One night I took a breath and nothing happened. "They put aluminum dust all over my makeup, and this aluminum dust got into the air, and pretty soon my lungs were coated with it. He was subsequently taken off the picture, the press being told it was due to pneumonia. Three days later, on October 21, he suffered an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust used in his makeup and was rushed to the hospital. The studio approved, and the roles were switched.Īfter working on pre-recording and costume and makeup tests between September 22 and October 17, 1938, Ebsen began filming scenes involving the film's climax inside of The Witch's Castle. However, knowing that the movements of the Scarecrow would be closer to the type of dancing he had become known for and specialized in - incidentally, he had been inspired to become a dancer after seeing a production of The Red Mill starring Fred Stone, who originated the role of the Scarecrow in the 1902 The Wizard of Oz stage production - and feeling he was more suited for the role, he requested to switch roles with Buddy Ebsen, who had been cast as the Scarecrow. Originally cast as the Tin-Man was MGM contract player Ray Bolger. He also told Garland to play Dorothy more down-to-earth, to remember that she was "just a little girl from Kansas." Under studio direction, Garland wore a long, blonde wig, heavy, "baby-doll" makeup, and a blue cotton pinafore with a blue polka-dot border, and was directed to play the Kansas farm girl in an exaggerated fashion.Īfter Thorpe was taken off the production, Cukor had her makeup and wardrobe altered, and gave her a more naturalistic look. Though subsequent changes to the Witch's and the Scarecrow would be fairly minor, Dorothy proved to be another story. The makeup and costume designs for Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Wicked Witch differed under Thorpe's reign as director. Garland in her original dress, blonde wig, and "baby-doll" makeup, used under Thorpe. The recording was restored and released (in far better quality than listed here) on April 19th, 2015, as a digital download for buyers of The Wizard of Oz Emerald LP release on Record Store Day. Though thought to be lost, the pre-recording of the song was rediscovered on a privately-owned playback disc in 2009. The choreography for the sequence was by Bob Connolly. Much more sedate than the final version, it was sung by Bolger in a much softer voice and with a slower tempo, with simpler staging to contrast with his lively manner. Shot in November of 1938 under Thorpe, "If I Only Had a Brain" was originally very different than what would end up in the final film. "If I Only Had a Brain" - Original Version Staying with the film for less than a week, he was brought on to help shape the film.Īll footage from Thorpe's reign was scrapped, and like the Taurog footage is presumed to be lost. Thorpe was subsequently fired.Īs a new director was sought out and hired, director George Cukor took over while waiting for his next film, Gone With the Wind, to begin filming. He also believed that the footage lacked the childlike wonder and innocence the production needed. After unforeseen circumstances caused the production to shut down temporarily, producer Mervyn LeRoy reviewed Thorpe's footage and thought that the director was rushing the production. The scenes filmed included Dorothy and the Scarecrow's first encounter in the cornfield and various sequences in the Wicked Witch's castle. On October 13th, filming began on the MGM Studios lot and continued for a total of nine days. According to the book The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History, Thorpe "had a reputation for bringing in pictures on budget and on schedule, which must have been a real attraction as the studio watched pre-production costs mount on The Wizard of Oz." Though some pictures from the set have survived, the test footage shot by Taurog is presumed lost.ĭirection Under Richard Thorpe - Fall 1938Īfter Taurog's reassignment, MGM brought in director Richard Thorpe to work on the film. Working on the film during the extensive wardrobe and makeup tests for the summer of 1938, Taurog was paid for three days of directorial work for the project, most likely for test shots performed in July-August.ĭuring the first week of September, Taurog was replaced by Richard Thorpe and reassigned to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which would be released on February 10th, 1939. In July 1938, MGM announced that they had tapped director Norman Taurog, who had a reputation of guiding young performers, to helm their upcoming film adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Due to Koshay's make-up and wardrobe, this photo was likely taken during a visit to Fleming's set. Bobbie Koshay (Judy Garland's stand-in) and who appears to be Norman Taurog alongside some of the Munchkins on the Munchkinland set.
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