary to have the camera move along the ground surrounded by flowers. There's a skywriting sequence in the movie when smoke is supposed to come out of the Wicked Witch of the West's broomstick. Admitting that he is just a balloonist from Kansas, the Wizard offers to take Dorothy home. Obsessed with travel? The Wizard of Oz 1939 movie based on the book by L. Frank Baum Billy Curtis; Heritage designation: Memory of the World (2007) Publication date: 25 August 1939; Part of the series: Family Classics; Duration: 98 min; Cost: 2,777,000 United States dollar (estimation) Different from: The Wizard of Oz; Most producers were reluctant to go forward with color films even after the much-improved three-color process was introduced in 1934. This proved to be a key advantage on the Oz undertaking, given the job's aggressive eight-month schedule. Filming & Production The studio hired an assistant director and a lieutenant to keep an eye on everyone, but "many of them would wind up in jail and have to be bailed out." We have estimated 16 Fucked-Up Facts About "The Wizard Of Oz" That Prove It'd Never Get Made In 2021. Shirley Temple, Twentieth Century Foxs child superstar, was originally sought for the lead role of Dorothy, but for various reasons, the deal was never consummated. Jungle Moon Men. TelevisaUnivision Taps Becky G for Upfront Performance (Exclusive), Former ABC News/Disney Exec Marie Nelson Named Hot Docs Fest President, James Gunn Created 600 Unique Versions of Guardians of the Galaxy 3 For Various Types of Cinemas (Exclusive), Sylvester Stallone Sets Cliffhanger Reboot With Angel Has Fallen Director, GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to The First Slam Dunk, Wes Anderson Directing Star Wars? The actor, who stayed active in show business long after Dorothy had returned to her home in Kansas, died May 24 at an assisted-care facility in the San Diego area, his nephew Lloyd Decker confirmed toThe Hollywood Reporter. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 12 of 19 12 Credit: Digitized by the Margaret I will return to work on one condition no more fireworks! By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. He was paid $50 a week; the dog that playedToto, meanwhile, got $125. The only reason she didn't sue the studio was because "I know how this business works, and I would never work again. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. WebCurtis "The Pimp" Bennett (Prisoner #01B624) is an African American inmate featured in Oz. The script was based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which sold over a million copies and launched a long series of Oz books. Note: Submissions include topics of sexual assault. According to Feiner, this process requires 4K x 3K of digital data with 10 bits of log space per pixel. The last of these books is Glinda of Oz, published in 1920. The next casualty was Margaret Hamilton, who was supposed to disappear from Munchkinland in a burst of smoke and fire. In late October, Ebsen became seriously ill from breathing the powdered aluminum dusted over his Tin Man makeup. When Jack Haley replaced him, they started using a safer aluminum paste as makeup. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. This last epic was one of the few instances that Curtis was cast as a good guy; many of his ( more) Are you also in awe of the blue and white combination gingham Dorothy wore in the Wizard of oz? You might have misheard her because she yells out, "Fly, Fly, fly.". In this MGM classic, who we see playing the Tin Man is Jack Haley, but he was not the original Tin Man.
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