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.
52Animals Left Out Of Oz
A few animals seen in the original book were cut from filming. Allegedly, this was done because MGM felt that the scenes were too gory as L. Frank Baum wrote them. In the book, various animals, both real and imaginary, are seen including “Kalidahs” (tiger-bear hybrids), wildcats, wolves, and bumblebees.
All of the scenes involving these creatures were somewhat gory including one where the Tinman uses an axe to kill a wildcat and forty wolves. The Wizard of Oz kind of has a creepy undertone as it is and would have been even more exacerbated had the director included these scenes in filming.
