L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its adaptations have won the hearts of countless children, and children at heart, over the years. Even in Baum’s lifetime, the classic story of Dorothy Gale and her adventures in the Land of Oz were adapted into stage shows and films, some of which Baum himself worked on. Many later movies and adaptations have come out since then, with some being so popular they’ve created their own franchises.
Viewers have seen Oz brought to life in a variety of forms over the years, from live-action to animated projects, with a few puppets here and there. Some are adaptations of the original book, while others reinvent the story in their own way. Quite a few films try to tell the story of Dorothy returning to Oz after her last adventure, often drawing influence from the various sequel books written over the years. Of course, some films like to see just what Oz was like before Dorothy dropped in.
21
‘The Wizard of Mars’ (1965)
The Wizard of Mars is a science-fiction adaptation of the classic story. The film revolves around four astronauts, Dorothy, Steve, Charlie, and “Doc,” who get caught up in a storm in space. Landing on the Red Planet, they must travel a golden road to an ancient city. Inside a hall, they encounter a projection of a head that reveals the history of the planet. Dorothy even dons a pair of silver shoes.
Oz with a Sci-Fi Spin
John Carradine notably plays the titular “Wizard of Mars.” The reimagining is also notable for its complicated release history. In addition to an edited version of the movie meant for television, it was at one point also used as part of a stage show that enacted special effects on viewers. The Wizard of Mars was later released with the title, Horrors of the Red Planet.
20
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1925)
The Wizard of Oz (1925) opens up with an old man reading a story to his granddaughter about the land of Oz. A young Kansas farm girl, Dorothy, learns that she is actually the long-lost princess of Oz. She returns and even meets a prince. However, the original usurpers still have a few tricks up their sleeves. In fact, in this version of the story, even Uncle Henry and the Tin Woodman can’t be trusted. The story ends with a cliffhanger, but the interstitials assure viewers that Dorothy and her prince lived happily ever after.
A Princess of Oz
While the Wizard was already meant to be a fraud, most of the supernatural elements are eliminated completely, effectively treating the story as a political drama. Dorothy’s three companions are notably a trio of farmhands from Kansas, simply disguised as a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion. The idea of Dorothy being a princess of Oz was likely an attempt to conflate her with Princess Ozma, even naming her the daughter of King Pastoria. Interestingly enough, Dorothy does get made a princess of Oz by the third book, Ozma of Oz. Added to this, Dorothy’s love interest in the story, Prince Kynd, was a character in The Scarecrow of Oz, where he was a posthumous king.
19
‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ (1910)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a silent film made ten years after the original book was published. A cyclone sends Dorothy and her animal friends, including Imogene the Cow and Hank the Mule, as well as Toto, to Oz alongside the family’s scarecrow. Soon, she will meet new friends and face off against the evil witch Momba. The story ends with the Wizard declaring the Scarecrow the new king of Oz.
The Story Kind of Ends on a Cliffhanger
The film combines elements from the original book with a 1902 stage adaptation that had been popular at the time. Notably, Toto, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch were either reduced to minor characters or cut out entirely in the stage version. While it seems abrupt to end the story with Dorothy still in Oz, the film was allegedly followed by a few sequels that may have incorporated elements from the later books. Unfortunately, the sequel films are considered lost media.
18
‘Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return’ (2014)
Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return is a 3D-animated film adapting Dorothy of Oz by Roger Stanton Baum, the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum. Dorothy has returned to Kansas only to learn her aunt and uncle are about to lose their farm. However, she won’t stay there for long, as her friends in Oz need her. An evil Jester, the brother of the Wicked Witch of the West, wants to take over Oz and is transforming people into puppets. Dorothy will make new allies in an owl, a china doll princess, and a marshmallow soldier.
A Story From Baum’s Great-Grandson
While the film was intended to be the start of a franchise, it did poorly at the box office, with its studio, Summertime Entertainment, going under after its release. Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return also became infamous online for its scary imagery, particularly the scenes with the Jester’s puppet victims. That said, the adaptation does have its fans who enjoy it as a standalone story.
17
‘The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz’ (2005)
The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz is a television special that sees the Land of Oz populated by colorful Muppets. Dorothy Gale (Ashanti) is an aspiring young singer who, after a bad audition, finds herself sent to Oz after a storm. Soon, she teams up with Kermit as the Scarecrow, Fozzie as the Cowardly lion, and a Gonzo made of tin. Hopefully, the great wizard might just make Dorothy’s dreams of stardom come true, but at a price.
After Taking Manhattan, Oz Was Just a Matter of Time
Admittedly, the special is seen as one of the Muppets’ weaker efforts. The subplot of Dorothy wanting to be a famous singer made her come off as bratty when compared to her more modest book counterpart, who simply wants to return home. Likewise, the idea of having Miss Piggy play all four witches might have seemed like a clever idea until viewers had to see the beloved Muppet die twice onscreen.
16
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1991)
Golden Films was an animation studio that adapted various children’s stories into short animated films. One of its earliest films, released under its American Film Investment Corporation name, was an animated adaptation ofThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Despite being a relatively short film, it’s relatively faithful to the original book, including elements like the silver shoes and Glinda’s palace.
A Very Straightforward Adaptation
While Golden Films often adapted classic stories multiple times, this was their only adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Though faithful to the book, there is still some influence from the MGM film, with Dorothy both looking and sounding similar to Judy Garland’s performance of the character. Overall, the film could be a good introduction to the original book’s plot.
15
‘Return to Oz’ (1964)
Return to Oz, not to be confused with the later Disney film of the same name, is a Rankin-Bass special involving Dorothy having to help her friends back in Oz after the Wicked Witch of the West has come back to life. The Witch’s time is limited, however, unless she can get her hands on Dorothy’s silver slippers.
Oz Just Can’t Continue Without Dorothy
The special uses a similar art style and characterizations from Rankin-Bass’ earlier Tales of the Wizard of Oz series, though it restores some elements that were cut from the original story. Notably, the earlier series portrayed the Wizard as the genuine article and a native Ozite, being an old classmate of the Wicked Witch’s. Return to Oz went back to his original humbug personality, though the characters believe otherwise until the very end.
14
‘Oz’ (1976)
Oz, also known as 20th Century Oz, is an Australian film parody of The Wizard of Oz, making use of the country’s own nickname. Dorothy is a teenage groupie who rides around with a rock hand. One day, she hits her head in an accident and wakes up to learn she has accidentally killed a local thug. A local shopkeeper rewards her with a pair of red shoes and tells her about the Wizard, a singer who is about to perform his last concert. She takes a journey to meet him, all the while dodging the thug’s brother.
Dorothy Dreams of a Land Down Under
Oz references the original story at various points, but it isn’t a direct retelling. For example, Dorothy befriends a dopey surfer, a heartless mechanic, and a cowardly biker on her travels. As a nod to the MGM film, the actor playing the Wizard appears as other characters throughout its run. While there is no magic in the story, the red shoes still save the day. Most of the story is revealed to be a dream, with Dorothy learning the dangers of fame and fortune.
13
‘Dorothy and the Witches of Oz’ (2012)
Dorothy and the Witches of Oz, also released as the miniseries The Witches of Oz, is a sequel revolving around an adult Dorothy. The heroine of Oz is now a popular children’s author living in New York City. However, she has repressed the fact that her adventures in Oz actually happened. Of course, her past returns to haunt her when the Wicked Witch of the West shows up in Time Square. Fortunately, Dorothy’s allies aren’t too far behind, as many of them have been hiding on Earth.
The Witches Are Back
One of the more notable aspects of the film is Mia Sara’s Princess Langwidere, portrayed as a witch whose ability to switch heads allows her to appear as various characters. Christopher Lloyd also notably appears as the Wizard of Oz himself. Dorothy and the Witches of Oz was intended to be the start of a franchise, though it ended up being a standalone project.
12
‘Aysecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde’ (1971)
Aysecik ve Sihirli Cüceler Rüyalar Ülkesinde, or Little Ayşe and the Magic Dwarfs in the Land of Dreams, is a Turkish adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Aysecik is a young girl who lives with her parents on a farm until a cyclone sends her off to a strange land of witches and magic dwarfs. Protected by the good witch’s kiss and a magic pair of silver shoes, Aysecik makes new friends, faces off against an evil witch, and seeks a powerful wizard for help.
Turkey’s Own Wizard of Oz
Ayşecik’s actress Zeynep Değirmencioğlu was a famous child star in Turkey. At the time, Değirmencioğlu appeared in a variety of films adapting classic children’s stories, including Snow White and Cinderella. Notably, the Munchkins are given a larger role in the story, magically appearing to Ayşecik when she needs them. They end the film magically appearing at Aysecik’s farm to see her off. Otherwise, the film is considered one of the more faithful adaptations of the original story, notably keeping “Dorothy” and her friends’ journey to see Glinda, renamed Nilüfer.