Wizard of Oz

So for a movie that was made in 1939 the wizard of oz still kicks ass---and is even better as I pay attention to the lyrics.  Man, that cowardly lion is pretty darn funny.  I used to really like the scare crow because of his song, "whilin away the hours consulting with the flowers...." and really who can tell me "why the ocean is near the shore..."  Id be thinkin things Id never thunk before!!  But after this showing - the lions song is way way better.

"What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? What have they got that I ain't got?"



What the heck is a hottentot you ask???  I did, to google that is...and came up with this:

Saarjite Baartman, a young Khosian woman from Southern Africa whose body was the main attraction at public spectacles in both England and France for over five years, is perhaps the most infamous case of a Khosian body on display.  Baartman, who became known as the Hottentot Venus, was brought to Europe from Cape Town in 1810 by an English ship's surgeon who wished to publicly exhibit the woman's steatopygia, her enlarged buttocks.  Her physique, particularly her steatopygic appendage, became the object of popular fascination when Baartman was exhibited naked in a cage at Piccadilly, England.

But I digress....

The local TV/Internet company here hosted a free showing of the Wizard of Oz at a little local theater.  It was gonna be awesome!  So, I decided 2 things
1. I was going to start reading the Wicked books.  You know...the books about how the wicked wich of the East came to be and all that.  Very political that land of Oz - and whats up with Glenda being so stuck up and frivolous????
2. to invite a bunch of people and make them dress up as characters from the movie.  Lots of people asked why was it like a Rocky Horror Picture Show thing or did we get a discount to get in...which is a dumb question cuz it was free....so heres my answer - because I wanted to dress up and I didn't want to be the only one.  So I told everyone else they would be the only one and what do you know peer pressure worked!

Mom is a munchkin from the lollypop guild
Dad is the Tinman
Aunt Ren is Auntie Em
Emily is the scare crow
Natalia is a flying evil monkey who hasn't gotten her wings yet so isn't quite evil enough
Carissa is another munchkin

They played it on the big screen and all I can think - maybe that wasn't such a good idea???  Like - you can see the fake settings - its more like a theatrical performance than a movie.  Yes I know it was made in 1939 - but on the TV its still magical and you don't get quite the same feeling.  Here it was like we were almost watching a live performance....which could be a good thing....

The Munchkin that hangs himself in the forest is NOT true and I know that it was demythed long time ago - as in its old news to you all, but...I can confirm this urban legend is false!  Ive seen it now with my own eyes.  One of the birds on set is in the background and fluttered its wing at the wrong moment.  If you notice when they walk up to the woodcutters cabin you will see the African Gray Crowned Crain....when you watch the movie on the big screen and they are just about to dance off to the wizard - YOU SEE THE FREAKIN BIRD....on the tiny tv its the munchkin who killed himself for love....*sigh*...

annnnnd....maybe its because it was HUGE screen and all but you could tell the blue evil flying monkeys were just "little people" - and they weren't as scary as I recall.  Oh and the Tinman was wearing gloves....rubber gloves.  His pants were also just that-pants - you see the wrinkles in the material when he walks away....