Global Cinema: Costumes, Makeup, and Props... Oh My!
The Wizard of Oz (Victor Fleming, 1939) has remained one of the most popular movies of all time and is one of my childhood favorites. The costumes of Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) and other cast members are so distinct and iconic that they are even commonly worn as Halloween costumes to this day. Many mise-en-scene elements were required to produce the magic of The Wizard of Oz film, but two elements that especially stood to me included costume and props.
Dorothy’s costume and hair contribute to her innocent, naiveté by decorating her in a young, somewhat frilly outfit with pigtails. As one of the first Technicolor films, the audience was able to truly appreciate the impact of this costume and makeup by getting a clearer, more colorful image. In addition, the red slippers played a significant role in not only establishing Dorothy as the protagonist of the film but also contributing to one of the many different messages of the film: Dorothy was always capable of achieving her wish on her own (due to the power of the red slippers). In addition, the costumes of the Scarecrow (Paul Scheer), Tin Man (Jack Haley), and Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) were very intricately made, involving a lot of makeup to achieve completely tin or animal-like features. The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) also required a lot of makeup in order to have a green face and a pointed nose to achieve the full “ugly witch” look.
Props played an important role, especially towards the end of the film when the Wizard gives gifts to the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. This is one of the most iconic and comedic scenes due to the satire related to each gift. For example, the Wizard (Frank Morgan) gave the Scarecrow a diploma rather than a brain, saying people who go to universities "think deep thoughts — and with no more brains” than the scarecrow, with the only difference being a diploma. The Wizard also states that “a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others,” which is normally not what people choose to believe. Each object plays a significant role as they represent what each character wanted. Other important props include Dorothy's ruby red slippers, the Wicked Witch’s crystal ball used to make Dorothy’s journey difficult, the Wicked Witch's magical broomstick sought by The Wizard, and Glinda’s (Billie Burke) magical wand.
Aside from these two elements, there is undeniable attention to detail when it comes to the mise-en-scene of the entire film. The songs are so skillfully integrated into the dialogue of the musical while other music sets the tone of certain scenes. The intricately designed setting with the yellow brick road and illustrated landscapes contributed to the surrealism of the Land of Oz. Each of the main characters' figure behaviors were also performed as accurately as possible, as the Tin Man walked and danced stiffly, the Scarecrow walked with less control over his knees, and the Cowardly Lion’s tail moves around. Without each strategic element of mise-en-scene, especially the costumes and props, the film would have been too similar to the original The Wonderful World of Oz (Otis Turner, 1910) and perhaps not as beloved as it is today.
