I am not a fan of The Wizard of Oz and have some convictions against it for a variety of reasons. However, we cannot deny its monumental place in pop culture. Rotten Tomatoes ranks it 46th out of 300 greatest movies of all time in spite of a 98% rating. Ranker ranks it 22nd while the American Film Institute puts it in 6th place, Elle puts it at number three and Parade and Variety puts it at number two. Admittedly, these lists are subjective.
Vanity Fair takes the most favorable position on the movie. “According to a group of Italian researchers who analyzed 47,000 films across 26 genres, the most influential movie ever made is . . . The Wizard of Oz. No surprise there, as the fantasy blockbuster starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, a girl who gets whisked away to a magical realm, has long been considered a game changer in Hollywood.”1
To make this movie, the actors suffered greatly. The star, Judy Garland who played Dorothy, was only 16 when making the movie. Her character was supposed to be eight-years-old. How could Hollywood portray this? Garland was forced to wear a tight corset, her large pigtails were a wig intended to cover her chest, she was given growth-suppressing drugs and had to adhere to a meager diet of coffee and chicken soup so as not to gain any weight. The producers forced her to smoke as many as 80 cigarettes a day, another means of controlling her weight.
Garland’s mother, Frances Ethel Gumm Milne, made Garland take uppers, keeping her awake for as much as 72 straight hours. Then, Milne gave her sleeping pills to make her sleep. This regime of pills turned Garland into an addict which, coupled with alcohol, would contribute to her future demise.2
Buddy Ebsen, the original Tin Man, inhaled so much aluminum dust that his lungs were
permanently ruined.
Bert Lahr played the Cowardly Lion. His costume was extremely heavy and made of real lion’s fur. Throughout the production, he was typically drenched in sweat.
Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch, suffered second and third degree burns to her hands and face when a special effects sequence with fire failed.
And, Ray Bolger, the Scarecrow, was left with permanent facial scars due to the heavy makeup he had to wear.3
They endured it all just to make a movie and a few bucks. Garland was paid $500/week while most of the other characters with speaking roles only made $75/week. The munchkins made munchkin wages – about $50/week. Toto, the dog, was paid $125/week.4 Talk about wage disparity!
There is a saying that observes “actors must suffer for their art.” And they do! Since I’m not an actor, I obviously don’t understand why they would go through this. But as a Christian, I understand that we are going to suffer a whole lot more.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”
Paul wasn’t willing to suffer for his art. He was willing to suffer for his heart, a heart given wholly to following Jesus and serving Him wherever lost people needed to hear about Jesus and churches needed to be built. His life was willingly sacrificed for a cause of inestimable eternal value.
When we see what a lost world is willing to endure and sacrifice just to make a movie, why are we so reluctant to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
May we see the Lord’s work as worth the sacrifice and be willing to “count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
1https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/11/the-wizard-of-oz-influential-film-study
2https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/disturbing-things-judy-garland-had-to-do-for-her-role-in-the-wizard-of-oz/vi-AA1qR8MO?ocid=BingNewsSerp
3https://news.autoguide.com/en/wizard-details-little-oz?ly=native_one
4https://collider.com/toto-wizard-of-oz-salary/
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