08-28-2019, 04:06 AM
(08-27-2019, 11:31 PM)werepuppy Wrote: Have you heard some of the stories about the troubles that went into making the film? It seems almost unbelievable, after reading them, that it's managed to endure as a family favourite for 80 years.
I don't know if it helped or hindered the film that the "Jitterbug" number was cut. The recording was included in the original 78rpm record album release, and there are brief mentions in the film of something involving "little insects" that ends up never happening that are easy to overlook.
The number would likely have caused the film to feel more "dated" than it is, being a big band jazz type number of a style popular in the late-1930s. It also includes "dialect" lyrics that would be considered "culturally offensive" today.
Instead of fading away, the movie endured, which in turn led to Baum's books still being read, which has resulted in the stage plays and film sequels and a thriving life for Baum's fantasy world.
They're not dolls, they're action figures!