The Wizard of Oz (1925)

Director:

Larry Semon

Writers:

L. Frank Baum (novel)
Frank Joslyn Baum (adaptation) ...

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Adventure

Tagline:

Larry Semon, Oliver Hardy: Alone Either One Is Hilarious; Together They Are a Riot

Plot:

A Toymaker tells a bizarre story about how the Land of Oz was ruled by Prince Kynd, but he was overthrown by Prime Minister Kruel...

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Prince | Lion | Lightning | Disguise

Cast

Dorothy Dwan	...	Dorothy
Mary Carr	...	Aunt Em
Virginia Pearson	...	Lady Vishuss
Bryant Washburn	...	Prince Kynd
Josef Swickard	...	Prime Minister Kruel
Charles Murray	...	Wizard of Oz
Oliver Hardy	...	Farmhand (as Oliver N. Hardy)
William Hauber	...	Undetermined Role
William Dinus	...	Undetermined Role
Frank Alexander	...	Uncle Henry
Otto Lederer	...	Ambassador Wikked
Frederick Ko Vert	...	Phantom of the Basket
Larry Semon	...	Toymaker / Farmhand

Also Known As:

Ihmemaa Oz (Finland) [fi]
Le sorcier d'Oz (France) [fr]
Tomasín en el reino de Oz (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

81 min (20.7 fps) | USA:72 min (2005 alternate version)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:G

Company:

Chadwick Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Many theatres that booked the film never received it because its production caused Chadwick Pictures to go bankrupt and distribution ceased long before it was intended to.

Goofs:

Continuity: The plane that brings Kruel's emissaries from Oz to Kansas is a triplane in the long shots of it in mid-air, but a biplane when it lands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Dawson's Creek: Rest in Peace (#2.19)" (1999)

Different. But good stuff nonetheless.

I'm probably gonna get bashed by all you other Oz fans out there for writing this review, but who cares! I grew up watching the 1939 version and didn't know about this one until about 16 months ago. About 3 months ago, I got the DVD, I sat down, watched it, and laughed my fool head off. Okay! Okay! It doesn't follow the version we're all "used to watching". Anybody ever heard of a little variety? Well here it is.

There are a few downsides though. First off, there's no Toto, no "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" line, no good witch/bad witch. Secondly, the DVD version has TERRIBLE music. But Jacqueline Lovell certainly adds something with her narration. If they were to at least add even a piano score, or organ score even, it would have sounded much better.

Otherwise, altogether, this version of the classic tale by L. Frank Baum is good. Drawn out very much at times, but NOT THAT BAD!!! See it at least once, but don't expect anything, because if you do, you're gonna ruin it for yourself. Also it's in heavy need of restoration, any takers?? Please! For the good of Oz?!