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Topic: Wizard Of Oz (MGM DIGEST)
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Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted September 10, 2006 01:15 AM
I must start by saying that I feel M-G-M really took pains with their digests to give you a quality product. Every one of their digests I have seen are the result of embracing a true care ethic and "Oz" is no exception. The "Over The Rainbow" is used over the whisping credits and we're with Dorothy for the last few stanzas of her signature tune. Then thew tempest hits and the house is lifted and hurled into Munchkinland. No footage of what Dorothy dreams she sees outside her window as she's inside the cyclone, but it is a digest , afterall. The munchkins and Glinda send Dorothy on her merry way down the yellow brick road after Miss Hamilton has her famous scene (during which she was severely injured) where she threatens Dorothy and Toto. We meet the Lion who sings his signature ditty (the scarecrow and tin man footage have been passed over much to my chagrin - sorry I just never liked Bert Lahr) and then it's off to Oz to have old spook-face tell them to terminate her. The monkees seize them, bring them to the castle, and they wind up doing just as Mr. Wizard requested. Next the great Oz hands them their rewards , Dorothy clicks her heels and we're back on the bed (in Sepiatown) and it all ends with Miss Garland's "...There's No Place Like Home" line. I have had to watch this several times this week because since my daughter spied me viewing it one evening and joined me - it's all she's wanted to do each night before going up to bed. My daughter is a toddler so 18 minutes is just perfect for her tiny attention span. I'm telling you M-G-M did a real nice job with this one. Sure there is alternate footage I would have rather seen, but isn't that how it is whenever we're watching a digest - we always say "...Gee, if I were editor, I would have gone with such-and-such scene(s)....". I have the two-parter NIGHT AT THE OPERA and SINGIN IN THE RAIN and I think they did a swell job with them, too. How is the HIGH SOCIETY two-parter? By far, the best Second digests are the M-G-M's Second are the U-8's, third worst worst third are the Columbia's (stupid narration gets in the way) and the worst being Ken - Ken's are just K-rap - even their 400'ers suck.
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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted September 12, 2006 04:59 PM
Thanks for the review.
This was the first 400 foot MGM digest I purchased when Ken/MGM Super 8 brought out those first 10 releases. I think it was one of their best sellers, and very popular and often requested for movie shows.
I agree that the editing is very smooth, and the story is told pretty well in 18 minutes.
The problem I have with this digest is that, with such a classic like Wizard of Oz, the scenes that arent there are really missed, as well as the character and emotional build up (yes, I always get choked up when Dorothy is saying good-bye to her new friends ![[Frown]](frown.gif) ).
I'm not sure that even a three-parter could have really done this movie true justice. No, I'm not one of those people who are against digests at all. I LOVE THEM! But, some movies just dont work out as digests. I think this movie would have been better to be released by scenes, like the Disney super 8 releases at that time.
Nick.
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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted March 17, 2007 08:58 PM
I decided to pull this out and watch it last night to see how its held up through the years.
Watching this digest again after over 10 years, I had forgotten what a good job the editors of the MGM super 8 department had done with this classic. Even scenes that are heavily edited, like when the wizard is giving out the gifts. The editing is so smooth in this scene that the average viewer would not even know the scene was edited.
I just don't like that last scene switch from the wizard to Dorothy returning to Kansas. That is a bit abrupt, but I love the final scene where Dorothy says "Oh Aunty Em, there's no place like home". A perfect ending!
As for the colors-
There is some turning towards pink, but in most scenes, the colors still look good. For instance, in the forest, when the Lion is introduced, it looks like almost perfect colors. The black and white scenes seem to have suffered the most, with a pink look. But, in spite of this, the picture itself looks very good.
Great digest!
James.
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