The Wizard of Oz

Product Description

The Wizard of Oz Classic Movie Wicked Witch Tin Cylinder Tote. This rhinestone encrusted tin cylinder measures 4 inches in diameter and approximately 6 inches in length. It features a snap closure, velveteen interior, and detachable strap. An officially licensed item. A great gift idea!

Wizard of Oz Buy This Allposters.com

I recently read the exceptional book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years) and have had The Wizard of Oz on my mind since. Like a lot of movies (Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, It’s a Wonderful Life…) and a lot of stars (Elvis, Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth), sometimes we take The Wizard of Oz for granted. It has become such a permanent fixture of our lives and our memories that we sometimes fail to realize what a magical, larger than life movie it truly was.

That’s why I wanted to put this post together to sort of keep the magic alive. When we’re fans of movies and/or stars, we should do everything in our power to keep the imagery and the memory as alive today as it was when we first saw it.

First up, the The Wizard of Oz (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Edition) (shown above). This two disc set is currently less than $12 on Amazon. It’s normally over $20, which, if you ask me would still be a heck of a great deal.

From Amazon.com

When it was released during Hollywood’s golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn’t start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn’t until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz‘s TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz–the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)–have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy’s enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film’s still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it’s loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and decor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it’s required viewing for kids of all ages. –Jeff Shannon

Here are more Wizard of Oz Gifts and Products I found after a quick search. Suffice to say I want each and every one of them!