The Wizard of Oz (1925 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Wizard of Oz |
|
|---|---|
_-_1.jpg)
Still from a 1924 publication
|
|
| Directed by | Larry Semon |
| Produced by | Larry Semon |
| Written by | Larry Semon L. Frank Baum, Jr. |
| Starring | Larry Semon Dorothy Dwan Oliver Hardy Spencer Bell Bryant Washburn Virginia Pearson Charles Murray |
| Cinematography | Frank B. Good H.F. Koenekamp Leonard Smith |
| Editing by | Sam S. Zimbalist |
| Distributed by | Chadwick Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April 13, 1925 |
| Running time | 93 minutes 85 minutes (cut edition) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Wizard of Oz is a silent fantasy-adventure comedy movie from 1925. It was directed by Larry Semon, who also plays the main character. In the movie, he starts as a farmhand in Kansas and later pretends to be the Scarecrow. This film is the only full movie made in the 1920s based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The movie also stars Dorothy Dwan as Dorothy, Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodman, and Spencer Bell as a Lion.
Contents
The Story of the Film
The movie begins with a toymaker reading the famous Wizard of Oz book to his granddaughter.
Life in the Land of Oz
In the magical Land of Oz, the country is ruled by Prime Minister Kruel. He gets help from Ambassador Wikked, Lady Vishuss, and the Wizard. The Wizard is a trickster who uses magic for shows. The people of Oz are unhappy. They want their princess to return and become their rightful ruler. She disappeared many years ago when she was a baby.
Prime Minister Kruel tries to distract the people. He asks the Wizard to perform a trick. The Wizard makes a person appear from an empty basket. Meanwhile, Kruel sends Ambassador Wikked on a secret mission.
Dorothy's Life in Kansas
Far away in Kansas, a girl named Dorothy lives on a farm with her relatives. Her Aunt Em is kind and caring. But her Uncle Henry is often grumpy and not very loving towards Dorothy. He also treats his farmhands poorly. Two of these farmhands, Snowball and another played by Larry Semon, are in love with Dorothy. Dorothy likes the farmhand played by Oliver Hardy.
Aunt Em tells Dorothy a big secret. Dorothy was left on their doorstep as a baby. She came with a special envelope. This envelope was only to be opened when Dorothy turned 18.
A Storm and a Secret Revealed
On Dorothy's 18th birthday, Ambassador Wikked and his helpers arrive at the farm. They fly in a biplane! They demand the special envelope. Uncle Henry refuses to give it to them. Wikked then promises the farmhand played by Oliver Hardy lots of money and Dorothy if he helps. Wikked's men tie Dorothy to a rope high up a tower and start a fire below her.
The farmhand played by Oliver Hardy finds the note. But Larry Semon's character takes it and saves Dorothy. However, Wikked and his men capture them all. Suddenly, a powerful tornado hits! Dorothy, the two farmhands, and Uncle Henry hide in a small wooden shed. The tornado lifts the shed, along with Snowball, into the air. They are carried far away and land in the Land of Oz.
Dorothy finally reads the note. It says that she, Princess Dorothea, is the true ruler of Oz!
Trouble in Oz
Prime Minister Kruel is very angry. He blames the farmhands for taking Dorothy. He orders the Wizard to turn them into monkeys. But the Wizard cannot do this. Kruel's soldiers chase the farmhands. Larry Semon's character quickly disguises himself as a scarecrow. Oliver Hardy's character makes a costume from a pile of tin. Even with their disguises, the soldiers capture them.
During their trial, the Tin Man (Oliver Hardy's character) unfairly blames the other farmhands for kidnapping Dorothy. Prince Kynd, who is on Dorothy's side, has the Scarecrow and Snowball thrown into the dungeon.
Kruel tries to keep his power. He makes the Tin Man a "Knight" and Uncle Henry a "Prince." Wikked suggests that Kruel marry Dorothy. The Wizard secretly helps the Scarecrow and Snowball escape. He gives Snowball a lion costume. Snowball uses it to scare away the guards. The Scarecrow manages to warn Dorothy about Kruel. But the Tin Man chases him back into the dungeon. The Scarecrow gets trapped in a cage with real lions for a short time! He and Snowball finally escape.
The Final Battle
Prince Kynd finds Kruel trying to force Dorothy to marry him. They start a sword fight. Kruel's helpers join in and take away Kynd's sword. But the Scarecrow saves Dorothy and Kynd.
Kruel is defeated. He claims he took Dorothy to Kansas to protect her from people at court who wanted to harm her. But Dorothy orders him to be taken away.
The Scarecrow is sad because Dorothy has fallen in love with Prince Kynd. He runs up a tower. The Tin Man tries to shoot him with a cannon. Snowball flies a biplane overhead. The Scarecrow grabs a rope ladder hanging from it. But the ladder breaks, and he falls.
Suddenly, the scene shifts back to the little girl who was listening to the story. She had fallen asleep. She wakes up and leaves. The grandfather reads from the book that Dorothy marries Prince Kynd, and they live happily ever after.
Meet the Cast
- Dorothy Dwan as Dorothy
- Larry Semon as a farmhand and the Scarecrow
- Oliver N. Hardy as another farmhand and the Tin Man
- Spencer Bell as Snowball and the Cowardly Lion (he was credited as "G. Howe Black" in the film)
- Charles Murray as the Wizard
- Bryant Washburn as Prince Kynd
- Josef Swickard as Prime Minister Kruel
- Mary Carr as Aunt Em
- Frank Alexander as Uncle Henry
- Virginia Pearson as Lady Vishuss
- Otto Lederer as Ambassador Wikked
- Frederick Ko Vert as the Phantom of the Basket
Film on Television
This movie was first shown on television in 1931. It was broadcast by station W2XCD in Passaic, New Jersey. The film was shown in parts over three nights: June 8, 9, and 10.
Some fans believe that the famous 1939 movie with the same name is a remake of this 1925 silent film.
Music for the Film
- When the film first came out in 1925, it had original music. Louis La Rondelle arranged the music, and Harry F. Silverman conducted it. Julius K. Johnson played the piano.
- Many early home video versions of the film did not have any music. This was common for old silent films that were available to the public.
- In 1986, a version with organ music played by Rosa Rio was created for a special video release.
- A new music score was made in 1996. This version was included in later home video releases of the film. Mark Glassman and Steffen Presley performed the music, and Jacqueline Lovell did a narration.
- In 2005, another new music score was created. Robert Israel composed and arranged this music. His orchestra performed it. This version is included with some home video releases of the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie.
