Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today that 1939’s acclaimed and beloved classic The Wizard of Oz will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on October 29th. Directed by Victor Fleming (Gone With the Wind) and starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gayle, The Wizard of Oz is widely considered to be one of the most influential films in cinematic history.
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz officially premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed Gone With the Wind), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Ray Bolger appeared as the Scarecrow; Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Jack Haley as the Tin Woodman. Frank Morgan was seen in six different roles, including that of the “wonderful Wizard” himself. Dorothy was portrayed by a 4’11” sixteen year old girl who quickly earned her reputation as “the world’s greatest entertainer”– the incomparable Judy Garland.
Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Elements
The Wizard of Oz Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
· Commentary by John Fricke with Barbara Freed-Saltzman, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr, Jane Lahr, Hamilton Meserve, Dona Massin, William Tuttle, Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy and Jerry Maren.
· 1990 CBS Special “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic.”
The Wizard of Oz Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
· Commentary- Commentary by John Fricke with Barbara Freed-Saltzman, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr, Jane Lahr, Hamilton Meserve, Dona Massin, William Tuttle, Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy and Jerry Maren
· The Making of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
· The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook (narrated by Angela Lansbury)
· We Haven’t Really Met Properly…
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Frank Morgan”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Ray Bolger”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Bert Lahr”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Jack Haley”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Billie Burke”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Margaret Hamilton”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Charley Grapewin”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Clara Blandick”
o We Haven’t Really Met Properly: “Terry”
· Music & Effects Track
· Original Mono Track
· Sing Along Tracks
· Audio Jukebox
· Leo is on the Air Radio Promo
· Good News of 1939 Radio Show
· 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Broadcast
· Stills Galleries
o Oz on Broadway
o Pre-MGM
o Sketches and Storyboards
o Richard Thorpe’s Oz
o Buddy Ebsen
o Oz Comes to Life
o Behind the Scenes
o Portraits
o Special Effects
o Post Production
o Deleted Scenes
o Original Publicity
o 8/15/1939 Hollywood Premiere
o 8/17/1939 New York Premiere
o 2/29/1940 Academy Awards® Ceremony
o Oz Abroad
o Oz Revivals
· Trailers