The Wizard of Oz It became a major cultural sensation almost immediately after the release of the initial Frank Baum book in 1900. Just two years later, a theatrical musical rendition was staged across the nation. A 15-minute silent film came next in 1910. When Hollywood was just beginning to take shape. A much better one arrived during the peak of the silent film period in 1925 alongside Laurel and Hardy's turn as the Tin Woodman. In the last century since then, we've witnessed countless adaptations. Wizard of Oz --projects to reference, moving towards the release of Wicked this past week.
But one Wizard of Oz adaptation stands taller than all of them, even so Wicked Of course, we’re referring to the 1939 MGM film featuring Judy Garland. When this cinematic marvel debuted during the transition from black-and-white to Technicolor movies, it created quite a stir. Over time, its reputation continued to expand through frequent TV broadcasts. Nowadays, it’s exceptionally challenging to captivate contemporary children using films produced before 1980; however, the enchantment of this particular classic endures. The Wizard of Oz rarely fails to captivate.
This film has generated more myths and urban legends than any other movie in Hollywood’s history. We often encountered these stories during our childhoods, and dispelling them was particularly challenging before the advent of the internet—though today, they continue circulating on platforms like TikTok and X (previously known as Twitter). The film's dreamlike quality rendered every aspect of its creation plausible, regardless of how far-fetched the claims might be. In fact, several bizarre and troubling incidents occurred throughout the shooting process. Let's examine six such occurrences.
False: A Munchkin did not commit suicide on set.
One of the longest-standing myths surrounding this film revolves around an alleged incident involving a Munchkin performer who reportedly took their own life during filming. According to various versions of the tale, one of the members of the Singer Midgets company purportedly killed themselves following unreciprocated advances towards another Munchkin actress. Supposedly, you could spot him hanging from above in the scene where Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man initially venture into the Enchanted Forest. This particular frame became famous as viewers frequently paused videos at this exact point on VHS recordings. The alleged ghost scene in Three Men and a Baby )
This assertion is preposterous for several reasons: To start with, The Wizard of Oz The filming took place out of order, with the particular scene captured well before the arrival of the Munchkin performers. Additionally, despite being challenging to discern during the era of VHS tapes, what momentarily appears on screen is actually a big bird. This film was entirely produced indoors within studio sound stages; hence, they utilized creatures loaned from the Los Angeles Zoo to create an outdoor appearance. A prominent peacock can be spotted close to the dwelling of the Tin Woodman.
Ultimately, consider this assertion for more than three seconds. Should an actor have passed away during filming, they would really Include the footage in the final edit of the film? This misconception persists, but take our word for it. There isn’t a dangling munchkin; it’s just a bird. (And indeed, there are) several videos on YouTube Where cunning tricksters altered the video to appear as though a figure was dangling in the backdrop. have all been debunked. )
True: Several severe injuries occurred during filming.
In the 1930s, Hollywood studios lacked the extensive safety measures we see nowadays. Injuries were quite common back then, and litigation was rare because people feared being ostracized from the film industry. The original Tin Man actor, Buddy Ebsen, became the first casualty after inhaling aluminum particles from his silver costume makeup, which almost cost him his life. After Ebsen’s incident, Jack Haley took over the role; however, he achieved greater recognition much later when he portrayed Jed Clampett. The Beverly Hillbillies. Nevertheless, he experienced respiratory issues throughout his life, which he attributed to the film.
The actress who played the Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton, was injured next as she sustained severe second and third-degree burns on her face and hands during filming of her exit sequence from Munchkinland. This forced her absence from the production for six weeks. ("Watch the fireball at the 1:49 point in the video provided and envision it striking you," says the article). She stated, "I have decided not to file a lawsuit since I understand how things operate within this industry, and doing so would mean an end to my career." She added with conditions, "I am willing to come back only under one stipulation – absolutely no more pyrotechnics!"
The small Toto was also hurt when an actor portraying a Winkie guard accidentally stepped on its paw, causing a sprain. This Careen Terrier spent two weeks recuperating at Judy Garland’s residence and eventually fully recovered. It went on appearing in films up until just before passing away at the age of 11 in 1945.
False: The Munchkins did not engage in raucous drinking sessions while filming.
Leopold Singer had 124 dwarves under his employ. The Wizard of Oz The performers who were part of his Singer Midgets vaudeville troupe. (It should be noted that this term is clearly outdated now but reflected the common usage at the time). Even though they had minimal experience in Hollywood, they performed their parts with remarkable professionalism. However, exaggerated stories about them emerged and circulated for decades following the film’s completion.
He mentioned they were all drunk," Garland explained to Jack Paar in 1967. "A well-mannered man around forty approached me asking for dinner; I didn’t feel right saying 'I can't dine with you as you’re a little person,' so instead, I simply stated, ‘My mom would not approve.’ He responded, ‘Oh please, invite her along too!’ The management housed them together at an inn in Culver City where they partied heavily each evening until they eventually ended up being scooped up using butterfly nets.
Garland was right that the Singer Midgets all lodged at a hotel in Culver City, an idea that sparked the 1981 film starring Carrie Fisher and Chevy Chase. Under the Rainbow It mostly unfolds within the hotel where the Munchkin performers engage in excessive drinking and raucous behavior. However, this depiction is purely fictional. According to almost all reliable reports, stories about their conduct were often grossly embellished or fabricated altogether.
True: During production, Judy Garland became dependent on barbiturates and amphetamines.
When Garland was only 16, she secured the role of Dorothy. Despite this young age, she had extensive experience from her days performing with the Gumm Sisters vaudeville act since childhood. During the making of the film at MGM, they closely monitored her weight and energy levels. The Wizard of Oz , and they provided her with medication to curb her hunger and enable her to work for extended periods. This resulted in a persistent dependence on barbiturates and amphetamines, which contributed to her demise in 1969 at just 47 years old.
False: Pink Floyd didn't synchronize the film to The Dark Side of the Moon .
In the Nineties, a tale spread like wildfire across the internet claiming that Pink Floyd had covertly synchronized their 1973 album. Dark Side of the Moon n to The Wizard of Oz. To be honest, there are several peculiar coincidences that occur when you begin playing the album precisely as the MGM lion roars for the third time during the introduction. When Clare Torry’s wails echo through “The Great Gig in the Sky,” it aligns with the moment the tornado strikes. Similarly, the sound of a cash register ringing in “Money” syncs up perfectly with the film transitioning to color. Finally, the last heartbeat concluding the album mirrors the precise instant when Dorothy hears the Tin Man’s heart.
None of this happened deliberately. As the band members have repeatedly clarified, they did not own VCRs in 1973, nor did they play the film on a screen during the creation of their album. Most tracks on the record do not correspond with what’s happening visually at all; even those few instances that seem to match are merely accidental. This simply demonstrates how easy it is to rationalize an initial assumption by working backward—you might end up believing nearly every claim presented to you.
True: You can pause the movie and see some fun inconsistencies.
As many times as this movie has been viewed, it still manages to captivate its audience.
The Wizard of Oz
Various small discrepancies can easily be spotted. Take for instance this video showing an apple-picking sequence; freeze-frame it precisely at the 1:05 timestamp. You’ll notice that Garland has swapped out her iconic ruby slippers for plain black footwear during this particular moment. Another significant mismatch occurs right as Dorothy encounters the Scarecrow. The length of her braids fluctuates across different shots due to them reshooting parts of the segment roughly half a year apart before stitching these segments into one cohesive scene.
Now fast-forward to another clip and hit pause consecutively at points 2:09 and then merely four seconds afterward around 2:13. Here lies perhaps the starkest illustration of such irregularities appearing within mere moments. Was a mischievous little person meddling with her hairstyle between camera setups? Or did Pink Floyd’s guitarist pen “Brain Damage” inspired by this very conundrum? Not really—this is simply part of filmmaking. So everyone should take a deep breath and unwind.
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