The Wizard of Oz is a classic, along with The Sound of Music, Gone with the Wind and The Ten Commandments. These are a few of the shows that families sit down and watch over and over again together. Between the musical numbers the dancing and the storyline children and parents alike are entertained. Wizard of Oz has become one of the best known films by both adults and children. Perhaps it is because of the unique characters, the sweet songs, or because of the story of hope and redemption weaved throughout the story that makes this film a familiar classic.
When MGM first released the movie to the film house back in 1939, it was a flop. The movie was incredibly expensive to produce with the use of Technicolor and the special effects implemented, not to mention the large and well known cast. The production that was the most expensive endeavour at that time for MGM and it turned out to be a flop at the box office.
The show did receive an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow." The show was well represented at the Academy Awards with nominations in many categories including Best Picture of the Year. Unfortunately, Wizard of Oz wasn't able to claim many of these awards for themselves.
In 1956 a new era of Wizard of Oz began. The movie began to be televised for all to watch and enjoy, particularly in the United States. Over the years the movie began to be recognized as part of the Thanksgiving tradition since it was played annually around Thanksgiving. Children in the United States were able to associate the movie with the holiday. Parents and children typically sat down to watch the family friendly show together. This may be the reason the movie became so popular, as it was just something that was watched over and over again for tradition sake. Either way the show was dubbed by the Library of Congress to be one of history's most watched films. Along with this title it also is often somewhere on the top of the list of all-time best movies ever produced.
It is not surprising that the show would be made into a musical production to be seen in the theatre over and over again. However, what is surprising is the quality and raving reviews that the show in London' Palladium is being praised with. Their rendition of Wizard of Oz is drawing crowds from all over the world to see their production. Andrew Lloyd Webber was able to pull together a great cast for his production of the Wizard of Oz. Michael Crawford is the professor and Danielle Hope plays Dorothy.
Make sure that you aren't left on the wrong side of the rainbow living in black and white, get your Wizard of Oz tickets soon so you can see for yourself that there is indeed no place like home. With a simple click of your heels, errrgh mouse you can have your very own Wizard of Oz ticket, that will be sure to have you sitting at the edge of your seat.
Roo Sadegi is an online writer and editor.
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