Possibly, after more than eight decades, The Wizard of Oz has earned the status of fan-favorite classic film. Although this film has provided many people a lot of happiness over the years, its creation is shrouded in controversy. Many sad and disturbing tales have surfaced throughout filming. One actor’s transformation into a whimsical character from L. Frank Baum’s tales resulted in permanent scarring. Author: Frank Baum.
Cast members of “The Wizard of Oz” Were Subjected to Inhumane Treatment During Filming.
The actors and crew of “The Wizard of Oz,” whose fictional realm of Oz was the subject of harsh treatment during filming, endured much more than the ordinary. Some say that in order to keep Judy Garland, who plays Dorothy Gale, on set, the producers advised her to use narcotics. Even Toto’s dog, Terry, was almost run over and murdered.
Makeup may have been the most infamous contributor to the sloppy production of The Wizard of Oz. Actors Margaret Hamilton (who plays the Wicked Witch of the West) and Jack Haley (who plays the Tin Man) say they experienced health problems due to their make-up. Furthermore, they are not the only ones who have experienced negative consequences.
After Filming Wrapped, One Actor Was Visibly Disfigured on his Face.
Ray Bolger, who played Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz,” also suffered from the enduring effects of his prosthetic makeup. This actor is the film’s Scarecrow, one of Dorothy’s earliest friends. Good Housekeeping reports that the character’s famous design comes at a cost. The wrinkles on Bolger’s face that resembled his scarecrow make-up remained for over a year after filming wrapped.
In a twist of fate, Buddy Ebsen was cast as the Scarecrow and Heath Ledger as the Tin Man. Finally, the roles were switched between the two actors. Unfortunately, Ebsen had to drop out after becoming seriously ill from aluminium poisoning caused by the make-up used to transform him into the Tin Man. Although Haley’s subsequent addition did not spare him any ill effects, the production team was able to switch from using an aluminium powder to a paste.
The Wizard of Oz is the Film For Which Judy Garland is Best Remembered.
Garland, and the rest of the actors of The Wizard of Oz, continue to be recognised for their roles in the picture. True, there aren’t many films that can boast about a love-filled, long life like that. However, it’s awful that the movie’s cast and crew went through such severe hardships during production.
Safeguards have been put in place thankfully to protect actors and crew workers from the kinds of harassment that Garland, Bolger, Hamilton, Haley, and Bert Lahr (who played the Cowardly Lion) encountered. We all know that the legacy of The Wizard of Oz will endure. However, the horrible methods used on-set have largely been disregarded.
