Friday Movie Review - The Wizard of Oz

This week's movie review is on a true classic . . . "The Wizard of Oz." This movie is spring-like for many reasons. Not only is it bright and colorful and involves flowers in a pivotal part of the plot(poppies), but it also is traditionally shown on television every year around Easter. When you see "The Wizard of Oz" being played on TV, you truly know spring is here!

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Directed By: Victor Fleming

Written By: Noel Langley (Screenplay)

Florence Ryerson (Screenplay)

Edgar Allan Woolf (Screenplay)

L. Frank Baum (Novel)

When you first start watching the movie, you aren't all that impressed. Everything is dull and dreary and black and white . . . it doesn't really keep a kitty's attention. Things get a little better when Dorothy starts singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," but only just a bit . . . where's the color? Where's the action? Why is it so depressing? Kitties . . . the beginning of this movie makes you think that Kansas is a boring and depressing place, good for nothing but evil dog-hating neighbor ladies and tornadoes. You can see by the picture below that Dorothy is wistful and really wishes she had more excitement and color in her life.

BUT THEN! Suddenly Dorothy is caught in a tornado and dropped into a world full of COLOR and MOVEMENT and SONG! Just look!

This is when a kitty will start understanding why their mommy is making them watch this movie. Now the film starts getting really good. This is where all the action begins, and you won't be yawning anymore. Don't get me wrong, there are some flaws in the movie. While you can tell Dorothy is a nice girl because she loves her dog Toto so much . . . still, the movie would have been FAR more interesting had Dorothy's beloved pet been a cat. No offense to doggies . . . but as a kitty, I would have preferred to have seen a cat in the role. Perhaps a fluffy Himalayan. Can't you just see Zoey in Dorothy's basket? Skipping along the Yellow Brick Road? I know I can!

But don't despair! We felines are represented as well. However, this is where kitties may be offended. Dorothy befriends a lion . . . known as the Cowardly Lion. Yes, he's big and fierce-looking with an awesome curly mane. But he's all bluff. He's afraid of everything! EVEN TOTO! Can you imagine? He is afraid of Dorothy's tiny doggie. And in comparison, Toto is made to look that much braver than the lion. I must tell you, I was a little bit upset by this. If I had been the Cowardly Lion, I would have put Toto in his place with one well-placed whap. I think the Lion could have benefited from our weekly Whapping Lessons with Sammy.

The meanie in this film is the Wicked Witch of the West. She's pretty cool. She's green and wears all black and flies on a broom. She also has flying monkeys! I think the Witch is probably Holly's hero. I bet Holly dreams of the day when mommy rides on a broom and has flying monkeys to sic on people. (Come to think of it, mommy probably dreams of that day, too.)

Even though this film starts out all dreary, and doesn't represent kitties well or accurately, I still give this film two paws up. Once you get past the icky beginning with Dorothy pining away in dusty Kansas, there is color and movement and song . . . and flying monkeys!

I also want to let you kitties know that this summer starting in June I will be doing "Reader's Request" for my movie reviews. I know several of you have left suggestions for reviews in the past, so now is your chance to shine! From June through August (if I get enough requests) I will be reviewing movies that YOU, the reader, have requested. If you have a movie you would like to see reviewed by me, please either leave your request in my comments or email me!