Customer Reviews

The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Movie Classic

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THE WIZARD OF OZ is, arguably, the most-watched movie ever made and, very likely, the most-beloved as well. Everything about this M-G-M cinematic classic spells quality - a heartwarming script, impeccable casting, great songs/dance routines and dazzling special effects. Countless generations have been - and will be - entertained, thrilled and scared silly by this amazing film. John Fricke and Jonathaan Shirshekan, two Oz experts, take us back down the Yellow Brick Road in this charming, informative and well-illustrated tribute published in 2009 by Fall River Press.

Fricke and Shirshekan's book is a glorious, eye-catching, well-designed 162-page photo-guide bursting with b&w and color photographs, production sketches, theater posters and cartoons. There are informative, insightful chapters on the life and career of L. Frank Baum; WIZARD OF OZ pre-production; the gifted actors who played the Munchkins; the actual filming of the movie; the promotional campaign M-G-M mounted; OZ goofs, gaffes, myths, legnds and trivia; and the enduring legacy of the film. Visually though, the 2009 volume is a treasure trove of images sure to please any Oz fan. Leafing through the book, you find so many interesting, rare and well-reproduced images! (Whoever designed this book deserves a big thumb's up!)

Fricke, by the way, co-wrote another book entitled THE WIZARD OF OZ back in 1989, a book many consider to be THE definitive Wizard of Oz book. In some ways, the 2009 book complements the earlier work yet is very much a stand-alone piece. Fans of the film will want to have both books in their collection.

The book's only failing is the lack of an index. Normally, when a book fails to include an index, I knock its rating down a half-point. In this case, I just can't do that...Fricke and Shirshekan's book deserves five stars and more.

So, if you're a fan of the film, buy this book! You'll love it; you'll treasure it. And keep it nearby for the next trip down that remembered road with Dorothy & Co. Highly recommended.

******
#850

"The Wizard of Oz: an illustrated companion to the timeless movie classic" is the official 70th anniversary of the book, released to coincide with the special edition blu-ray that came out in '09. The book is hard cover and a total of 160 pages long, and written by Grammy winning "Wizard of Oz" historian John Fricke, and Jonathan Shirshekan, a lifelong "Wizard of Oz" fan and collector.

What I like the most about this book is the cover. It includes a beautiful, full-color, vibrant picture of the core cast of characters printed directly on the hard cover (not on a slip cover). The book also includes many beautiful and otherwise unique pictures, such as on the inner and outer covers of movie posters around the world.

Perhaps the nicest picture included is the one on 131. This includes a lavish gatefold which showcases both the Kansas twister as well as Dorothy's arrival in Oz, in full technicolor.

There are a total of 9 sections of the book:
Forward - written by one of only a few other surviving munchkins, Ms. Margaret Pellegrini
It's always best to start at the beginning: L. Frank Baum and the Road to Oz
Follow the Yellow Brick: pre-production
Special section: when the moon comes over the munckins, or taking the bus to Oz
Over the rainbow: how Oz came to the screen
You're off to see the Wizard: the promotional campaign
Special section: the oddities of Oz
The merry old land of Oz: best-loved motion picture of all time
We thank you very sweetly: acknowledgements and image credits

This is hardly just a picture book though. "The Wizard of Oz: an illustrated companion to the timeless movie classic" tells the entire story of this perennial story that the entire world has seen. If you're a new to the study of all things Oz this is especially useful, however if you're looking for hard facts and figures you may want to check out the 50th Anniversary book or the 100th Anniversary Annotated WOO book instead as they present a more all-encompassing view.

This book would also make a wonderful gift to anyone that loves this movie (and really who doesn't?). "The Wizard Oz" conjures up so many special memories and can always bring a smile to one's face. Remember, there's no place like Oz.

"The Wizard of Oz: an illustrated companion to the timeless movie classic" is the official 70th anniversary book, released to coincide with the special edition blu-ray that came out in '09. The book is hard cover and a total of 160 pages long, and written by Grammy winning "Wizard of Oz" historian John Fricke, and Jonathan Shirshekan, a lifelong "Wizard of Oz" fan and collector.

What I like the most about this book is the cover. It includes a beautiful, full-color, vibrant picture of the core cast of characters printed directly on the hard cover (not on a slip cover). The book also includes many beautiful and otherwise unique pictures, such as on the inner and outer covers which include movie posters from around the world.

Perhaps the nicest picture included is the one on 131. This includes a lavish gatefold which showcases both the Kansas twister as well as Dorothy's arrival in Oz, in full technicolor.

There are a total of 9 sections of the book:
Forward - written by one of only a few other surviving munchkins, Ms. Margaret Pellegrini
It's always best to start at the beginning: L. Frank Baum and the Road to Oz
Follow the Yellow Brick: pre-production
Special section: when the moon comes over the munckins, or taking the bus to Oz
Over the rainbow: how Oz came to the screen
You're off to see the Wizard: the promotional campaign
Special section: the oddities of Oz
The merry old land of Oz: best-loved motion picture of all time
We thank you very sweetly: acknowledgements and image credits

This is hardly just a picture book though. "The Wizard of Oz: an illustrated companion to the timeless movie classic" tells the entire story of this perennial story that the entire world has seen. If you're a new to the study of all things Oz this is especially useful, however if you're looking for hard facts and figures you may want to check out the 50th Anniversary book or the 100th Anniversary Annotated WOO book instead as they present a more all-encompassing view.

This book would also make a wonderful gift to anyone that loves this movie (and really who doesn't?). "The Wizard Oz" conjures up so many special memories and can always bring a smile to one's face. Remember, there's no place like Oz.

THE WIZARD OF OZ is, arguably, the most-watched movie ever made and, very likely, the most-beloved as well. Everything about this M-G-M cinematic classic spells quality - a heartwarming script, impeccable casting, great songs/dance routines and dazzling special effects. Countless generations have been - and will be - entertained, thrilled and scared silly by this amazing film. John Fricke and Jonathan Shirshekan, two Oz experts, take us back down the Yellow Brick Road in this charming, informative and well-illustrated tribute published in 2009 by Fall River Press.

Fricke and Shirshekan's book is a glorious, eye-catching, well-designed 162-page photo-guide bursting with b&w and color photographs, production sketches, theater posters and cartoons. There are informative, insightful chapters on the life and career of L. Frank Baum; WIZARD OF OZ pre-production; the gifted actors who played the Munchkins; the actual filming of the movie; the promotional campaign M-G-M mounted; OZ goofs, gaffes, myths, legnds and trivia; and the enduring legacy of the film. Visually though, the 2009 volume is a treasure trove of images sure to please any Oz fan. Leafing through the book, you find so many interesting, rare and well-reproduced images! (Whoever designed this book deserves a big thumb's up!)

Fricke, by the way, co-wrote another book entitled THE WIZARD OF OZ back in 1989, a book many consider to be THE definitive Wizard of Oz book. In some ways, the 2009 book complements the earlier work yet is very much a stand-alone piece. Fans of the film will want to have both books in their collection.

The book's only failing is the lack of an index. Normally, when a book fails to include an index, I knock its rating down a half-point. In this case, I just can't do that...Fricke and Shirshekan's book deserves five stars and more.

So, if you're a fan of the film, buy this book! You'll love it; you'll treasure it. And keep it nearby for the next trip down that remembered road with Dorothy & Co. Highly recommended.

Fricke and Shirshekan have done a fine job of detailing the making of this classic film, telling the story of its development, earlier film/stage adaptations, early casting/script concepts, and lots of rare photos, script samples, etc. to supplement the text...for the first time, there's even a detailed guide listing continuity errors, bloopers, etc! (And for you skeptics, the old "hanging Munchkin in the forest background" rumor is soundly debunked, as well: it's nothing more than a large bird spreading its wings)

As mentioned in Michael's review, Fricke also co-authored "The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History" some 20 years ago, but that book's quite hard to find now, and the new material also included makes it worth the purchase, even if you already have the earlier volume. Def a great buy for any devoted Oz fan out there!