‘Dorothy’ of ‘Wizard of Oz’The Twin Legends

Even those who don’t like or appreciate Cinema, would surely know something about ‘Wizard of Oz’, the 1939 film that created cinematic history. Its heroine, Dorothy, and the other protagonists Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion became household celebrities and gained a popularity rarely witnessed.
The role of Dorothy was played by Judy Garland, just 17 then. Described by Fred Astaire, himself one of the greatest male film and TV stars of 76 years standing in Films and TV,
 as “the greatest entertainer who ever lived”; her renown for her contralto voice, made her synonymous with “The Wizard of Oz”.
She was born Frances Ethel Gumm in Minnesota, USA and made her show business debut in 1924 when she was only two and a half. Married four times, first when she was 19 and last, when she was 46, just three months before her 47 years of glittering glamorous life, came to an unexpected end on June 22, 1969. Even in her death, she stole the limelight. Her death was attributed to an unintentional, incautious overdose of prescription barbiturates.
Wizard of Oz
An adaptation of the children’s novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ by L. Frank Baum, published in 1900, the film premiered on 15th August, 1939 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Regarded as the most viewed movie of all time, this ground-breaking film remains cinema’s most famous effort. Legendary for its famous scenes, memorable characters, oft-repeated quotes and for its use of Technicolor, a novelty then, the film turned out to be a commercial bomb making close to a million dollars over its cost. Among other things, the famous red slippers worn by Dorothy brought so vividly to life because of Technicolor, became a period moment in the history of cinematography. On May 17, 1970 an anonymous buyer purchased one of the pairs of ruby slippers worn by her in “The Wizard of Oz” for $15,000 at MGM Studio auction, and donated them to the Smithsonian Institution. This famous pair of red shoes was stolen in 2005. 13 years later FBI announced they have recovered it
The film starring Judy Garland (Dorothy), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Jack Haley (Tin Man), Bert Lahr (Cowardly Lion), Frank Morgan (Wizard), Billie Burke (Glinda), and Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch) and directed by Victor Flemming and King Vidor, became an American Tradition further reinforced when it was first broadcast on TV in 1956.
Interestingly, Flemming was the fourth Director engaged for the film. However, !939 turned out to be memorable for him because he won the Oscars that year for the Best Director though, for another film ’Gone with The Wind’.
This remarkable woman of huge talent and bewitching beauty merits fond commemoration on 10th of June, the day she was born.