Greatest Film Scenes
and Moments



The Wizard of Oz (1939)

 



Written by Tim Dirks

Title Screen
Movie Title/Year and Scene Descriptions
Screenshots

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

In Victor Fleming's immortal classic (adapted from L. Frank Baum's novel):

  • the quintessential scene of lonely Kansas teenager Dorothy Gale's (Judy Garland) singing of the melancholy "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (the Best Original Song Oscar winner)
  • the first appearance of Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) on a bicycle riding down a rural farm road in Kansas
  • the thrilling twister-tornado scene and Dorothy's hallucinations swirling and floating by in front of her
  • the astonishing, cleverly-shot transition (in one single take without any special effects) from sepia-tone to full color as Dorothy entered the fanciful, Technicolored Land of Oz through the door of her downed house
  • Dorothy's exclamatory statement to her dog Toto: "I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"
  • the lively Munchkin sequences
  • the green-faced Witch's appearance in a red puff of smoke
  • the Witch's attempt to seize the ruby slippers from Dorothy's feet
  • Dorothy's first steps on the Yellow Brick Road after receiving guidance from the Good Witch Glinda (Billie Burke)
  • her first encounter with each of her companions - the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley) and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr)
  • their journey with linked arms as they skipped: "We're off to see the Wizard" down the Yellow Brick Road

"We're Off to See the Wizard"

The Emerald City in the Distance

The Intimidating Wizard
  • their songs: "If I Only Had a Brain" and "If I Were King of the Forest"
  • the amazing, scary sequences of Dorothy and her friend's first encounter with the Wizard (Frank Morgan) - a disembodied head engulfed in flames
  • the Wicked Witch's taunting of the Scarecrow with fire: ("How about a little fire, Scarecrow?")
  • her cackling threat: "I'll get you, my pretty - and your little dog, too!"
  • and her subsequent "I'm melting" death scene that destroyed her "beautiful wickedness"
  • the scene of the pulling-aside of the curtain and the revelation of the Wizard
  • the presentation of awards scene
  • Dorothy's farewell scene in the land of Oz (and particularly her tearful goodbyes to her friends, especially to the Scarecrow)
  • the closing scene when Dorothy awakened from her fantastic dream in her own bedroom (where she was surrounded by family and friends) - she denied that she was only dreaming her adventures in the Land of Oz, and repeatedly exclaimed: "There's no place like home"
Dorothy's Return to Kansas

Clicking Her Slippers Three Times

"There's no place like home"

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

Miss Gulch (Margaret Hamilton)

Dorothy's Entry Into the Land of Oz

"I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" - Munchkins Hiding



The Green-Faced Wicked Witch


Witch's Demise: "I'm melting"

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