Wizard of Oz

2 Pages 489 Words

20th Century Popular Music
The Wizard of Oz, released in 1939 was a movie that drastically changed the movie experience forever. The first few moments of the movie were set in Sepia tone, and then after the tornado hit Kansas, Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, was swept away to the Land of Oz in technicolor. To this point there were no color movies, this was a mark in time.
The movie’s other main characters include Ray Bolger as the scare crow, Bert Lahr as the Lion, and Jack Haley as the Tinman.
The original novel by L. Frank Baum inspired this musical movie that has had many spin-offs, and stage plays based on it. The original music score was wrote by Harold Arlen (1905-1986).
This Movie had a beautifully balanced recipe of song and dance, and other effects that would influence the mood of the scene. The beginning of the movie set in Kansas was shot in Sepia tone (black and white) and had a dramatic effect on the setting of the plot, a dreary town in Kansas in the dust bowl during the Great Depression. Dorothy sings a timeless song that became a hit then and now,”Over the Rainbow”, and a classic heard in talent shows across the country. This song by far is the most memorable song in the movie, and the most memorable movie song ever. Dorothy sings of a life in beautiful land far away, with color and life. She sang this of course before she was swept away during the storm to Oz, and met by Glenda, the Good Witch.
Upon arriving in Oz the tone changed. There were beautiful colors and life, and vegetation, and music that was happy and energetic. This change was the most dramatic scene in movie history.
The story continued and there was dancing, not the typical dancing you see in modern musicals but, choreographed movements and walking in step which enhanced the moods and energy of the scenes. My most memorable moment was when the group was walking down the Yellow Brick Road, while in step made a complete cir...