The Land of Oz (1941 film)

Shirley Temple as Princess Ozma and Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale on the elaborate Emerald City set

The Land of Oz is a 1941 American Technicolor fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, serving as a sequel to their highly successful 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The film stars Shirley Temple as Princess Ozma and features Judy Garland reprising her role as Dorothy Gale. Despite its ambitious production and star-studded cast, the film faced numerous challenges during filming and received mixed reviews upon release, though it has since gained recognition for its innovative special effects and unique place in cinema history.

Plot

The story begins one year after Dorothy's first adventure in Oz, when she discovers a mysterious Ozian Mirror in her Kansas attic that allows her to see into the magical realm. Through this portal, she witnesses the transformation of a young boy named Tip into Princess Ozma, the rightful ruler of Oz who had been enchanted by the wicked witch Mombi years ago. Dorothy uses the ruby slippers, which mysteriously reappeared on her feet during a dream, to transport herself back to Oz to help the newly-revealed princess claim her throne.

The film follows Dorothy and Ozma's journey through Oz as they gather allies, including many returning characters from the first film, to overthrow Mombi and her confederate General Jinjur, who leads an all-female army in a coup against the Emerald City. The story notably incorporates elements from L. Frank Baum's second and third Oz books, "The Marvelous Land of Oz" and "Ozma of Oz," while adding original elements to accommodate the return of Judy Garland's character.

Production

The elaborate Emerald City siege sequence featured hundreds of extras and groundbreaking practical effects

MGM began development of the sequel immediately following the successful premiere of The Wizard of Oz in 1939. Producer Mervyn LeRoy sought to capitalize on both Garland's rising stardom and Shirley Temple's availability after her contract with 20th Century Fox had ended. The casting of Temple as Ozma was considered a major coup for MGM, as she had originally been considered for the role of Dorothy in the first film.

The production faced several significant challenges, including the need to adapt complex transformation sequences from the books using 1940s special effects technology. The film's technical crew developed innovative techniques for the Tip-to-Ozma transformation scene, combining multiple exposures with sophisticated makeup effects that influenced fantasy filmmaking for decades to come. The film's budget of $3.7 million (equivalent to approximately $68 million in 2023) made it one of the most expensive productions of its era.

Musical Numbers

The film's score was composed by Herbert Stothart, who had won an Academy Award for his work on the original Wizard of Oz. New songs were written by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, including:

• "The Magic of Oz" (performed by Garland and Temple)

• "General Jinjur's March" (performed by the Army of Revolt)

• "When I'm Really Me" (performed by Temple during the transformation sequence)

Reception and Legacy

Upon its release in October 1941, The Land of Oz received mixed reviews from critics. While many praised the technical achievements and performances, some felt the film failed to capture the same magic as its predecessor. The timing of the release, shortly before the United States' entry into World War II, also affected its box office performance.

The film's portrayal of General Jinjur's female army was particularly controversial for its time, with some critics praising its progressive message of female empowerment, while others saw it as potentially subversive during wartime. The movie's themes of identity and transformation, particularly in the Tip/Ozma storyline, have led to numerous academic analyses in recent decades.

Restoration and Modern Recognition

A recently discovered color test of Shirley Temple in her elaborate Princess Ozma costume

For many years, The Land of Oz was difficult to view due to deterioration of the original Technicolor prints. In 2015, The Film Preservation Society completed a full digital restoration of the film, working from multiple surviving prints and the original camera negatives. This restoration revealed the full splendor of the film's color photography and special effects, leading to renewed interest from film historians and Oz enthusiasts.

Modern critics have reassessed the film more favorably, particularly noting its ambitious attempt to expand the cinematic Oz universe and its technical innovations. The transformation sequence has been particularly praised for its groundbreaking effects work, which predated many similar techniques used in later fantasy films.

Cultural Impact

The Land of Oz has influenced numerous subsequent adaptations of Baum's work, particularly in its handling of the Tip/Ozma transformation and its expansion of Dorothy's character beyond the original film. The movie's costume designs, particularly Temple's elaborate Ozma gowns, have become iconic in their own right and have influenced fantasy film costume design for generations.

The film also marked a significant moment in both Garland's and Temple's careers. For Garland, it represented her last appearance as Dorothy, while for Temple, it marked a successful transition from child star to young adult roles. Their on-screen chemistry and dual musical performances are often cited as highlights of both actresses' careers.

Several elements introduced in the film, such as the Ozian Mirror and certain musical motifs, have been incorporated into later Oz adaptations and have become part of the broader Oz mythology. The film's handling of themes such as gender identity and transformation has also led to its recognition as an early example of complex identity exploration in children's cinema.

The movie's sets and costumes were preserved by MGM and have been displayed in various exhibitions over the years, including the Smithsonian's American Entertainment Collection. The film's influence can be seen in numerous subsequent fantasy films, particularly in its ambitious combination of practical effects, musical numbers, and complex narrative themes.