Actor Types in The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz released in 1939 was a great story with many great actors. These people went to great lengths to ensure they portrayed their character in a way that brought the viewer into the screen and made them part of the movie. The three that stand out the most to me are Judy Garland, Frank Morgan and Ray Bolger. Their acting style and abilities really brought this movie to life. The helped make this movie the great classic it is today.

Judy Garland who played Dorothy was an interpreter. She was able to take a role, put her stamp on it and create a person, not just a character. She was able to bring her role and character to life. The viewer was following Dorothy’s journey as if right there with her all the way back home in Kansas. When she sang of a better place over the rainbow, it wasn’t Judy just singing but rather Dorothy actually wishing for a place where she could fit it. Later when Dorothy met the Wicked Witch of the West for the first time you felt her fear both in her voice and her body language even though Glenda was right behind her supporting her. She made you wish the witch would just go away. She wasn’t just acting the part but living it. This living the part can also be seen when Dorothy was in the balloon. The way in which she admires and touches both Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion. These were done with true affection not just on cue.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Frank Morgan would have to be classified as a wild card actor. His ability to play different characters within the movie and use a style and personality for each one that kept the viewer from obviously knowing it was him actor took skill. I didn’t know that Professor Marvel was also the Wizard of Oz until the end of the movie when Dorothy stated he was in her dream. The way he treated Dorothy as the professor and wizard was manipulative; however, the way in which he did it was completely different. When Dorothy ran away from home along her trek she ran across a wagon and met Professor Marvel. As the professor, Frank Morgan was sweet and friendly albeit sneaky. He sort of befriended Dorothy and used this persona to create an image of Aunt Em being broken hearted. The manipulation of Dorothy’s emotions caused her to stop running away and return to Aunt Em. As the wizard though, Frank was a bully and mean. When Dorothy meets the wizard both times, he used mechanically trickery and mean words to manipulate Dorothy into agreeing with his demands and wishes. These two distinct yet different approaches felt very real and Frank must have had to practice his roles relentlessly to create two such unique personalities within the same movie.

Professor Marvel

Ray Bolger who played Scarecrow would be classified as the impersonator. He was portraying a living scarecrow, right down to the straw filling. The way in which he moved reflected how I would have thought a scarecrow would move if, in fact a scarecrow could actually move. He ensured this persona continued throughout the movie. When Scarecrow sings “If I Only Had a Brain”, you see his impersonating come to life. The way in which his somewhat lifeless legs give way at times, the way in which he stubbles is he leans too far and how he loses control, and straw, when he spins. Later when he and the others met the wizard for the first time, you can see him stumbling and sliding around as if he legs were not solid. He did this with such ease and fluid motion as if this were the way Ray Bolger moved in real life. His ability to bring the scarecrow to life was nothing short of perfect.

If I Only Had a Brain

Most of the movies that Judy Garland participated were roles which involved her singing. Her voice and her acting ability are what made her great. She was both an actress and accomplished singer. She seemed a natural at becoming embodied in the character and this showed through her songs and her ability to make the viewer feel the character was a real person and not just a character in the movie. As Judy aged from a teenager to an adult, so roles matured and evolved. However, her acting style seemed to stay the same. In A Child is Waiting, Judy plays a Jean, teacher who becomes emotionally attached to mentally disabled children. Judy takes this character, makes Jean her own, and pulls the viewer into the movie. They become one with Jean and feels what she feels. They weep when she weeps and feel sorry when she is upset. She was able to learn as a child what she would need as an adult when her roles would become more mature and deep with emotion. It is a shame that she died so young…she had so much more to give as an accomplished actress.

A Child is Waiting (1963)

References:
Kirstierocks1. (2014, February 14). A Child is Waiting 1963 Part 6 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaNiDnciwU4

Movieclips. (2011, May 26). If I Only Had a Brain – The Wizard of Oz (4/8) Movie Clip (1939) HD [Video clip]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nauLgZISozs

WarnerBrosOnline. (2013, July 15). Meeting The Wizard – Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary – Own it October 1 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amclN9RG49c

Dpl1960. (2010, July 25). Professor Marvel [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJaxd1BQr9g

Movieclips. (2011, May 26). Somewhere Over the Rainbow – The Wizard of Oz (1/8) Movie CLIP (1939) HD [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnUT

heManThatGetsAway. (2013, October 9). The Wicked Witch of the West appears (The Wizard Of Oz, 1939) [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnXAl1ntt_4

Reelz. (n.d.). The Wizard of Oz – Clip [Video file]. Retrieved on 2014, June 10 from http://www.reelz.com/trailer-clips/43532/the-wizard-of-oz-clip/

Functions of Sound in The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Sound can be broken down into three basic categories. They are dialogue, sound effects, and music. The dialogue are the parts of the movie that are spoken by the characters in the movie. Because it is always part of the movie and expected, audiences have taken it for granted (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Sound effects are the sounds you hear in a movie such as conventional birds chirping to water dripping. As well, they can be unconventional whereas an object can be used to mimic particular sound such as a thin stick can be used to make a whoosh sound. They are added to illustrate or enhance the action of the movie. Every film uses sound in some way to draw the audience into the movie and keep it there (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Music, are the songs or scores that play in the background during a movie. They can be classic songs heard on the radio to newly written scores specifically produced for the movie. As well, “sometimes a film’s background music has a recognizable style; at other times it has an almost anonymous feel, perceived more on a subconscious level” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Sounds set the theme for the movie. Actors tone, emotion and use of particular words within the dialogue can set the mood of a scene and the overall film. The sound effects help accentuate the action and bring it to life. As well, the music set the mood and enhance the action as well foreshadow what is to come. Throughout The Wizard of Oz, the sounds inform the mood of the different scenes and overall film. Upbeat, fast music is used throughout for climatic parts of the movie and when something exciting or scary is about to occur. This type of music can be seen when Miss Gulch is on her way to the farm to take Toto. This is also apparent when the Wicked Witch of the West appears in Munchkinland. Slower, somber music is used for sad scenes such as when Dorothy is singing about finding a place where there would not be any trouble, a better place. When Dorothy lands in Oz, the music utilizes many sound effects played during the music to help portray magical place with unexpected things about to happen that are not normal. The way in which the actors speak in the forest, the sound effects, and the music make it a creepy, scary place that none of the viewers want to be. The use of unusual sound effects and the way in which the lion spoke enhanced this. These are only example of how the dialogue, sound effects and music all came together to create specific effects within the film. They were well utilized and some were rather unusual and almost spellbinding. Had the sound effects been changed or even removed, I think I would have been less able to be as engrossed in the action of the scenes. The forest would not have been as scary nor would I had been able to sense the danger that lied ahead other than from the words of a sign. Had the dialogue been more monotone or lacked emotion, I would have been unable to connect with the feelings that the actors were feeling. I would have possibly been emotionless. The music was key in this movie with some great hits. Music really connect and key in to Dorothy’s unhappiness when she sang Over the Rainbow, or how hopeful for Dorothy and her friends I was when they sang We’re Off to See the Wizard. This was a wonderful movie and even though to me the sounds made me think of this movie as more of a drama type genre instead of a fantasy, they did cue me into it being a magical movie.

Movie Clips:

Miss Gulch

Wicked Witch of the West

Place of no trouble

Dorothy lands in Oz

The Forest

References:

Allan Fisch. (2010, November 28). Miss Gulch-extended [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AldxVQ8z5FQ

Facebook Invaded Privacy True Story. (2012, October 6). The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Dorothy lands in Munchkin Land ***FULL COLOR 1080p HD*** [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzpyfNTOqHI

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Iheartthewizardofoz. (2010, March 27). Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland 1939 [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U016JWYUDdQ

Literaturekansas. (2008, March 22). The Haunted Forest [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSmh0wvYJEY

Themanthatgetsaway. (2013, October 9). The Wicked Witch of the West appears (The Wizard Of Oz, 1939) [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnXAl1ntt_4