The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. And it was fraught with problems right from the start. Margaret Hamilton (the Wicked Witch) had make up that was copper oxide based, and which heats up when on fire. And it is toxic too. She was sick for months afterwards, along with getting burns during the castle scene. The tin man had make up that was aluminum-based. The first man for that part, Buddy Ebsen, had it put on his face in a powder. He inhaled it, and one day woke up in extreme pain. He said that he could never breathe normally again, but thought it was pointless to sue the studio over it. The next man who took the part of the tin man, Jack Haley, didn't have that problem because they mixed it into a paste. Aluminum isn't usually toxic when it gets into your body. But you don't want to inhale it. Actually, Judy Garland was the only one on the set who didn't wear any special make up. Her, and her dog Toto. There also was a rumor that one of the munchkins is seen in a scene in the film hanging himself, because Judy Garland spurred his advances. But that probably never happened.
I'm sure there were plenty of production issues in the making of the movie. As I watched it as a child I was always uncomfortable, actually scared, by how the movie progressed. From the tornado scenes, the wicked witch in and out of Dorothy's dream, the fire spewing wizard, and all of the nasty monkeys chasing Dorothy and her new found friends as the made their way to the Emerald City. But then I grew up and hadn't watched the movie in years, I decided to put it on one afternoon just because. I haven't laughed so hard in years as I picked up on the genuine humor displayed during the plot. The interaction of all the characters from the Munchkins goofy antics, to Dorothy having to keep Scarecrow upright, and how the Wizard was just a snake oil salesman. I have found it to be a wonderful movie filled with comedic scenes hidden in the plot. Ah, the golden age of cinema. Today's movie releases just don't compare.
I believe they actually used an oil burner for the wizard's flames......the smoke was the giveaway....fooooooop.....fooooooop.....
I, for one, am sick of hearing her scream on every damn commercial for Wicked.....it's getting almost as bad as tRump commercials.
Yes the hanging did happen. We used to have a bootleg VHS copy of the movie. And after going back and forth on the scene we managed to pause it in the correct frame. It was blurry. But it was there.
And you know, all the actors on the "Wizard of Oz" (1939) suffered horrible side effects from their makeup. The Wicked Witch got burned from her copper-based makeup, the orginal Tin Man had to quit because he inhaled the aluminum makeup. Even Bert Lahr who played the Cowardly Lion was physically exhausted because the real fur costume he wore was so heavy. But there were one group of actors who didn't have this problem. The horses in the land of Oz scene. Jell-O powder was used to color the white horses. Also, you know there are a lot of natural dyes you can use for food and other coloring. Saffron is a natural yellow. And since ancient times spinach has been used as a natural green dye.
