A Journey Beyond the Silver Screen - A Review of The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz, 1939
Directed By: Victor Fleming
The film revolves around Dorothy Gale, a small child who lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm in rural Kansas. When a tornado strikes, Dorothy's world is flipped upside down. Dorothy is dissatisfied with her life and longs for adventure outside of the boundaries of the farm. She gets carried away by the tornado while trying to take cover in her home and lands in the wonderful Land of Oz. The Munchkins, the little residents of Oz, welcome Dorothy and express gratitude for accidentally murdering the Wicked Witch of the East by having her house fall on her. She receives the witch's magical ruby shoes from them. Her happiness is brief, though, as the Wicked Witch of the West, the dead witch's sister, shows along and demands the slippers. In order to get assistance from the Wizard of Oz, whom she believes can help her get back to Kansas, Dorothy sets off on a journey to the Emerald City. She runs into a kind scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a cowardly lion who wants courage along the way. They all share the same hope that the wizard will grant their requests. The group experiences difficulties, including the Wicked Witch's unrelenting pursuit, the toxic poppy field, and a number of barriers that put their brains, empathy, and bravery to the test. They each learn that they possess the characteristics they longed for all along through their shared experiences and the friendships they develop. They are first disappointed to discover that the Wizard is only a simple mortal management machine when they arrive at the Emerald City and confront him. He consents to their requests, but only if they succeed in getting back the Wicked Witch's broomstick, which seems impossible. They encounter the Wicked Witch of the West on this journey, who makes multiple attempts to stop them. They eventually succeed in taking her down and delivering her broomstick to the wizard. Then the wizard's real self and powers are discovered, and he is not able to grant their requests as he had originally promised. The Good Witch of the North then steps in and informs Dorothy that she has always had the ability to go back home thanks to the power of the ruby slippers. She only had to clap her heels together and utter the phrase, "There's no place like home." When Dorothy accomplishes this, a magical whirlwind transports her back to Kansas. She comes to appreciate and admire her home, family, and friends as she wakes up on the farm. Although she is glad to be back in Kansas, she still has pleasant memories of her experiences there.
While there isn't a physical plot driver in the traditional sense, the closest thing to a MacGuffin in the film is Dorothy's desire to get to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, with the belief that he can help her return home. The ruby slippers have symbolic importance to the plot. They are not solely a plot device that characters chase for their own sake; they are an essential part of Dorothy's journey and her path back home.
As the movie opens, Dorothy is living a typical black-and-white life in Kansas. We get to know her neighbors and family. We learn about Dorothy's need for adventure and to escape from her ordinary life. In the end, she gets carried away by a tornado to the fantastic Land of Oz. In addition to learning about the Ruby Slippers and the journey to the Emerald City, she also encounters the Munchkins and the Good Witch of the North. Right now, she wants to locate the Wizard of Oz so he may assist her in getting back to Kansas.
The subject of the second act is Dorothy's journey to the Emerald City along the Yellow Brick Road. In the hopes that the Wizard will grant them their wishes, she becomes friends with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, all of whom join her on her mission. As they advance, they encounter a number of challenges, such as the interference of the Wicked Witch of the West, the toxic poppy field, and their own self-doubts. The film also explores the main characters' development and their discovery that they already have all that they want.
As the act progresses, the wizard's true nature becomes clear. He is not as strong as he appeared to be, and he cannot grant their requests directly. Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, assists Dorothy in realizing that she has the ability to take the Ruby Slippers back home with her all along. The triumphant homecoming of Dorothy to Kansas brings the act to an end. Returning to Kansas, where Dorothy awoke after her journey, is how the movie finishes. She has realized that there is no place like home and has a newfound appreciation for her house and her family.
When the movie opens, Dorothy is a girl who longs for excitement and a way out of her boring life in Kansas. She learns to be more independent and resilient during her trip to Oz. She overcomes a variety of obstacles and comes to her own decisions, developing into a stronger, more capable woman.
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