**The Wizard of Oz - Oct. 25, 2005**

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:02 pm

I'm just hoping that this new version will feature the ACTUAL audio version of "Jitterbug", not the demo that's currently on the single disc. Our old worn out 1989 Wizard of Oz VHS featured a couple bonus stuff after the movie, among them:

1. The extended "If I Only Had A Brain" dance.
2. Demo of Buddy Ebsen singing "If I Only Had A Heart" (set to stills of him in Tinman Makeup)
3. A couple of the trailers found on the DVD (can't remember which one, though I remember one had the "falling/moving books")
4. A short excerpt of the Academy Awards (I remember Mickey Rooney announcing Judy Garland for something)
5. The newsreel clip about some group doing a tour of MGM, when Buddy Ebsen was still Tin Man.
6. The "Jitterbug", exactly like the one on the DVD except it was the actual song with Judy and everyone singing it, not the demo (which sounds terrible)

Escapay

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 10:18 pm

I have fond memories of that VHS. I first saw the film on that edition (which was the 50th anniversary edition) and was a precursor to my current love of bonus features.

The tin man supplement with Buddy Ebsen used to creep me out as a kid. Heck, he still kinda creeps me out in that clown makeup...

I agree that WB needs to fix the Jitterbug error they made on the current DVD. The demo they used is hideous. The girl standing in for Judy is even more nasally than Fran Drescher. What's odd is that on the VHS WB released the same time as the DVD, the Jitterbug supplement has the correct and final mix of the song.

Alice · Post by **Alice** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 2:38 pm

**

Why do they keep on trying to shove this retched film down our (non-fans) THROATS!

DAMN YOU WB!

and what's up with FOX, they LOVE to Double-Dip, so Why aren't they Double-Dipping THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!! (Like the 2-Disc 25th anniversary one, NO CRAPPY SINGLE-DISC)

They could get away with it too...........Dumbass Fox........

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 5:58 pm

Urrr...how exactly are they shoving it down your throat? Did you sign some deal in blood that requires to buy every DVD WB comes out, even if it's a film you hate? Steven Segal comes out with a new film every month that really should be sold in the toilet paper section of the local supermarket as opposed to a DVD shelf, but it doesn't phase me out one bit. I simply don't buy it, or does seeing Oz on the shelf, period, annoy you?

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:17 pm

The complete specs have been released (things in red are features that weren't on the previous WB DVD):

The Two-Disc Special Edition
Disc 1:
* New commentary by historian John Fricke with selected archival audio comments by Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Ken Darby (orchestral and vocal arranger), John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy, John Lee Mahin and Jerry Maren
* Music-and-Effects-Only Track
* Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
* We Haven’t Really Met Properly…supporting cast profile gallery narrated by Angela Lansbury
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz storybook, read by Angela Lansbury
* Theatrical trailer gallery

Disc 2:
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic hosted by Angela Lansbury
* Memories of Oz TV Special
* The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
* Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
* Harold Arlen’s onset home videos
* Outtakes and deleted scenes
* It’s a Twister! It’s a Twister! The tornado special effects tests
* Vintage vault featurettes
* Extensive stills gallery
* More than six hours of audio-only treasures, including an "Oz jukebox" of recording session materials, radio shows and promos

The Three-Disc Collector’s Edition -- includes Disc 1 and 2 plus:

Disc 3: Four hours devoted to Oz creator L. Frank Baum, who published his first Oz book in 1900.
* L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain
* Pre-1939 versions of Oz on screen
The Wizard of Oz (1910)
The Magic Cloak of Oz (1914)
His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz (1914)
The Wizard of Oz (1925): restored silent version featuring Oliver Hardy and Larry Semon, with a new, fully orchestrated score by Robert Israel
The Wizard of Oz (1933 Cartoon)

Print Reproductions Include:
* The Wizard of Oz Comes to Life
Eight-page Grauman's Chinese Theatre Souvenir Premiere Program from August 15, 1939
* Studio's Invitation to The Grauman's Premiere and the envelope that included tickets to the original Opening Night -- with a newly designed commemorative ticket
* Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio News
Sixteen-page edition of the studio’s internal "house organ" newspaper,
celebrating the release of The Wizard of Oz for the week of August 14, 1939
* Photoplay Studies
Rare secondary-education study guide to the film -- Volume V, Number 12
(circa August 1939) -- completely devoted to The Wizard of Oz, with articles revealing surprising insights from its producer, director, cameraman and scenarists.
* Deluxe Collectors' Portfolio
Reproductions of original 1939 Kodachrome publicity stills, including nine portraits and onset photographs

********************************

What do I have to say about all this? Holy. Crap. This thing comes out the day after my birthday. Happy birthday to me, indeed. The current DVD contains excerpts of the films found on disc three, but here they're included in their entirety, so I highlighted them in red. Leave it up to WB to make a double-dip worthwhile.

RJKD23 · Post by **RJKD23** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:31 pm

Disneykid wrote:What do I have to say about all this? Holy. Crap. This thing comes out the day after my birthday. Happy birthday to me, indeed. The current DVD contains excerpts of the films found on disc three, but here they're included in their entirety, so I highlighted them in red. Leave it up to WB to make a double-dip worthwhile.

Wow, thanks for the highlights, Kelvin!

And I have the same thoughts as you except it comes out the day before my birthday.

Now, I'm glad I never gave in to buying Wizard of Oz everytime I saw it on the shelf at Best Buy!

Those features are extremely great!

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:42 pm

Here's the cover art for both versions. The Three-Disc Collector's Edition is on the left, the Two-Disc Special Edition is on the right:

Even though they're obviously trying to capitalize off of Wicked the musical, I gotta say that I absolutely love the artwork for the Collector's Edition. It's very classy and fits well with the Collector's Editions of Gone with the Wind and Ben-Hur. The Special Edition cover is pretty cute, too, but I can't help but feel that it looks like some sort of DTV Oz-knockoff as opposed to an actual Wizard of Oz cover.

MickeyMousePal · Post by **MickeyMousePal** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 5:31 pm

Wow they both look nice but I have to buy the three disc one.

brownie · Post by **brownie** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:06 pm

I'm going to buy the 3-disc one, hopefully. It looks cool, although it reminds me of that play Wicked.

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:03 pm

brownie wrote:I'm going to buy the 3-disc one, hopefully. It looks cool, although it reminds me of that play Wicked.

I belive that is what Disneykid was saying to when he said "Even though they're obviously trying to capitalize off of Wicked the musical, I gotta say that I absolutely love the artwork for the Collector's Edition."

anyway I will most likely get the 3 disc and I love the cover for it!

goofy108 · Post by **goofy108** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:38 pm

Well, I have to say that this is one of my favoirte musicals so I will definetly be getting this one. Maybe not right away though. I might ask for it for Christmas or something. I think I will stick with the 2-Disc though; nothing on the 3rd disc interests me enough. The coverart is okay. Although with a classic like this you think they could have done something better. I can't wait for this release because all I have is a torn up VHS copy but I can't help wondering why they have decided to release it now, October of 2005. Why not wait a few more years and release it as a 70th Anniversary? Anyone have a theory?

Also, the date on the topic title needs to be changed. The DVDs are releasing the 25th not the 26th.

JiminyCrick91 · Post by **JiminyCrick91** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:13 pm

I LOVE that this will have the Oz film with Oliver Hardy (even thou I have never seen it.By the way who does he play?) but why can't the 3 disc have this http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000G3AF/qid=1121137714/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/103-5260227-5374238?v=glance&s=video I have wondered what this is like and wish it was on the set. Oh well.

MICKEYMOUSE · Post by **MICKEYMOUSE** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:10 pm

What do you think is the 70th Anniversay Edition is for........???? LOL, it would of been great to have the concert on it, but oh well, I am still buying this when it comes out.

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:19 pm

JiminyCrick91 wrote:I LOVE that this will have the Oz film with Oliver Hardy (even thou I have never seen it.By the way who does he play?) but why can't the 3 disc have this http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000G3AF/qid=1121137714/sr=5-1/ref=cm_lm_asin/103-5260227-5374238?v=glance&s=video I have wondered what this is like and wish it was on the set. Oh well.

My guess is because TNT owns the right to that TV special. Basically, the special had all of the performers on a black stage with the orchestra in plain view behind them. Above the stage was a screen that would show stills and video clips to help give off the environment. The performers sang all of the songs in costume, but I don't believe they actually spoke any lines. A female narrator bridged the story gaps in between in each, hence why this is called a concert and not a musical show. I remember liking it when it first aired, and would very much like to see it again.

As for your first question, Oliver Hardy played the Tin Man in that version. I haven't actually seen it, myself, but the current DVD has a two minute clip of it. According to the excerpt's text intro, this film version has pretty much nothing to do with the original story, though I'm interested in seeing it, none the less.

Prince Adam · Post by **Prince Adam** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:31 am

I love that 3-disc artwork! Yes, it definitely reminds me of Wicked, and that's obviously why I love it.

Not sure if I'll get this, but if I do, it'll be the 3-disc for the awesome artwork and all the stuff on L.Frank Baum.

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 9:49 am

W:oW! I was quite literally giddy reading through the complete list of specs, and the CE cover art topped it off. This is up there among my most-anticipated DVD releases ever.

Thanks for posting, DK, and for posting the release date, MickeyMouse.

I can't wait to tear through these features. I'm really looking forward to the music-and-effects-only track. I'm wondering just how many effects will be included, though. I'm hoping it's only important ones, like when the witch appears in the ball of fire, and not every little sound effect, because I love the score for the movie itself... maybe now I can put it in my computer and have an isolated score to burn onto CD. (I wish they would have done this for TLK if they aren't going to release the score onto CD

). Too bad there isn't a <i>Dark Side of the Moon</i> track, but I somehow knew that was too good to be true. Besides, there's more Lansbury now than ever, and that makes up for it!

to WB for this one!

-Aaron

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:19 pm

Here's some higher-res artwork:

All right, I'll stop posting in this thread, now. I've already taken up at least 3/4 of it.

MICKEYMOUSE · Post by **MICKEYMOUSE** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:28 pm

post as much as you want....it's cool. I like people when they find something interesting, and something related to the post!!! Keep up the good work!!! By the way I see small red X's.

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:41 pm

Fixed.

RJKD23 · Post by **RJKD23** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 5:41 pm

Now that's much better!

Thanks for posting all the info and pictures for us!

I'm excited for this release! It'll be one of the best (maybe) for October!

BTW, MickeyMouse, if you're using Firefox, just right click to "View Image." You can also do that for IE. Just right click to see the image.

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The Wizard of Oz - Oct. 25, 2005