Peek behind the curtain to see how a cinematic classic was made.
Courtesy Everett Collection
There’s nothing quite like seeingThe Wizard of Ozfor the first time.
The behind-the-scenes stories can sometimes be as fascinating as the film itself.
Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Judy Garland, and Bert Lahr in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Credit:Courtesy Everett Collection
Meeting the Cowardly Lion
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
The trio (plus Toto, whose real name was Terry) approachesthe Cowardly Lion’s hunting grounds.
He was perfect for the Cowardly Lion.
Ray Bolger, Judy Garland, Jack Haley, and Margaret Hamilton behind the scenes of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Fields' Wizard would’ve been more of a con-man while Morgan played him as a frightened little humbug.
Margaret Hamilton’s screen test
Margaret Hamilton was a character actress who played a lot of housemaids.
Filming the opening credits
The MGM Optical Department photographed the film’s titles.
Jack Haley, Judy Garland, and Ray Bolger filming ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Curiously, her signature song, “Over the Rainbow,“was nearly cut from the film.
Blanche Sewell editedThe Wizard of Oz, an enormous responsibility considering all the scenes that were ultimately discarded.
Though the film opened strong, it wouldn’t earn its money back until 1948.
Judy Garland’s screen test for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Ray Bolger’s screen test for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Jack Haley’s screen test for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Bert Lahr’s screen test for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Frank Morgan’s screen test for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Winged monkey screen test.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Harry Earles, Jerry Maren, and Jackie Gerlich’s screen test for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Margaret Hamilton’s screen test for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Victor Fleming directing Judy Garland and Ray Bolger behind the scenes on ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Victor Fleming working with actors Billy Curtis, Judy Garland, and Charlie Becker on ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Mickey Rooney with Ray Bolger.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
The MGM Optical Department photographing the opening credits of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Judy Garland in the recording studio for ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Blanche Sewell, editor of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
Producer Mervyn LeRoy of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
‘The Wizard of Oz’ opening day at Loew’s Capitol Theater in New York.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
‘The Wizard of Oz’ Grauman’s Theater premiere in Los Angeles.Digitized by the Margaret Herrick Library Digital Studio
