Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.
The Magical: The Wizard of Oz
Cinematic institution The Wizard of Oz turns 82 this week, and on this momentous occasion, we again wrestle with the question: is it the greatest movie ever made?
What more can we say about the 1939 classic that hundreds of other writers haven’t observed before? We could rave about the movie’s breathtaking visual style, a combination of sepia tone and Technicolor imitated by countless other films. We could praise the groundbreaking make-up and special effects, which made Wicked Witches, houses and monkeys fly, transformed humans into a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion, and brought to life a giant, fiery floating head. We could rant on about the unforgettable music and endlessly quotable dialogue of the film: songs to which damn near everybody knows the lyrics, and lines recited as often as Shakespeare at his best. We could pay homage to the performers, each one giving a performance for the ages, led by the incomparable work of Judy Garland.
We could go on and on for days, and yet, somehow, The Wizard of Oz would make just about any hyperbole seem puny. This, dear reader, is a perfect movie.
Why does The Wizard of Oz speak so well to a queer audience? Again, countless other writers have speculated. For us, the plight of Dorothy Gale always struck a familiar chord. Growing up queer, we always felt different from the mundane, straight world. Like Dorothy, nobody could quite understand us. For many an LGBTQ viewer, coming out also meant journeying to shimmering cities to find our heart’s desire. Along the way, we also had to learn to have enough courage, heart and intelligence to survive a strange and dangerous world. And, after teaming up with our chosen family to battle haters, bullies, and the occasional green bitch, we learned that we had the power to make our dreams come true inside us all along. We just had to put on our most fabulous shoes.
The great Roger Ebert once hypothesized that The Wizard of Oz taps into something primal and unconscious in each viewer. He had a point, at least where queer people are concerned. Much like Dorothy, we still look to the rainbow as a symbol of hope, as a promise that one day the dreams that we dare to dream really can come true. With that in mind, and in celebration of 82 years of perfection, we offer up The Wizard of Oz as both a photo album of the past, and as a map to the future. Life itself is one big Yellow Brick Road. With friends–however imperfect–at our side, we know we can make it all the way home.
But wait, you ask? Is The Wizard of Oz the Greatest Movie Ever Made? Give it a watch, and ponder the mystery. We too will be off to see the Wizard.
Streams on HBO Max, Amazon, VUDU & YouTube.
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preppyesque
I’ve seen this movie probably hundreds of times, and am always transported back to my childhood each time I see it. My parents should have seen a red flag when I always cried when the wicked witch melted. She, not Dorothy, was my favorite. That explains a lot….(smile)
commwave
That is interesting since the Wicked Witch of the West is also my favorite character of this movie or any movie.I have several friends who are in agreement with me and we often have fun reciting her lines.
Thad
Only a few movies have stood the test of time so well. I’d include Mae West’s “I’m No Angel.” But “The Wizard of Oz” is matchless.
LunaSol2010
Kicked my legs so high, almost perpendicular to my head to get Scarecrow role at 18.
First large theatre.
First musical theatre lead,
First sellout audience and
I beat out a veteran dancer.
I was hungrier and younger! Fearless.
I got a standing O before Dorothy and didn’t know why. Cheers when I sang and danced and wondered why. It was a birth of things to come.
There is no place like home and I made it my home.
Voice classes for 2 songs. Dance solo for my solo.
And late nights memorizing so I was off book before first rehearsal.
I was annoying as I knew everyone’s lines. A little older than Drew Barrymore but the same fearless thorough over-preparation.
Harder on mind and body, musicals were greater fun.
But that was sumptuous and grand scale was so fun and much more beautiful.
We really had a perfect cast and a 5 star soldout hit. Its been my favourite before, during and after as I had a profound affair that changed my life with the Tinman.
I got more than his heart going. Finest time in my life for pure magic and contagious fun.
82 years young in film, 1928 for stage version we did. 93 years old! Vaudeville script. Trapped on a spinning bridge. Dorothy flies home by space ship by misses take off. Puns so bad the laughs were for pure nostalgia of an art form and content that has been timeless.
Still talk to my Romeo, Tinman every few weeks. Damn! He still looks 20 years younger than his real age! What a mega hunk!
Wizard of Oz changed my life. I have memories from running terrified at 5 from the TV broadcasting as the wotch terrified me. And success of having been in the cast of a full production. Life gets better and better.
Al
We didn’t own a TV until I was 12. But I read ‘Wizard of Oz’ many, many times before then. Consequently, I was always disappointed in the movie because it varied from the book. For instance, in the book, the Winged Monkees were friendly. They helped Dorothy fly over the Land of the Hammer-heads. But it’s still a great movie!
MISTERJETT
it is the best as far as i’m concerned.
Kangol2
It’s a great, truly entertaining movie you can watch over and over. The best movie ever, though? Even among US films, of which there are many great ones, it has a number of challengers. I won’t list them, but I will say that among Judy Garland’s films, this one, A Star is Born, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Easter Parade are my favorites.
Heywood Jablowme
It’s unique in being the one movie that probably MOST of the 7 billion people on earth have seen or are familiar with. Almost everyone knows the story and characters. It has universal appeal and is possibly the only example of a worldwide “cultural literacy.” I bet even the Taliban have seen it (although they probably root for the Wicked Witch and are disappointed by the ending).
whateverokok
Best movie ever? Too strong of words for this movie. It’s really, really good. But I have a lot of other movies on my list before this one. Even ones that are just not really that good. Why? Because, in ways, they are much easier to watch than this one. I like Wizard of Oz and I have the 4K UHD, but it lacks a little something to be best ever.
AxelDC
I’m a friend of Dorothy.
Seth
Who doesn’t love a good camp fest about two women fighting over a pair of shoes?
JohnInDallas
My maternal great uncle, Adrian, designed costumes for over 200 films at MGM from 1928 – 1941. Adrian designed all of the costumes for the Wizard of Oz including the Ruby Red Slippers. He was incredibly talented. Unfortunately I was only age 5 when he died isn 1959 but I feel like I knew him well thanks to the wonderful stories my grandmother told me about Adrian as I was growing up. I have always loved the Wizard Of Oz and thanks to Adrian and my grandmother I have felt a special connection with this wonderful film.
David Reddish
Thank you for saying that, John. He was an incredible talent. And he designed a great pair of shoes.
California
I was astounded to read your story about your great uncle. That is an amazing connection! Adrian is legendary. He was a handsome man and exceptional talent. His artistry shines in “The Women”, “Camille”, “The Philadelphia Story”, as well as “The Wizard of Oz.” His masterpiece is definitely “Marie Antoinette” in 1938. The wedding dress worn by Norma Shearer in that movie alone should have earned an Oscar for Adrian. Hollywood probably never again attempted a costume epic as grand as that film, and it was Adrian’s creations throughout that made it happen. It is a shame that there was not an Academy Award for Best Costumes during the era he worked in films because he would have won more Oscars than Edith Head. Adrian left an artistic legacy that you must be really proud of. I read that he was widely known within the film industry as a gay man and was greatly admired, which says a lot about him. I made a point of visiting his grave the first time I went to Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and it was a moving experience. Just sign me A HUGE Fan of his. Thank you for sharing your story!
Robert333
I watched it every year growing up. Definitely my favorite movie of all time and Over the Rainbow is my favorite song,
jerjn
Glinda to Dorothy: “Only bad witches are ugly.”
Also Glinda to Dorothy: “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”