The Wizard of Oz: Formal Success through Movement and Photography Eileen Mills College

The 1939 film The Wizard of Oz directed by Richard Thorpe has been a successful film for quite some time, although it wasn’t a hit at first. Formalist movies were relatively new and The Wizard of Oz took many risks when it comes to form. Movies prior to The Wizard of Oz tended to focus more on Realism. These films didn’t have all of the tools that the director for the Wizard of Oz had when creating the movie. The director dared to play with formalistic elements, making the film larger than what audiences were used to at the time. Many people consider this film to be a classic and for good reason. Even today, one can appreciate the formal elements of the film. Perhaps two of the biggest elements that have contributed to the success of the film are its use of photography and movement.

This film is jam packed with movement from the very beginning. We almost never see the characters sitting. Characters are nearly always moving forward with the plot. There is a continual expression of motion which makes this film art. These stylistic choices keep the viewer engaged. Audiences rarely have time to grow bored because their eyes are constantly moving from one movement to the next. Unsuccessful films may have less movement or tighter...