CineTV Contest: 36 - The Wizard of Oz

This week CineTV asked about movies that remind us of Halloween. For me, the movie that makes me think of Halloween is The Wizard of Oz (1939). Hopefully you will find the reasoning for my choice to be interesting.

Wizard of Oz movie poster - IMDB

I vaguely remember what may have been the first time I saw The Wizard of Oz, I was about six years old, and it was at my Aunt’s house, watching it with my cousins on their color TV. Watching anything on a color TV was a big deal back then as color TVs were still fairly new, and all we had at our house (well, apartment, really, my Mom was a single parent at the time) was a small, portable, black and white TV. Back then, the only way to catch a classic movie was when one of the television stations where you lived would run it, and that was usually close to Halloween.

Some of the scenes I remember from this time were, of course, the tornado sweeping Dorothy’s house up into the sky and smashing The Wicked Witch of the East, followed by the celebration in Munchkin land. As Dorothy headed out along the Yellow Brick Road to Oz with her little dog, Toto, things were fun, and lighthearted, meeting Scarecrow, who probably made me laugh (and yes, he still does). The scene with the Apple trees was a bit scary for a six year old, but not overly so. And their continued travels to the Emerald City.

The Witch and her Flying Monkeys - IMDB

Now what really wigged my out as a young kid was the Flying Monkeys. THAT gave me the heebee-jeebees big time. Yep, that bit scared me but good. Fortunately I did outgrow being spooked by that scene, but it is one of the clearest memories from that time from so long ago.

Dorothy gazing into the Witch's Crystal Ball - IMDB

Over the weekend, my Bonnie Bride and I watched The Wizard of Oz together as it has been a few years since the last time either of us have seen it. The film still holds up well, and is a delight to watch. My Wonderful Wifie mentioned to me that the scene that creeped her out the most as a kid was when Dorothy saw Auntie Em in the Witch’s crystal ball, and then the image in the crystal ball changed to that of the Wicked Witch of the West. I have to say, I can see how that scene would creep someone out.

I think that one of the reasons that The Wizard of Oz is such a great classic film is the great performances by the cast in all of those endearing characters, from Judy Garland as Dorothy to Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch of the West, and all of the other main supporting cast members.

Thanks for stopping by.

For more information on CineTV and this week’s contest, visit - https://peakd.com/hive-121744/@cinetv/cine-tv-contest-36-favorite-halloween-movie