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Wizard of Oz

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The Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz is a classic American film interpreted from L. Frank Baum’s book published in 1900. We have all seen the film as a child and enjoy it equally as adults. It is a film we watch repeatedly to experience the wonders of our imaginations. There are many key elements that have made this film a notorious childhood memory as well as an American classic that we have treasured for generations. How could we forget the magical characters, the music, and the outstanding cinematography? The theme of the film can be summed up simply from one of the many notable phrases, “there’s no place like home”. Dorothy, a Kansas farm girl dreams of a better place and life. During a tornado she is struck in the head and there begins her journey to Oz. There she meets magical characters, many of which travel on with her also in search of better things. Who can forget the Munchkins, the first of the strange but charming characters Dorothy encounters? Dorothy and her dog Toto also come across the wicked witch the of the west and Glenda the good witch, introducing the good vs. evil of the fairy tale. She sets out on her quest to find a way home when she stumbles upon the Scarecrow who is in search for a brain, the Tinman in search of a heart and the Lion in search of courage. There are parallels to the characters she meets in relation to her family and neighbors back in Kansas, therefore reinforcing her homesickness and the determination to return home. As their adventures down the yellow brick road begins, it takes them on to see the wizard who can fulfill their wishes. The Wizard of Oz was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, Color Cinematography, Interior Decoration, and Special Effects and won awards for Best Song ("Over the Rainbow") and Original Score. It also placed tenth on the list of the Greatest American Films

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