There are some movies that simply need no introduction. “The Wizard of Oz” is one of those films. This timeless movie told the tale of a young girl from Kansas who, through a “fluke of nature,” was transported to the magical and wondrous world of Oz.
Now, 70 years after “The Wizard of Oz” first opened up to audiences, the film that wowed audiences is coming home to Blu-Ray. The film was originally shot using a relatively new 3-Strip Technicolor Photographic Process. So, when Dorothy was magically whisked away from the classic sepia color of Kansas, she was transported to a world or color and a new era for film production. The Blu-ray release, however, unlocks an entirely new sensation for audiences.
Like a fine wine, “The Wizard of Oz” on Blu-ray is aged to perfection. Gone are the specs of dust, drab colors and lines that reminded contemporary viewers of the film’s antiquity. The yellow brick road now looks as bright as we imagined it. If there ever was an emerald city, this Blu-ray release has captured it – the greens are just that vibrant. And, who can forget Dorothy’s ruby slippers? With each turn of her heel, Dorothy’s slippers sparkle with a luminance that is simply breathtaking.
Warner Bros. definitely outdid themselves with the meticulous process they used in fixing up the “The Wizard of Oz” for its 70th birthday. The studio understands what this movie meant to audiences of all ages. Instead of just releasing video bonus features with behind-the-scenes footage, the Ultimate Collection goes one step further by adding in several collectable items from the 1939 production. Never before have I seen Original Movie Budget Replica packaged with a movie. Yes, Warner Bros. wants everyone to understand the full scope of this amazing feature. The collection also comes with a limited edition watch that has genuine crystals.
Only 245,000 units were made of the Ultimate Collector’s Edition. So, close your eyes and click your heels because “there’s no place like home” for this Blu-ray release.
Collectables Included in Ultimate Collection:
- Limited-Edition 70th-Anniversary Watch with Genuine Crystals
- Original 1939 Campaign Book Reproduction
- Behind the Curtain of Production 1060 52-Page Commemorative Book
- Replica of Original Movie Budget
Special Features (Over 16 Hours of Bonus Footage):
- The Life and Times of Original Author L. Frank Baum and Early Screen Adaptations of the Oz Books
- The Original Baum Silent “The Patchwork Girl of Oz” and the Complete “The Magic Cloak of Oz”
- Documentary Profile of Director Victor Fleming
- The TV-Movie Special “The Dreamer of Oz” Starring John Ritter, Annette O’Toole and Rue McClanahan
- The 2007 Hollywood Walk of Fame Salute to the Munchkins
Bonus Movie (Standard-Def DVD)
“MGM: When the Lion Roars” – 6-hour Award-Winning Studio Chronicle
Title: The Wizard of Oz:70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s EditionStarring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton
Directed by: Victor Fleming
Studio: Warner Bros
Release Date: Sept. 29, 2009
Rating: 10 / 10
I purchased the Ultimate set from Amazon. I was extremely dissapointed and had to return it. The Blu-Ray appeared to be a pirated disc. It was grainy, had green artifacts on both the film and the black sidebars. The audio was the original mono track and not the 5.1 remastered. I don’t know what they sent me, but it was not what all the reviews have discribed.
Nice write up of this set. It looks like they went all out, which means more money for them, but also fan service. I’m going to have to pick this up sooner, rather than later, it seems.