40 Behind-The-Scenes Details About The Wizard Of Oz

The Wizard of Oz remains one of the most captivating and enchanting films ever to come out of Hollywood. It was a marvel of technical advancement and creative storytelling at the time, and it’s still regarded as one of the best movies ever made. But that level of spectacle always comes at a price, and in many ways, the classic feature was a nightmare to make. If you don’t want to break the spell, best look away now – but for everyone else, here are 40 secrets about the journey down the yellow brick road.

40. A fire was created using apple juice

The Wizard of Oz may have boasted some of the most groundbreaking special effects of its time. But some of the tricks the film’s producers used to create its magic were very simple. Take Dorothy's flame-inducing slippers, for example. Cast your mind back to the scene where we see fire suddenly erupt when Dorothy’s sparkling shoes are yanked by the Wicked Witch. Did you notice anything odd about the explosion? Despite looking like genuine fire, the shot was actually created with apple juice! They didn't burn it, though. Simply speeding up the shot made it look just like real flames. 

39. The Wicked Witch of the West was too scary

The Wicked Witch of the West was played by Margaret Hamilton, who by all accounts was a lovely woman in real life. On screen, though, she apparently played the role a little bit too well. Studio execs were concerned over whether her appearances in the movie would prove just a bit too terrifying for children. And as a result, her screen time ended up getting cut down. So much, in fact, that her screen time amounted to just 12 minutes in total. Despite only appearing briefly throughout, Hamilton remained a hit with fans long after she hung up her cape and crystal ball.

38. Toto got paid more than the Munchkins

Adorable little Toto is undoubtedly one of the most iconic dogs in cinematic history, but did that part warrant a higher wage than some of the actual human actors working alongside him? Well, the people behind The Wizard of Oz certainly thought so. That’s because Terry, the brindle cairn spaniel who played Toto, earned $125 per week; by contrast, the actors who played the Munchkins were paid between $50 and $100 a week. There were a total of 124 little people hired to play Oz's munchkins, and even though their wages may have been small, many of them made appearances on floats and talk shows well after the film's initial buzz died down.

37. Frank Morgan played several parts

Frank Morgan could never be accused of slacking on The Wizard of Oz’s set. Not only did the actor take on the important role of the Wizard himself, but he also portrayed several other characters, including the Emerald City gatekeeper, Professor Marvel, the horse carriage coachman, and the guard who originally doesn’t allow Dorothy and co. access to the Wizard. There are theories, however, that all of those characters were merely a ruse. Some fans have hypothesised that in actual fact, Morgan's five different roles were all the Wizard in disguise!