It's one thing to talk about, out of the hundreds of millions of films that have been made in the history of motion pictures, which film is the greatest. In truth, it's very hard and subjective to determine, because everybody (and I mean everybody) has an opinion.
Orson Wells' landmark cautionary tale Citizen Kane (1941), for example, has held the top spot for almost two decades on many general historical and critical lists, including the American Film Institute (check here and here), while Frank Darabont's adaptation of Stephen King's prison drama, The Shawshank Redemption (1994), ranks first on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)'s list of the highest-rated films of all time. And of course, the box-office always informs us of the most "successful" movies in history, with Jaws (1975), Star Wars (1977), E.T. (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), Titanic (1997), and Avatar (2009) each respectively claiming the top spot one time or another. (To be sure, this latter group represents how many people went to see these films at their respective releases. It doesn't say what people thought about them.)
On the other hand, ask yourself this question: What defines a film as timeless and enduring? More specifically, how do you define a film that will be remembered years later?
Well, story and characters are two things to consider, as is the case with any of the classic fairy tales adapted by Disney (e.g., Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast), historical epics (e.g., Gone With the Wind, The Godfather), inspirational sports dramas (e.g., Rocky), and unlikely stories of friendship (e.g., E.T.). Yet, even some of these films have elements that can feel dated or stuck in the specific time they were made in, whether in a medieval period, during the Civil War, or in the 1970s or 1980s, respectfully. After all, certain tropes, such as on-screen smoking and damsels in distress, don't keep forever.
Ironically, time is, in fact, the one thing that will tell you if a film is . . . well, timeless. It's interesting that many features now regarded as "classics" were not initially well-received, critically and/or commercially. And yet, through various analyses, multiple re-releases in theaters, repeated viewings on television, and word-of-mouth over the years, such films as the aforementioned Kane and Shawshank, as well as It's A Wonderful Life (released in 1946) and The Wizard of Oz (1939), are now considered great achievements.
Which brings me to my next point.
I believe that director Victor Fleming's adaptation of author L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will be the one film remembered most. In fact, it's the one film I know of (other than E.T. and Star Wars, maybe) that, I believe, almost everybody is, at least, familiar with or has heard of, if not seen, in just about any regard.
For one thing, there are the iconic characters, such as the Kansas-based heroine, Dorothy Gale (an irreplaceable Judy Garland), and her lovable dog Toto, who get caught in a tornado one day and end up in a magical land known as Oz. From there, she encounters a host of colorful characters, such as the Munchkins, Glinda the Good Witch (Billie Burke), the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), the citizens of Emerald City (with character actor Frank Morgan in multiple roles, including "the man behind the curtain"), and of course, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and her flying monkeys, on a journey to get back home.
So many of the film's lines have become synonymous with the pop culture zeitgeist: "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore." "I'll get you, my pretty! And you're little dog, too!" "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" "I'm melting!" "There's no place like home." The same goes for the many memorable scenes, such as Dorothy inside the tornado cycle (predating 1996's Twister), entering Oz for the first time (a magical transition from sepia to technicolor), Miss Almira Gulch riding her bike down the road (which, for me as a child, implied something threatening and, in a way, imposing), the Tin Man dancing (a brilliant showcase for Haley), and the signature (almost-cut) ballad "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (probably Garland's most famous song).
To reiterate, an enduring story shouldn't feel stuck in its own time period, but include universal elements and character arcs that are relevant in any time, as well as any culture, age, race, ethnicity, class, or gender. In those respects, the film has something for everyone, any time, any where. Even though The Wizard of Oz is a product of the 1930s, it doesn't feel stuck there. The production design, sets, and costumes and makeup for each character, haven't aged at all.
The screenplay (written by Noel Langley and Florence Ryerson) is a classic three-act structure of the hero(ine)'s journey ("Follow the Yellow Brick Road") and that of her companions. Feeling that her family is very busy, neglecting, and doesn't understand her, Dorothy wants to escape to a place where there are supposedly no troubles or worries. What follows is a journey that is breathtaking, at times scary (the Wicked Witch continues to terrify children and adults after all these years), and ultimately a quest for identity and home.
In fact, many of the characters Dorothy meets mirror those in Kansas as well, and each have clearly defined personalities, and a desire for qualities they believe they don't have. The Wicked Witch clearly wants the ruby slippers, which represent power and control of the land. The Scarecrow (only afraid of fire) wants wisdom and intellect. The Tin Man (who rusts from rain or sadness) wants love and empathy. And the Cowardly Lion (need I say more) wants courage, or rather willingness and bravery. Each of these qualities represent lessons the hero(ine) learns on her journey, including overcoming failure, self-doubt, hollowness and imperfections, and embracing friendships of all kinds. (One of my favorite lines, in this respect, is from the Lion: "Wouldn't you feel degraded to be seen in the company of a cowardly lion?" Wonderful.)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the best stories are those that not only allow us to escape from reality for a few moments, but leave us with themes and messages to help us deal with reality. Is it any wonder children and adults continue to be enthralled by fairy tales, superheroes, or even Dr. Seuss characters? The Wizard of Oz is the pinnacle example of fantasy and adventure in motion pictures.
 |
| "You're the best friends anybody ever had. And yet, it's funny, I feel as if I've known you for a long time." Fitting for such a perennial and untouchable film. |
No comments:
Post a Comment