The Wizardry of Oz, directly flouting the orders of the famous Wizard, asks us to pay attention to the man behind the curtain--all the men and women, in fact, who made the captivating visuals of The Wizard of Oz possible. The book is a beautiful and entertaining record of exactly how the stunning sets, costumes, and makeup in the classic movie came to life. Fascinating images crowd every page--makeup tests, storyboards, and costume renderings show the evolution of the look and feel of the movie, while lighting plans and set blueprints reveal the technical intricacies involved. The text is no less engaging, filled with tales of technical problem-solving. How to make Glinda's bubble shimmer properly? Would witchy ruby slippers be too unflattering for the young Dorothy? And how did they make that still-scary cyclone? The book is also peppered with sidebars and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, such as the startled reactions of other MGM players running across the garishly dyed versions of the Horse of a Different Color. One of the greatest pleasures of the book is the opportunity to look long and hard at the intricate sets (ever notice the hand-for-a-bookmark in the Witch's Tower?) and elaborate background matte paintings. Even the appendices are charming, including a complete listing of the cast and crew and a tribute to the career of Terry the terrier, later known to the world as Toto. Thoroughly researched and affectionately written, The Wizardry of Oz is a marvelous tribute to the making of one of the best movies ever made. --Ali Davis
Michael Farkash, The Hollywood Reporter, November 11, 1999
Excerpt: Is there a moviegoer in America who hasn't seen "The Wizard of Oz?"....The pages of "The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 M-G-M Classic" are loaded with plenty of wonderful photos, blueprints, drawings, storyboards and other images. Exhaustively researched would be an understatement for "Wizardry of Oz" in which the authors...pick out minute details of the makeup, special effects and art direction in the film....The anecdotes about the actors are mostly gentle love letters; there's no nasty gossip or dastardly tales....You've just got to love makeup stories, costume tales and special effects recollections. Nevertheless, there are a few spicy moments. It also talks about the joys of creating special effects for the first time and the unprecedented look of the film....There's even a filmography of Dorothy's beloved dog, Toto. You'll come out of the book humming, "We're off to see the Wizard."
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