In 1939, Hollywood gave the world "The Wizard of Oz." Since then, the movie has become a classic. It tells the story of Dorothy, who is whisked away to the land of Oz, where she meets three friends, faces a wicked witch, and must find how to return home. The movie is filled with colorful characters and memorable songs.
However, the production of the movie was nothing less than a nightmare. Judy Garland, who played Dorothy, was forced to take pills to keep her weight down. She was put on a strict diet, had to wear a tight corset under her dress, and if that were not enough, she was called demeaning names and abused by the studio heads. The original actor for the tin man, Buddy Ebson, was poisoned by the toxic makeup he had to wear, and was in the hospital for two weeks. The other actors who had to wear makeup experienced similar problems. They were forced to keep the makeup on all day, and were not allowed to eat because if the makeup was consumed, they would face severe illness. Bert Lahr, who played the cowardly lion, had to wear a 90-pound suit that was made of real lion fur. He sweat profusely in it, but was not allowed to take it off until the end of each day. Margaret Hamilton, who played the witch, caught on fire during a scene where she was to vanish in a puff of smoke. Her hands and face were severely burned. When she refused to do the stunt again, her double was also burned in the explosion.
But that's not all. The 120 actors who played the munchkins were put in a hotel, and every night there was drinking, shouting, and carousing. These actors were overworked and underpaid, and the studio did not care for them. On one occasion, the police were sent to the hotel in order to round up the small actors, and they used large nets to catch them and bring them to the studio. One rumor has it that one of the munchkins hung himself, and his silhouette can be seen in the background of one of the scenes.
While "The Wizard of Oz" is one of the most critically acclaimed movies of all time, the background of the film is truly appalling. The world of Oz was so bright and cheerful, and yet in reality, there was darkness, abuse, suffering, and contempt. This is a perfect picture of the world. The world acts like it's a bright and cheery place, but in reality, the world is filled with darkness, abuse, suffering, and contempt. The glamor of the world cannot hide its true nature. People put on a bright demeanor and dance with joy, and yet their lives are full of misery.