I. Introduction and Thesis Statement
A. There are many compromises made when a well known book is made into a film. Too many compromises and the movie loses the feeling and flavor of the book. Trying to be true to the setting, characters, and plot of the book can bog down the film in details. In comparing the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by Frank Baum and the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz”, the writers, producers, and directors were careful to mold aspects from the book that would make the film as timeless as the book.
B. Both book and film are based on happiness and where and how it may be found. The book places its main character in a fantastic, but real land. The film places the main character in a land found in her dreams or fantasies. Both genres require the main character to accomplish the same challenging task leading to happiness. Differences that appropriately drive both book and film to success are differences in supporting characters, violence and the dangers encountered, and the ending for each of the main characters.
1. Characters
a. The three main supporting characters (Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow), the Wicked Witch, and the Wizard of Oz haveactual counterparts (farmhands) in Dorothy’s life in Kansas in the movie but not in the book.
1. The movie
a. The three supporting characters are the three farm hands on Dorothy’s uncle’s farm, the Wicked Witch is the town Mayor Almira Gultch, and the Wizard of Oz is a salesman.
b. There are no back-stories as to why each of the three supporting characters are looking for a brain, a heart, and courage.
2. The book
a. The three farm hands are not in the book
b. many additional characters add color and interest to the travels of Dorothy in the Land of Oz
2. Violence and dangers encountered
a. There is a good deal of violence in the book but not in the movie
1. The movie
a. The trees throw apples,
b. Scarecrow is attacked (loses all his straw)
2. The book
a. violence against main characters: Witch sends bees, flying monkeys, crows, and more to stop progress to Oz
b. main characters are violent: Tinman chops off wolves heads, scarecrow strangles crows
3. The book and movie end differently for each of the main characters
a. Each character has their own happy ending, but not the same ones.
1. The movie
a. The Scarecrow is given a diploma, the lion a medal, and the Tinman a heart-shaped clicking clock
b. Ends when the Wizard and Dorothy go home
2. The book
a. Scarecrow becomes ruler over Emerald City, The Tinman rules over the Winkies (natives living in Winkie Country freed from the Wicked Witch), and the Lion rules over the beasts of the forest.
b. Ends when Dorothy and companions travel to Quadling Country to get Glinda’s advice and tie up the Cowardly Lion’s plot.
II. Conclusion
A. The 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz was modeled after the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). They have similarities, but also have many important differences such as changing the characters, the level of violence, and the endings.
B. The book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is the better choice of entertainment. The additional characters and scenery add to the comparison of the settings (both Kansas and Oz) with many details allowing the reader to visualize a land of make-believe.
C. The book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz employed many subtleties that could represent the political, economic, and social conditions of the day. For example, the yellow brick road is a metaphor for money and the name of the city, Oz, is an abbreviation for ounce (measure for gold and silver). (Taylor, n.d.). Seeing “Dorothy as Everyman, the Scarecrow as American Farmers, the Tinman as the industrial workers, and the Cowardly Lion as a believer in the strength of the common people (Liebold, 2016) may also be metaphors.
References
Liebold, P. (2016). Populism and the land of Oz. Retrieved from
Taylor, Q. (n.d.). Money and politics in the land of Oz. Retrieved from