How Much Is 8 Fl Oz Of Water

From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special furnishings and makeup tricks that brought some of the world's favorite moving picture characters to life, The Wizard of Oz (1939) had so much going on backside the emerald curtain and the Technicolor gloss of an amazing fantasy world.

In laurels of the 80th anniversary of the film, follow the xanthous brick slideshow to peek behind that curtain and learn more about the secrets and fun facts that make the beloved flick a timeless archetype.

Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Before the Motion-picture show

As a cocky-proclaimed lifelong fan of L. Frank Baum's Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to exist considered for a role in the 1939 film accommodation. Hamilton called her agent to ask which character the producers wanted her to play, and her agent famously said, "The witch — who else?"

Hamilton, a single mother, fought MGM for an agreed upon amount of guaranteed work time. Iii days before filming began, the studio agreed to a 5-week deal. In the end, Hamilton was on gear up for three months, but many of her scenes were cut for being as well scary for audiences.

Sure, Dorothy Gale doesn't need prosthetics or aluminum makeup, but that doesn't mean Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was young at the fourth dimension, the 16-yr-old Garland had to vesture a corset-like device and so she looked more similar a preadolescent child.

Director Richard Thorpe suggested Garland wearable a blonde wig and loads of "infant-doll" makeup (every bit any preadolescent daughter would…?). Luckily, that vision of the character inverse. After MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate director George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to be herself. Smart move.

The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Great Film Magic

The Wizard of Oz employs a lot of great motion-picture show tricks, and some of the virtually unique were used in the skywriting scene. In it, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies to a higher place the Emerald Urban center, leaving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" in her wake in black fume.

Using a hypodermic needle, the special effects team spread black ink across the bottom of a glass tank that was filled with a thick, tinted liquid (some speculate milk). They wrote the phrase in opposite and filmed the scene from below. Initially, the skywriting ended with the ominous "Or Dice — W W W."

The "Snow" in the Poppy Field Was Actually Unsafe

One of the Wicked Witch's terminal-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy's quest to run into the Wonderful Wizard of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical slumber-inducing snow. While many like to joke that the poppies and their drowsiness are the issue of opium (a component of poppies), the scene has a much more than blatant toxic connexion than that.

Photo Courtesy: MGM Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images

All that magical snow? It'south actually 100% industrial-course chrysotile asbestos. Even though the health risks associated with the material were known at the time, it was still Hollywood'due south preferred selection for simulated snow. Our advice to Dorothy? Don't catch any snowflakes on your tongue.

Scarecrow's Makeup Stuck Around for Awhile

In the finish, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin can Human's) willingness to trade parts with him for more reasons than i. The Tin Man's aluminum makeup caused a huge amount of issues for Ebsen, who was replaced by Jack Haley.

Although Bolger'south makeup feel was improve than Ebsen's, he all the same had some issues. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a rubber prosthetic, complete with a woven pattern that mimicked the look of burlap. After the film wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger'southward confront that took more than a year to fade.

Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Set up

In a burst of flames and blood-red fume, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, it may have instilled more fright for Hamilton. On the kickoff take, the smoke rose from a hidden trapdoor besides early.

For the second have, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, just her greatcoat snagged on the platform when the burn down flared up. Her copper-containing makeup heated upward instantly, causing 2d- and tertiary-caste burns on her hands and face up. To make matters worse, the coiffure tried to remedy her burns with (an even more painful) acetone solvent.

The Flying Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys

The Wicked Witch's legion of flying monkeys — or Winged Monkeys as they're called in the source material — have certainly been a source of terror for generations. Most as scary as the Witch herself, these henchmen soar onto the scene to kidnap Dorothy and Toto — thanks to the magic of pianoforte wires.

However, the aerial stunt went awry when several of the piano wires snapped, sending actors plummeting a few feet to the soundstage floor. To create such a vast troupe of monkeys (and cut down on human being marionettes), filmmakers fabricated miniature rubber monkeys to help populate the sky.

"Over the Rainbow" Was Near on the Cutting Room Flooring

To no one's surprise, the American Flick Institute ranked "Over the Rainbow" #1 on a list of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. But what may surprise y'all? The (arguably) nearly iconic song of Judy Garland's career was well-nigh cut from the picture.

Studio execs at MGM thought the song fabricated the Kansas scenes too long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't understand the song's meaning. Luckily, this unfounded concern melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland'due south bawling reprise of the song was left on the cutting room floor.

The Tin can Man Costume Didn't Let Jack Haley to Rest Easy

Although Bert Lahr had to schlep around in a ninety-pound lion costume, Jack Haley didn't accept it easy either. From the lingering concerns about the aluminum paste-based makeup on his face and easily to the minimal flexibility of the "tin can" trunk and arms, Haley faced some challenges.

Reportedly, his costume was so stiff that he had to lean against a board to residuum properly. Many years later, thespian Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the same result with his rigid costume. It seems even fantasy and sci-fi can't help folks escape all their problems.

The Original Tin Man Was Rushed to the Hospital

Initially, Buddy Ebsen was cast equally the Scarecrow, but traded parts with Ray Bolger. Nonetheless, Ebsen'due south new character, the Tin Man, caused him a slew of problems. Namely, the character'southward silver makeup contained a harmful aluminum dust that coated Ebsen'south lungs.

Photo Courtesy: John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

To make matters worse, Ebsen had an allergic reaction, and, unable to breathe, he was rushed to the hospital. MGM recast the role with Jack Haley (and changed upwardly the makeup), but didn't explicate why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't announced in the final moving-picture show, his vocals tin can be heard in "We're Off to Run across the Wizard."

A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave Us the Tornado

The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is total of practical special effects that really concord up. The funnel itself was really a 35-human foot long stocking made of muslin. The special effects team spun information technology around miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Against the painted backdrop, the tornado looks menacing.

The Gale business firm, which falls from the heaven and into Oz, is just a miniature house that was dropped onto a sky painting. Filmmakers and so reversed the footage to make it expect like the house was falling out of the clouds.

Hollywood Didn't Pay Upward Then Either

Pay inequality has ever been an issue in Hollywood. For instance, Adriana Caselotti, vocalisation of the titular character in Walt Disney'southward Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), made $970 for her performance, though the flick went on to make roughly $eight million.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland's pay was better than Caselotti's — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a calendar week — simply it still didn't reflect the film's success. Fifty-fifty more discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $50 per week. (Meanwhile, Terry the dog earned $125 per week as Toto. A real yikes.)

Bert Lahr's Lion Costume Was Taxing

Originally, MGM thought it might bandage its mascot — the actual king of beasts used in the studio'due south title menu — as the cowardly character. Fortunately, for the safety of the actors and the animal, the filmmakers decided to bandage thespian Bert Lahr as the anthropomorphic character instead.

To make a convincing creature, the costume department fashioned Lahr a 90-pound outfit made from real lion pare. Nevertheless, the arc lights used on set made things a steamy 100 degrees during filming, which meant Lahr did a lot of sweating unrelated to his graphic symbol's nerves. Each night, ii stagehands stale the costume for the next day.

The Initial Box Office Returns Were Uneven

The film started shooting in October of 1938 but didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking upward an unheard of $2,777,000 in costs. That'southward near $50 million adjusted for aggrandizement. Upon its initial release, the motion-picture show merely earned $iii million at the box part — about $51.8 million by today'south standards.

Although that seems impressive for a Depression-era motion picture, remember that Disney made $8 1000000 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The Wizard of Oz's modest success in the U.S. barely covered production and film rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — only success overseas fortunately bolstered the film's returns.

The Nighttime Side of Oz in a Fourth dimension Before "Me Too"

Judy Garland was just xvi years quondam when she was cast every bit Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were oft given to young actors to assistance them slumber after studios shot them upwardly with adrenaline and then they could piece of work long hours.

The spotlight — and her dissentious contract with MGM — didn't aid, leading to lifelong struggles with an eating disorder and alcoholism. According to a writer for Express, "[Garland] was molested by older men, including studio chiefs [and head Louis B. Mayer], who considered her footling more than than their 'property.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy nutrition of cigarettes, coffee and chicken soup.

The Phonation of Snowfall White Had a Cameo

A few years before The Wizard of Oz debuted, Walt Disney's feature-length blithe pic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) became a smash-striking. Non only did the film revolutionize the animation industry, information technology also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.

Disney wanted to follow up Snow White — then the most successful film of all time — with an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, but MGM owned the rights. By happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited role in Oz. During the Tin Man's "If I Only Had a Heart," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore art thousand Romeo?"

The Ruby Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts

Keeping in line with the book, Dorothy'due south iconic footwear was originally silver, merely screenwriter Noel Langley felt the red color would really pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed past MGM'southward master costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in most 2,300 sequins.

Photo Courtesy: Larry Marano/FilmMagic/Getty Images

One of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Institution'southward National Museum of American History. Since the display is so heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the rug there several times. Another pair were stolen from Minnesota's Judy Garland Museum in 2005, but the FBI recovered the slippers for the institution in 2018.

But One Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"

The Wizard of Oz is your classic adventure story, and Dorothy'southward quest leads her from a Kansas farm to some other world — consummate with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. However, despite all these breathtaking locations, nearly all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.

As was customary at the fourth dimension, immense, detailed backdrops were painted by studio artists, making information technology possible for filmmakers to transport audiences to far away places without filming on location. In fact, the only location footage in the film is the opening title sequence — those clouds are 100% the real bargain.

A 2d Toto Was Brought In

Toto, played primarily past Terry, is one of the most beloved dogs in film history. Terry was famously not a huge fan of special furnishings and tin often be seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Tin can Human being spouts out all of that steam.

After ane of the Witch'south guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for two weeks. Filmmakers went through two doubles to detect one that resembled the original canine role player more closely.

Fun fact: Judy Garland was and so fond of Terry that she wanted to adopt the dog.

Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch

In addition to existence a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton also believed her graphic symbol was more than merely your run-of-the-manufacturing plant evil villain. More than 35 years afterwards the motion picture debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to bear witness kids it was make-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her about the grapheme.

According to Hamilton, the so-called Wicked Witch relished everything she did, but she was besides a sad, lone effigy. In short, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly plenty, the Broadway musical Wicked as well takes this arroyo to the Witch's character.

The "Horse of a Different Colour" Was Fabricated Possible Thanks to a Nutrient Product

In 1939, audiences were just as amazed as Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion when the equus caballus in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "equus caballus of a different color" was made possible thanks to a surprising food item…

Jell-O crystals were used to color the horses, which meant filmmakers had to move apace — the animals were eager to lick up the sugariness care for. Only the colorful steed isn't the but interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-drawn railroad vehicle was in one case owned past President Abraham Lincoln and at present resides at the Judy Garland Museum.

The Makeup Section Hired Extra Easily

From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald City to the Witch's flight monkeys, so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in order to give life to this fantasy film. To keep up with the daily demands, MGM called upon workers from the studio mailroom and courier service to manage makeup stations.

Since about of the Ozian ensemble required prosthetics, makeup artists — and "makeshift" artists — formed a kind of costuming associates line. Nearly actors had to go far before 5:00 in the morning time — half-dozen days a week! — to begin the intensive procedure.

Memorable (& Frequently Misquoted) Lines Fill the Film

The film is chock-full of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the neat fortune of beingness responsible for some of the near quoted lines in pic history also. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Picture Lines" and placed a whopping 3 of the picture's lines on the list.

"Pay no attention to that human behind the mantle" was voted #24, while "At that place's no place like home" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the frequently misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.

The Witch'due south Burn Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)

Clearly, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the moving-picture show is incredible. Like the "horse of a different color" sequence, some other iconic, special effects-heavy scene harnessed the power of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.

Shortly after Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the cherry slippers from the immature girl's feet. However, fire strikes the Witch's hands, repelling her. This "burn" is really apple juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-upward clip to make information technology look more flame-like.

Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Department

Experimenting with Technicolor was part fun and part problem-solving for filmmakers. In order to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor camera, the soundstage needed to be lit with arc lights, which often heated the set up to a toasty 100 degrees.

Subsequently the lights were fix, the experts experimented with what would wait best on film, especially in colorized form. For example, the white part of Dorothy'southward clothes is actually pink — simply because information technology filmed better. And the oil the Tin Human is so excited nearly? It's actually chocolate syrup.

The Wicked Witch of the East Makes More One Appearance

Part of the Wicked Witch of the West's beef with Dorothy is that the young girl dropped a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who was the short-lived owner of the ruby slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas analogue Almira Gulch, she also plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if only briefly.

During the tornado sequence, an befuddled Dorothy looks out her bedroom window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch outside the window is wearing the ruby slippers. The restored version of the pic makes that shimmer even more noticeable.

The Moving picture's Running Fourth dimension Was Cut Down Several Times

The first cut of the movie clocked in at a running time of 120 minutes. Although that seems similar zippo by today'due south Marvel pic standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt it was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off 20 minutes.

After cutting the famed "Jitterbug" number and an extended Scarecrow dance sequence, the film was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a 2nd preview screening, and, afterwards, nixed Dorothy'southward "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald Urban center reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead," a scene where the Tin can Man becomes a human beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.

So Much for a "Wicked" Witch

Filmmakers accounted Margaret Hamilton'due south Wicked Witch of the Westward performance also frightening for audiences and cut or trimmed many of her scenes. But not everyone thought her performance was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch'south nemesis, Dorothy Gale.

Off-screen, the film'southward starring foes were really friends. One story that emerged from the set described Garland excitedly showing off a clothes to Hamilton, declaring she was going to wear it for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM'southward Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a press tour the 24-hour interval of her graduation. Upset, Hamilton phoned Mayer and chewed him out.

Giving Credit to Technicolor

In the opening credits, the text reads "Photographed in Technicolor," every bit opposed to the more than apt "Colour Sequences past Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes it seem as though the entire film was shot in color. Was this done deliberately, or was it a minor syntactical faux pas?

Information technology's widely believed this was a scrap of a stunt washed to enhance the surprise of the picture turning into full three-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters made at the time of the film's debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "black-and-white"), calculation credence to this theory.

1 of History's Most-Watched Films

Although The Wizard of Oz proved pop in theaters, another motion picture released the aforementioned year, as well directed by Victor Fleming, actually topped the box office. (You lot may take heard of that little picture show — it'southward called Gone with the Current of air.) Nonetheless, MGM's musical fantasy may have more than staying power than other films of the era, cheers in part to re-releases.

The moving picture was start circulate on tv set on Nov 3, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 million viewers. Information technology'south believed that The Sorcerer of Oz is one of the x nigh-watched feature-length movies in film history, largely due to the number of annual tv screenings, theater viewings and various format re-releases.