The Wizard of Oz is directed by Victor Fleming and stars Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, Billie Burke, Charley Grapewin, and Clara Blandick. The film follows Dorothy (Garland), a young girl from Kansas, who, after getting swept caught in a deadly tornado is transported to a magical world called Oz. To find a way home, Dorothy embarks on a journey across the land of Oz in order to reach the capital, Emerald City, and the power powerful wizard who resides there. Along the way, she joins forces with a scarecrow who lacks a brain (Bolger), a tin man with no heart (Haley), and a lion who fears just about everything (Lahr). 

Although it’s tough to judge the various performances considering that they’re from such a different era, it can’t be denied how entertaining they remain to this day. Judy Garland’s performance is one of the most iconic of all time and it’s clear why. Her wide eyes and childlike wonder pierce through the screen. The various friends she meets along the way are likewise compelling in the sense that it’s impressive to see actors who are forced to play these kinds of fantastical characters through their physicality as opposed to relying on flashy special effects. I can’t say any of it is “better” than the acting we see today, but it’s also impossible to compare.

The film is essentially everything great about classic films and earns its title as one of the most beloved of all time. That being said, it also features one or two things that aren’t so great about these kinds of movies. It’s basic and formulaic by today’s standards, but it is consistently fun, and the comedy feels universal and timeless. The dialogue is also fast-paced and clever – a reminder that intelligent writing should never be exclusive to films for adults. What I love most, though, is that the film is a reminder that movies are more than just the latest special effects. We go first and foremost for great stories and characters – both of which stand the test of time. 

The handmade sets are noticeably fake, but they also achieve a uniquely iconic visual style. It wasn’t the intention at the time (or maybe it was), but the visuals almost look as if they’ve been ripped straight out of a storybook. Watching from a modern perspective, it’s tough to enjoy certain long sequences that were no doubt a spectacle almost 90 years ago but today feel boring and drawn out. Fortunately, the songs are almost all fantastic (besides maybe one or two), and the sequence that transitions from black & white to color makes me feel like I’m seeing color for the first time.

Overall, this earns its title as an all-time classic and is easily the best film of its era. Even if noticeably aged in certain ways, the movie works surprisingly well for the modern viewer. It’s colorful, whimsical, and has a perfect little dash of horror. It’s tough to argue with the movie’s main lesson: appreciate what you have instead of yearning for what you don’t. Well, I appreciate we have a movie like this. Flaws and all, it’s a film that’s almost impossible to criticize. That being said, a villain whose Achilles heel is water is just silly. A