Special Effects: The Wizard of Oz

When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland), her house, and her dog Toto are whisked to the magical land of Oz. At the advice of a chorus of locals, they follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City in search of the infamous Wizard. En route, they are joined by a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) that needs a brain, a Tin Man (Jack Haley) missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) lacking in courage. Standing in the way of the group’s quest is the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton), who desperately seeks the return of her late sister’s shoes. With its unforgettable twister sequence, technicolor Oz-reveal, and iconic costuming, special effects in The Wizard of Oz (1939) still dazzle audiences eighty years after its release.

Jocelyn Szczepaniak-Gillece (English and Film Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) will join Hannah Garibaldi (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) for a post-screening discussion.

This event is sponsored by the Carsey-Wolf Center.