|
Would she like it, or would it be too boring (or too scary)
for her?
Shouldn't really have worried. The worst thing was trying
to explain what a twister was, where Kansas was, why the old
hag was being mean to the little dog and why the girl was
singing about a rainbow.
Oh boy, we were facing another hour-and-a-half of answering
questions when the talking stopped and silence reigned. Was
she asleep?
Shouldn't really have worried. There were two bright blue
eyes staring at the screen in absolute awe as Dorothy (Judy
Garland) moves from black and white into the multi-hued colours
of the Land of Oz.
And what a new-look journey it is into the land of the Scarecrow
(Ray Bolger), Tinman (Jack Haley), cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr)
and those annoying little Munchkins.
The transfer on to DVD is stunning with a clarity and sharpness
that brings the whole adventure to life.
Beginning with the "real-life" colour of the early years
- sepia - the images have a warmth not seen before. They are
rich and earthy-toned and while some of special effects -
particularly the window scenes during the storm - are lower
quality, overall there is a real depth to the pictures.
When young Dorothy opens the door into the land of Oz, the
mass of colours hits you but not in a garish, over-exposed
way. They are beautifully understated when there could have
been a real danger of being blinded by oversaturated masses
of clashing colours.
The sound is terrific with the songs coming across marvelously
well and the sound effects - like the tapping and squeaking
of tin - being picked up perfectly.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which was in danger of
being dropped because of the film's length, If I Only Had
a Brain, We're Off to see the Wizard, Ding Dong
the Witch is Dead, and Follow the Yellow Brick Road
are a hugely enjoyable part of the movie and have never
sounded better.
You can see why a young Judy Garland was regarded as being
perfect for the part as she was a sensational singer with
a rich, controlled voice at a very young age.
If there is a problem with the sound it comes when trying
to work out what the screechy munchkins are saying. Damn,
they're hard to follow and, quite frankly, gave me the complete
irrits. Shame the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton)
didn't get them.
But whether seen through the jaundiced eyes of an adult,
or the wondering eyes of a five-year-old, The Wizard of
Oz is a magical experience for all.
"We're off to see the Wizard …"
Conclusion: Movie: 90% DVD Extras: 90%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
|
