By Rebecca Fowler
Staff Writer
Since 1939, the world has been fascinated by the film version of Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. We know the story, we know the songs, and we have fallen in love with the classic characters.
Not only was The Wizard of Oz a Technicolor masterpiece at the time of its premiere, but it also reached new heights with popularity in other venues. Gregory Maguire resurrected the story by rewriting it from the villain’s perspective in his novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and continuing his story in Son of a Witch and A Lion Among Men. Both the original “Wizard of Oz” and Maguire’s first novel were adapted into Broadway musicals in “The Wiz” and “Wicked.”
With The Wizard of Oz’s recent surge in popularity, it is no surprise that its 70th anniversary would be a celebration. On Sept. 29, Warner Bros. released a collector’s edition of the movie in Blue-ray, and Netflix offered free instant-streaming for members on Oct. 3.
The most extravagant release, however, was the 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition, which includes almost four hours of bonus features and the original film on five disks. Also included is a collectible and numbered 70th Anniversary Wizard of Oz watch with genuine crystals, a replica of the original film budget, Behind the Curtain—a 52-page coffee-table book, and a reproduction of the original 1939 campaign book.
The Collector’s Edition can be found at book stores including Barnes and Noble and Borders.
