The Wizard of Oz

My best flick ever was The Wizard of Oz. I think I was about 3 or 4 years old, definitely before I started school, when I saw this film. My uncle (he was in his 20’s) had kidnapped my brother and me from the clutches and, ever watchful eye, of our grandmother (his mother). She did not want us to leave her house. Never did understand why not. I was so excited about getting out of my grandmother’s house that I could barely stand it, and then, add a MOVIE! It was the best! I had no idea what we were going to see. I sat next to my uncle and waited. The movie came on and I watched with curiosity and wondered what this was all about. I remember the sepia tone of the beginning part of the film. I remember the beginning scenes with Dorothy trying to explain about the dog (always wanted a dog) and Mrs. Gulch, what a scary mean thing she was. I felt terrible for Dorothy when she was brushed off by Auntie Em. And then she sang “Somewhere over the Rainbow “and I was hooked. I could see that place she was singing about. I could see exactly what she was wishing for. I was caught up in this somewhat scary story and then – the house landed. She opened the door and walked out into this strange new place. The colors of the scenery, the Munchkins, the songs, the surprise dead witch under the house, the ruby red slippers! Could it get any better – I loved every minute of it. I could not take my eyes off of the screen. As scary as it was I did not look away. Not even when the witch’s face took up the entire screen. I loved the flying monkeys, the idea of flying, and having wings. The Cowardly Lion was so funny, and his song, “If I were King of the Forest” was the best verbal play I can remember. What an introduction to the play of language! And the meeting with the “Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz”! He was so scary when he was just a floating head. And then...… he was just a fake. Grown ups. They can seem so powerful. And then to find out that you can have what you really want by wishing it or thinking it. Of course it wasn’t enough to just want it. In the end, Dorothy had to work for it, too. (I didn’t get that “work for it” part then.) By the time I walked out of the theater and headed home, my head was full with the thoughts and dreams about this wonderful and exciting place. I remember going to bed wishing I could get over the rainbow and live there. It seemed to be so much more than what I was living. What could compete with good witches traveling in bubbles, bad witches on brooms, flying monkeys, cowardly lions, yellow brick roads, talking apple trees and a "horse of a different color"? I have never been as lost or caught up in a film as I was with this one. Reality did not exist at that point. If I think about it now, I can almost see why it appealed to me so much. But I don’t want to ruin it. Some things are worth keeping in memory, as much as you can, the way they first came to you. This is one for me.

In the end, a fanciful place on a celluloid film has all the elements of this earth-bound place (whatever that happens to be in anyone's life at any given moment). Good and bad grown-ups and wonderful uncles that work their magic to get a niece and nephew a little down time away from the pullling and pushing of feuding grown-ups. How does a 3 or 4 year old child not get in anyones way while the grown ups are counting their chickens? Not easy if your limited to staying in eye sight. Too close to be able to get away. Close enough to see and hear what's going on with the grown ups. I did spend alot of time dreaming about different places and how to get to them. I ran away from home three times after seeing that film. Not because of the film ( I don't think). And not at three or four years old. But some time after that. Never got further than the Hudson River. (I was heading for the dock my father used to take us to when he wanted to get close to moving water.) My mother thought I was going swimming. She rode in with a police car to save me. But I was fine. I wasn't going swimming. I was just looking for ... someplace else to be. She didn't get it. In the film, Dorothy got to choose where she wanted to be. I wanted "someplace else" where it wasn't so contrary and difficult to live. Grown ups - can't live with "em, can't live without 'em. What's a kid to do? Go to a movie!



Lily
Age 55
email: vsparis@optonline.net