The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is one of the most iconic films of all time. It launched Garland into the throes of major movie stardom. Though the film made Garland’s career, it also ruined her life. The Wizard of Oz was a gorgeous, Technicolor film, but there was undeniable darkness on set. From crippling addiction and devastating assault to injury and ever near-death experiences, behind the scenes of Oz will change your perspective on the classic film.
It’s hard to imagine The Wizard of Oz without iconic actress Judy Garland, but she almost didn’t play Dorothy.
4Judy Garland Almost Didn’t Play Dorothy
Judy Garland makes The Wizard of Oz what it is, and while she was always a studio favorite for the role, she wasn’t the studio favorite. Execs thought Shirley Temple was a better fit – she was a better age and a bigger star. Despite Temple’s fame, producers worried that she didn’t have a good enough singing voice for the part.
Fortunately for Garland, Temple was contracted to 20th Century Fox, not MGM. MGM wanted to trade Clark Gable and Jean Harlow for Temple, but the idea was shot down when Jean Harlow died unexpectedly at the age of 26. According to recent reports, it may have been Harlow’s toxic hair dye that caused her kidneys to fail and led to her untimely death.
