The Road to Oz
The Evolution, Creation, and Legacy of a Motion Picture Masterpiece
by Jay Scarfone; William Stillman
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Pub Date Oct 01 2018 | Archive Date Oct 01 2018
Rowman & Littlefield | Lyons Press
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Description
Tantalizing highlights of the text include:
· A thorough synopsis of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and the script, inspired by the book, of the 1903 Broadway musical-comedy extravaganza.
· An overview of the plots of prior silent film adaptations of Oz and how they influenced the M-G-M film.
· An analysis of newly-discovered audio transcriptions of Wizard of Oz radio programs from 1931-32 and 1937-38—all of which were previously unknown.
· A complete accounting of Sam Goldwyn’s proposed (and aborted) 1934 Technicolor musical version of Oz starring Eddie Cantor (including commentary from Cantor’s sole surviving child).
· A thorough analysis of the October 10, 1938 M-G-M shooting script (provided by descendants of comedian and Cowardly Lion actor Bert Lahr) that predates the beginning of production by seventy-two hours.
· Startling revelations about the operetta that seemingly inspired “Over the Rainbow.”
· Judy Garland’s trials and tribulations with the studio, including the threat that M-G-M was grooming a sound-alike who tested for Oz.
· The supporting player who was cast in two roles in Oz’s fantasy sequence—the second role revealed for the first time in Scarfone and Stillman’s text.
· The Munchkin midgets’ pre-1939 Wizard of Oz connection.
· Oz’s film editor with a direct connection to Walt Disney and Snow White.
· Studio nepotism, favoritism and politics at the height of Hollywood’s golden age on the making of the world’s most famous film.
“The Road to Oz not only delivers exciting, previously unpublished information and insight, but does so in an extremely well-cited format. This is absolutely a must-have for any Oz fan or film historian.” —Sean Barrett, theatrical/film producer and artistic director, Land of Oz, North Carolina
“A new and wonderful book penned by the foremost Oz movie history authors. This is a must-read for all old and new Oz fans worldwide.” —Roger S. Baum, author of Dorothy of Oz (on which the film Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return is based) and great-grandson of L. Frank Baum
“Numerous books have celebrated the fan appeal of MGM’s Wizard of Oz, but there’s far more to this story than nostalgia. Scarfone and Stillman delve deep into the history of this landmark film, exploring its place in the pantheon of classic fantasy films, as well as fascinating details of production. The Road to Oz is an important addition to the film-history bookshelf.” —J.B. Kaufman, film historian and author of The Fairest One of All: The Making of Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
“The Road to Oz is a gamechanger in the world of motion picture history books. Long considered the leading authorities on the making of The Wizard of Oz, Scarfone and Stillman have crafted decades of extensive research into a new and unparalleled historical recalling of the classic film.” —Randy L. Schmidt, editor of Judy Garland on Judy Garland: Interviews and Encounters and author of Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781493036295 |
| PRICE | $27.95 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Justin B, Reviewer
A very detailed flow chart of the history of this story, starting with Baum's book, and traveling through the stage and radio plays, to the movie. Seems quite researched. Very informative.
Literary R, Reviewer
THE ROAD TO OZ retells the evolution of one of the most beloved movies on the precipice of its 80th birthday. Reflects new research through period interviews, media resources, transcriptions, and images published for the first time. The authors, historians and collectors since the 1970s, wrote several related books and boast one of the largest Oz memorabilia collections in the world. Highly recommended as a meticulously researched resource for the most avid Oz fans.
Pub Date 01 Oct 2018
Grateful to Rowman & Littlefield and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.
#TheRoadToOz #NetGalley
Megan D, Reviewer
As a child, my sister adored the Wizard of Oz, and I spent many, many afternoons watching the movie. As an adult, I've taken advantage of several opportunities to learn more about the movie and the people who made it. This book was one of those opportunities, and it did not disappoint.
Even knowing many of the tales associated with the creation of the movie, this book provided unique insight into how the movie was made. It was interesting to not only hear the tales, but see pictures of the people and events. I do wish there would have been more captions to the pictures, however, because at times I was left unsure about what I was looking at. Still, it was an interesting and informative read. I would definitely recommend for movie buff or fans of Oz!
Jennifer C, Reviewer
This book is an excellent exploration of the creation of this iconic film. The title calls this movie a masterpiece and that is certainly the case, especially considering the 80th anniversary is on the horizon. As a longtime fan of The Wizard of Oz film, this book is something I need to own and I will likely have on my coffee table. I found it to be both extremely well written and academic in its approach ( this is a compliment!). I loved that it explored the time period through the media available at the time along with new historical insights. This is the type of book that can be read several times and something new appreciated each time. This is a true 5 stars out of 5 and I recommend it to any fan of this film, as well as fans of film history in general and of this time period. I would like to thank both the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer 298993
This book was amazing. As a lifetime Wizard Oz fan I devoured this book. It was captivating, entertaining, and educational at the same time. What a read! 4 out f 5 stars.
Reviewer 503414
This was such an awesome book. Well worth your time in reading it. I cannot wait to buy this book and put it into my collection.
Kristi B, Librarian
THE ROAD TO OZ is a fabulous, well researched account of the making of the classic movie THE WIZARD OF OZ. I have been a fan of TWOO for well over four decades! Reading this book brought new insight into the sacrifices of the actors and everyone involved in the making of the movie.
Erin G, Librarian
A coffee table book this is not. Casual readers looking for gossip and backstage photos may not find this the most satisfying read, but dedicated fans of the beloved books and film will enjoy immersing themselves in this scholarly tome about the history of this iconic film.
catherine h, Reviewer
One of all time favorite movies! I couldn't wait to read this book. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I took some film classes in college, so it wasn't a waste of time. I think people who love the film will enjoy reading about it from author to theater. Interesting story.
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