The Wizard of Oz (1939) is a film about understanding the importance of home, or one’s origins. What defines home is the family structure. The values of taking care of one another and working towards the benefit of the group derive from a family oriented lifestyle. These values became an important principle during the Great Depression as they opposed the rugged individualism prevalent in the 1920s. After the superficiality of that decade and the crash that it caused, it was important for the nation to return back to simpler times and to focus on more important values. The theme of returning home, or to the origin, threads throughout the narrative of The Wizard of Oz. The form of the film is also structured in a way that reflects a return. The Wizard of Oz presents a film returning to its roots as it contains similar aspects of early cinema through spectacle, whether it’s through entertainment or movement, yet also alludes to the Great Depression and the need to return to the essentials of life.

Many films in early cinema started taking story ideas from novels. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum saw silent film adaptations and a Broadway musical, but the 1939 movie musical adaption has been the most popular of them all. For almost forty years starting from the release of the original book to the premiere of the 1939 film, the book gained many readers, even creating fan devotion towards Oz and its characters as sequels were created. Before the narrative begins in The Wizard of Oz, the film is dedicated to the devoted readers who have engrained the story and its characters in their culture generation after generation. In Catherine Jurca’s Hollywood 1938, she argues that 1938 saw a decrease in audience attendance because the studios lost touch with their audience. The Wizard of Oz became one of the films in 1939 that returned people to the movie theaters. Because the book had a multigenerational fan base, the film gathered many ages together as well. Having a broader audience, the film enabled an inclusive movie-going experience. MGM Studios became in touch with the audience as The Wizard of Oz created a community of people together, much of which was the family unit, the very idea that the film stood for.

In furthering a relation to the audience, the film favors rural America, which represented more of the community-based audiences of the time. The opening and closing of The Wizard of Oz is not in black and white, but in sepia tone, which gives more of a country, dusty look. Like in early cinema, The Wizard of Oz emphasizes the rural lifestyle, which symbolizes important values like family and community over the fancy existence in the urban setting. The debate between the two is noted throughout the movie. Auntie Em starts the argument for rurality. After Zeke saves Dorothy from the hogs, Auntie Em notices the men not attending to their duties and snaps, “I saw you tinkering with that contraption, Hickory! Now you and Hunk get back to that wagon!” Though it is unclear what contraption Auntie Em refers to, her preference for the men to focus their attention on the wagon over modern technology demonstrates the priority of rurality. Auntie Em would rather have the men use reliable tools that they’re used to instead of a modern item to experiment with. Also, Dorothy expresses the desire to leave the country for something better. When she runs away after Toto comes back in fear of Miss Gulch’s return, she bumps into Professor Marvel. He assumes that Dorothy is running away because she “want[s] to see other lands, big cities, big mountains, big oceans.” She replies, “Why, it’s just like you can read what’s inside of me!” Dorothy doesn’t mention the trouble she has at home, but instead expresses her desire to be elsewhere that’s not on the farm. In addition, the journey to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard for help parallels with American society’s exodus out of the country to look for new opportunities and a better life in the metropolis. This exodus occurred mostly as the US excelled during the industrial age and the increase of urbanization throughout the country. Dorothy and her friends rely on finding the Wizard in Emerald City, where all their desires can be fulfilled. Once they’re welcomed into the city, it’s a new experience for these country folk that traveled a long way. The primping of the characters is reminiscent of the scenes in Sunrise (1927) when the couple explores the amenities and thrills of the city. The Emerald City represents a carefree and easier lifestyle that is especially accessible for those who are affluent. As Dorothy and the gang enjoy, the people of Emerald City sing, “That’s how we laugh the day away / in the merry old land of Oz / We get up at twelve and start to work at one / Take an hour for lunch and then at two we're done / Jolly good fun.” Compared to Dorothy and friends who believe in their lack and venture on a journey to change their lives, those who live in Emerald City express a lifestyle with much ease and abundance. Through the debate of a rural or urban life, The Wizard of Oz suggests class struggle as experienced during the Great Depression. At that time, the social group that was able to excel in the metropolis was the wealthy while those belonging to a low income group struggled. In addition, the scene in which Miss Gulch takes away Toto reveals class disparity that occurred in the Great Depression and rural America. With the lack of resources, the lower classes lacked clout. When Miss Gulch wants to take Toto away, she has a note from the sheriff allowing her to do so. Auntie Em darts back, “Almira Gulch, just because you own half the county doesn’t mean you have the power to run the rest of us.” Miss Gulch’s ability to have the law on her side shows the power she has, especially financially. Unlike Miss Gulch, Dorothy and her family labor through their own lives as they even worry that their chicks will die. The Wizard of Oz, like early cinema, shows us a conflict and a choice between two different lifestyles that each provide its advantages and disadvantages.

What defines early cinema is spectacle, and that’s seen in The Wizard of Oz. By having many well known stage performers, the film brought familiarity to the audience. Film also provided audience members to witness the work of these popular entertainers, since most weren’t able to see them on Broadway. Performance in The Wizard of Oz provided the audience with escapism during the Great Depression. Adding Technicolor to the film contributed to the spectacle and the feeling of going someplace else. Much of the film gave uplift to a society in trouble. Not only was the film popular, but the song “Over the Rainbow” became the single hit, even winning an Academy Award. This song expresses much of the needed escapism during the Depression. Before Dorothy sings the signature song of the film, she wonders, “Someplace where there isn’t any trouble? Do you suppose there is a place, Toto? There must be. It’s not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It’s far, far away behind the moon, beyond the rain, Somewhere over the rainbow…” Though this unknown place is strived for, it also describes a place that’s unattainable.

In addition, another aspect that describes early cinema is the spectacle of movement. The Wizard of Oz is a film with constant movement. Whether it’s Miss Gulch on a bike, Dorothy and her friends dancing down the yellow brick road, the Wicked Witch of the West flying on her broom, or the Wizard in his hot air balloon, movement continuously fills the screen. The film opens with Dorothy and Toto running away from Miss Gulch’s house and towards their home. This opening image defines the film as the main objective becomes the return home. Dorothy’s movements are the most prominent as the main protagonist. Though Dorothy’s many paths are goal oriented, conflicts at times lead her away from a specific goal, but show a return towards them. The movement in The Wizard of Oz isn’t always linear, but constantly makes detours and turns back. When Dorothy decides to runaway from home in fear that they’ll take away Toto again, she meets Professor Marvel, who reminds her she’s leaving someone she loves. Dorothy decides to return to the farm instead of embarking on a new journey. In addition, the first time Dorothy and the gang see the Wizard, he requires that they obtain the witch’s broom before their wishes are granted. They return successfully, so that the Wizard will fulfill their desires. Lastly, Dorothy leaves Kansas, arrives in Oz, and comes back to Kansas. This reversion throughout the film demonstrates the theme of the homecoming.

The twister demonstrates significant movement of an inanimate object. The twister comes in and disrupts Dorothy’s stability and security in home, even after she realizes how important home and her family is to her. The twister expresses that conflicts arise and can be forces out of one’s control, which resembles the sense of helplessness people felt once the Depression started. It is the twister, though, that propels Dorothy in a coming-of-age story, which the audience can take as a reflection of their lives during the Great Depression.

Dorothy’s wandering mimics the endless moving towards the betterment of the country, not knowing whether or not these new ideals will uplift the country. Dorothy surrenders often to larger forces at hand—the twister, Glinda, the Wicked Witch, and the Wizard. When Dorothy and the group meet the Lion, he confesses, “[My] life has simply been unbearable.” Dorothy soothes, “Well, it’s alright now. The Wizard will fix everything.” Dorothy’s hope proves the dependability of a higher power to take care of them instead of having the ability to fix things themselves. This shows when they first encounter the Wizard. He instructs them to bring back the witch’s broom. No specific purpose is given to them, but with a higher power, they are willing to do the task, in hopes their wishes will be granted. The devastating moment comes when the man behind the curtain is revealed. All their moving around and all their hard work has led to nowhere. The exposing of the Wizard illustrates the disillusionment of the American public during the Great Depression as it shows hard work and tenacity proving useless. Emerald City and the Wizard represented abundance and the ability to provide for all, but verified to be a failing, unreliable system.

Though there is all this wandering around, in the thick of it, and getting lost in it, it’s about arriving toward the realization of significant values and ideas. During the start of Dorothy’s journey to find the Wizard, she becomes worried, but Glinda interrupts and instructs Dorothy, “Just follow the yellow brick road.” Glinda emphasizes the important of the journey and not the destination because in the end, it is through the journey that Dorothy and her friends learn an important lesson—that they have the capacity to face the adversity in front of them.  The Wizard in explaining that they had everything all along provides the American people a way to get through the Great Depression—intelligence in actions, a kind heart, and the courage to face it all in order to bring oneself back home to the values that matter most. What matters most, what the “heart desires” is home, which represents the origin of love and family, which relates to the community and is manifested through rurality. The Wicked Witch of the West warns the limited amount of time a person has to realize the importance of people in someone’s life. When the witch has Dorothy locked in her castle, she shows Dorothy an hourglass of how much time she has left before she kills her. After, Dorothy cries out to Auntie Em and expresses how she’s frightened and has been trying to return home. This emotionally heightened scene shows Dorothy’s desperation with the dwindling of time to get back home with the ones she loves. Lastly, as the Wizard gives a token to the Tin Man, he reminds him, “A heart is not judged by how much you loved but how much you are loved by others.” The Wizard points out the importance of leaving a positive influence in one’s life. This accentuates the significance of a community in one’s life. The Wizard of Oz demonstrates for those in the Great Depression that the way in which the country can rebuild is through working together for the common good. As shown in the film, Dorothy selflessly decides to bring along the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, so that they too can fulfill their desires. Also, when the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion realize that Dorothy must deal with the witch, they decide to ensure her goal over theirs, not caring if their own goals are fulfilled. This expresses self-sacrifice. The film presents a protagonist striving for the good of the whole group, and through this eccentric group that Dorothy creates a community or family in Oz.

The Wizard of Oz expresses the power of the community or the family because it is the root, origin, or home of life. It is love that can get us through adversity. The film encourages the audience to return to the principles found in our own backyard. The way in which the film inspires a homecoming is through returning to its origin itself. By returning to elements from early cinema while simultaneously reflecting the social setting of the time, the film restores the audience to the movie-going experience that leads to the Golden Age of Hollywood.

 

Works Cited

The Wizard of Oz. Dir. Victor Flemming. Perf. Judy Garland. MGM, 1939. Blu-ray.