Wizard of Oz (1925)

Director:

Larry Semon

Writers:

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

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:

Toy Maker | Lightning | Cattle | Farm | Cyclone

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 / Tin Woodsman / Knight of the Garter (as Oliver N. Hardy)
William Hauber	...	Undetermined Role
William Dinus	...	Undetermined Role
Frank Alexander	...	Uncle Henry / Prince of Whales
Otto Lederer	...	Ambassador Wikked
Frederick Ko Vert	...	Phantom of the Basket
Larry Semon	...	Toymaker / Farmhand / Scarecrow
Spencer Bell	...	Snowball (as G. Howe Black)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chester Conklin	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Wanda Hawley	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Allen 'Farina' Hoskins	...	Palace Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Larry Semon

Writing credits
L. Frank Baum		(novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz")
Frank Joslyn Baum		(adaptation) (as L. Frank Baum Jr.) &
Leon Lee		(adaptation) &
Larry Semon		(adaptation)
Leon Lee		(titles)

Produced by
I.E. Chadwick	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Larry Semon	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Marc Glassman		(1996)
Robert Israel		(2005 alternate version)
Steffan Presley		(1996)
Rosa Rio		(1986)
Julius K. Johnson		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Frank B. Good		(photographed by) (as Frank Good)
Hans F. Koenekamp		(photographed by) (as H.F. Koenenkamp)
Leonard Smith		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Sam Zimbalist

Art Direction by
Robert Stevens

Costume Design by
Frederick Ko Vert		(uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William King	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Vladislav Kvapil	....	recording director (2005 alternate version)

Stunts
William Hauber	....	stunt double: Larry Semon & Dorothy Dwan (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Larry Semon	....	costumes: Tin Man and Scare Crow

Music Department
Robert Israel	....	conductor (2005 alternate version)
Robert Israel	....	music arranger (2005 alternate version)
Julius K. Johnson	....	musician: organ (at the premiere) (uncredited)
Louis La Rondelle	....	orchestrator (at the premiere) (uncredited)
Harry F. Silverman	....	conductor (at the premiere) (uncredited)

Other crew
Edwin G. Hitchcok	....	publicity director (uncredited)
Steve Miranda	....	assistant publicity director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Chadwick Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Chadwick Pictures Corporation (1925) (USA) (theatrical)
• Reel Media International (2004) (worldwide) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Arts Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Intertain (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Passport International Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• Turner Entertainment (2006) (USA) (TV) (presents) (2005 alternate version)
• Video Yesteryear (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Television (2006) (USA) (TV) (2005 alternate version)

Other Companies

• Arts Home Entertainment  artwork and DVD cover design
• EmGee Film Library  presents
• The Robert Israel Orchestra  orchestra (as The Robert Israel Orchestra {Europe}) (2005 alternate version)

Also Known As:

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

Runtime:

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

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White (Sepiatone)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Chadwick Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Dorothy's note is signed "Pastoria". In the original Oz series, Pastoria was the father of Ozma, the present-day ruler of Oz.

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:

Featured in The Piano Man's Daughter (2003) (TV)

I rarely say this about silent films, but this one stinks,...

This movie was reportedly the one that sunk Larry Semon's career. Instead of the usual short films he was known for, Semon decided to do something "important" and made this (for the time) long film adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ,....or at least that's what the title indicates it should be. The story, it seems, bears little similarity to either the 1939 movie or the books. In fact, apart from a few names here and there, it is pretty much unrecognizable as the story about Dorothy and Oz. Instead, it was just an excuse to string along a lot of familiar and not especially funny gags--like I have seen in several other Larry Semon films, the big stunt is his swinging from tower to tower. A neat stunt the first time you see it, but not when it's old material and has nothing to do with the plot.

Overall, I consider this movie a wasted effort. I know that Semon COULD be funny--like he was in his short films. But here, it's just a confusing and dreary mess. Likewise, having Oliver Hardy in the film SHOULD have been an asset, but he was pretty much wasted as well. While not exactly a classic, the 1910 short silent version was much better and stuck closer to the original story and the 1939 version is a classic. This one is better off staying forgotten or seen by the morbidly curious as the project that may have ultimately destroyed Semon's career.

PS--In addition to being a terrible movie, there is a Black man named "Snowflake" that likes to eat watermelon! Ugghh!!!