If you have a granny who is now more than 70 years, (actually 80 years old) she might remember the greatest film ever made during her time.
The wizard of Oz; had its big Hollywood premier on August 15th 1939 although it debuted first, officially a few days earlier in Oconomowac, Wis, at the Strand Theatre.
Studio chiefs spent so much money on its production ($2.7 million) that they were eager to see how it would play in America's heartland.
Oconomowoc was also the hometown of one of the Munchkins (Meinhardt Raabe) and Wisconsin was the home state of Herbert Stothart, who won an Oscar for the musical score to "Oz."
The American Film Institute ranks "The Wizard of Oz" as the 10th-greatest film of all time ("Gone With the Wind" lands at No. 6), but it's ranked first on the AFI's separate list of greatest movies of the fantasy genre.
AFI ranks "Over the Rainbow" as the finest film song ever.
And now, you can see it too……
In honor of the iconic film’s birthday, a 70th Anniversary “The Wizard of Oz: Ultimate Collectors Edition” will be released on Blu-ray DVD
On September 29, 2009, a special concert will be held in New York City and the film will be available for free on the Internet for a limited time.
On September 8, 2009, Netflix announced that they would offer online viewing the digitally re-mastered “The Wizard of Oz”
for free in honor of the film’s 70th anniversary.
So, the full-length classic will be available online without commercial interruption, on Saturday, October 3, 2009, beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST until 9:00 a.m. the next day.
In order to watch “The Wizard of Oz” online, viewers will need the Microsoft Silverlight plugin.
The hi-def restoration will also be available for free with Netflix compatible devices including Blu-ray DVD players, TiVo DVRs and on Microsoft’s XBox 360.
If you are in New York then you will also be able to see “The Wizard of Oz” Concert in Central Park
Netflix will also broadcast a “Wizard of Oz” concert from New York’s Central Park featuring actress and Grammy award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson and “Dancing With the Stars” champion Julianne Hough.
The concert on September 28, 2009, will feature contemporary versions of the classics from “The Wizard of Oz.”
After the concert, a screening of the restored “The Wizard of Oz” will be presented on a giant screen in the park.
Now won’t that be fun?
And you can also buy collectibles.
The two-disc Blu-ray DVD set goes on sale on September 29, 2009.
The collectible limited-edition box set features a new sing-along track, commentary, outtakes and deleted scenes and six original trailers for the movie.
The “Wizard of Oz” collectors edition will also include a 70th Anniversary collectible watch, a book titled “Behind the Curtain,” and replicas of the movie’s original budget and campaign book.
And you are so lucky that you get chance to re-visit the film and maybe compare the notes with your granny (that is if she is there and has good memory)
Let me know if you get chance to see it and lemme know about your experience….
Okay? Give me Hi-Five!!!
