Talk:The Wizard of Oz

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 22 February 2019 and 29 April 2019. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Jramos112, Jessicannjones, Rjoseph1 (article contribs).

Inaccuracys and needless aspersion

Under the heading Casting the first two paragraphs contain references to rumours which are then dismissed, accusations of inaccuracys, even by named individuals, unattributed claims apparently made by documentarys and other unattributed statements and speculation.

These are followed by inaccurate claims about Durban's experience which could have been avoided by checking the relevant Wikipedia page.

I propose replacing both of these two paragraphs with this:

Several actors were reportedly considered for the part of Dorothy. Shirley Temple, at the time, the most prominent child star. Deanna Durban, a relative new comer, with a recognised operatic voice and Judy Garland, the most experienced of the three. Officially, the decision to cast Garland was attributed to contractual issues. '

Please comment. surfingus (talk) 07:55, 1 July 2019 (UTC)

Acquiring rights

The statement: The tale is almost certainly untrue, as Harlow died in 1937, before MGM had even purchased the rights to the story. would seem to contradict a number of sources and appeared to be unreferenced.

It seems to have been written simply to contradict a generally accepted notion that Shirley Temple was briefly considered for the role. An assertion that Temple Black herself makes in her autobiography. Though she doesn't give a date, she asserts that the Screen rights had been acquired when she was briefly considered for the role after MGM lost Deanna Durban to another studio.

Without verification of the date on which the rights were acquired, contradicting numerous sources, including Temple Black is an error to say the least.

Unless some evidence of the acquisition date can be verified, I propose correcting this paragraph to the generally accepted claims about casting. surfingus (talk) 11:09, 30 June 2019 (UTC)

The Movie is based loosely on the book

The movie of The Wizard of Oz is based loosely on the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There is evidence to prove that the movie is based loosely on the book, and the evidence is in the book, so try and read it. The book and movie are very different.

Impact upon LGBT culture

I don't see the relevance of including this section in this article. It's an article about the film, not its impact on slang of any sort. The film has had a massive impact on American culture in general with many references to the film being utilized in common slang and parlance, for example, "we're not in Kansas anymore" or "if I only had a brain" or "the man behind the curtain". The linked article Friend of Dorothy references plot points that are also in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz but no such link is listed in that article. I'm open to debate. A.S. Williams (talk) 18:05, 28 June 2019 (UTC)

I've taken it out. The article Friend of Dorothy even states the phrase might have originated from a sequel, so the connection is at best tenuously second-hand. Clarityfiend (talk) 19:56, 28 June 2019 (UTC)