Rating: 
Summary: A Fascinating Look at the Old Hollywood Studio System
Review: "The Making of the Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM--And the Miracle of Production No 1060" is just downright enthralling. It is an expose' that breaks down the machinery and the machinations of what it took to get a major movie made in the days of the autocratic studio heads. The book offers an entertaining and totally engrossing look at the legendary film. Judy, Ray, Jack, Bert, Margaret, and Toto, too, are all analyzed in this brilliant work. The songwriters, the respective directors, the many other craftsmen, as well as the "little people," in more than the figurative sense, are all here. Vividly embellished with stills from the production, the book's text is just as captivating. The familiar as well as the unfamiliar stories about the production make for a most satisfying read for any "Oz" fan. It is also a good primer for anyone with an interest in pursuing film as a career.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Look at the Old Hollywood Studio System
Review: "The Making of the Wizard of Oz: Movie Magic and Studio Power in the Prime of MGM--And the Miracle of Production No 1060" is just downright enthralling. It is an expose' that breaks down the machinery and the machinations of what it took to get a major movie made in the days of the autocratic studio heads. The book offers an entertaining and totally engrossing look at the legendary film. Judy, Ray, Jack, Bert, Margaret, and Toto, too, are all analyzed in this brilliant work. The songwriters, the respective directors, the many other craftsmen, as well as the "little people," in more than the figurative sense, are all here. Vividly embellished with stills from the production, the book's text is just as captivating. The familiar as well as the unfamiliar stories about the production make for a most satisfying read for any "Oz" fan. It is also a good primer for anyone with an interest in pursuing film as a career.
Rating:
Summary: A jewel for fans of the movie.
Review: Almost as good as Round Up The Usual Subjects, Harmetz's book about the making of Casablanca, which is absolute magic. A terrfic story about the making of Wizard by someone who was an insider from the time she was very young.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for anyone interested in the film or Hollywood
Review: And just in time for Christmas! I've read a lot of "making of" books, and this is one of the top two-- the other one being, of course, Aljean Harmetz's book about "Casablanca," "Round Up the Ususl Suspects." Her books are incredibly readable, almost like novels, while conveying not just a sense of what went into the making of *a* movie, but how Hollywoood as a whole functioned at the time the movie was being made. "The Making of the Wizard of Oz" is a terrific education about the studio system, the gigantic movie-making machine that turned out fantasy on a production-line basis; it digresses into fascinating sub-areas, like the fate of Broadway songwriters in Hollywood. And there's one incredible story about the Wizard's coat that still amazes me, years after first reading it. This is the classic book about the classic American movie, and it's the best possible example for anybody who ever wants to write about motion pictures or the motion picture industry. I intend to buy ten copies to give away as Christmas gifts.
Rating:
Summary: What a delight to have this book back in print!
Review: And just in time for Christmas! I've read a lot of "making of" books, and this is one of the top two-- the other one being, of course, Aljean Harmetz's book about "Casablanca," "Round Up the Ususl Suspects." Her books are incredibly readable, almost like novels, while conveying not just a sense of what went into the making of *a* movie, but how Hollywoood as a whole functioned at the time the movie was being made. "The Making of the Wizard of Oz" is a terrific education about the studio system, the gigantic movie-making machine that turned out fantasy on a production-line basis; it digresses into fascinating sub-areas, like the fate of Broadway songwriters in Hollywood. And there's one incredible story about the Wizard's coat that still amazes me, years after first reading it. This is the classic book about the classic American movie, and it's the best possible example for anybody who ever wants to write about motion pictures or the motion picture industry. I intend to buy ten copies to give away as Christmas gifts.
Rating:
Summary: 60th (sixty years) Anniversary Edition--
Review: Author will be signing this commemorative edition at Judy Garland Museum, June 25-27,in her hometown--Grand Rapids,MN. Many Munckins will be there!..Festival program is online...& includes film showings,remastered.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for anyone interested in the film or Hollywood
Review: Excellent book! Unsentimental and even-handed, the sections on the individuals involved in making the movie are fascinating, especially since for most of them it was "just another job." I could've done without the lengthy psychoanalysis at the end, but otherwise it's very good.
Rating:
Summary: A jewel for fans of the movie.
Review: I am not an avid reader but my eye caught this book on a library shelf. I thumbed through it and found the pictures to be beautiful. I decided to give it a try and was terribly moved by the contents.Ms. Harmetz did her homework when she wrote this trivia-packed volume about those faithful months when 4 different directors molded what would become a television tradition. I also found that Ms. Hamilton's contributions to be some of the most interesting tidbits throughout the book, this despite the fact that her entire role in the film was a total of 12 minutes! Ms. Harmetz peaked an interest in me that has previously been non-existent. The book is phenomenal and you will finish it within one sitting-like I did! Anthony "Toto" LaPerna Jr.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal Encaptulation of the Making Of Oz
Review: I am not an avid reader but my eye caught this book on a library shelf. I thumbed through it and found the pictures to be beautiful. I decided to give it a try and was terribly moved by the contents. Ms. Harmetz did her homework when she wrote this trivia-packed volume about those faithful months when 4 different directors molded what would become a television tradition. I also found that Ms. Hamilton's contributions to be some of the most interesting tidbits throughout the book, this despite the fact that her entire role in the film was a total of 12 minutes! Ms. Harmetz peaked an interest in me that has previously been non-existent. The book is phenomenal and you will finish it within one sitting-like I did! Anthony "Toto" LaPerna Jr.
Rating:
Summary: A Peek Behind the Curtain
Review: If you're a die hard fan of this classic film then you'll want to read this well-researched "making of" tome. The book is filled with all sorts of wonderful trivia tidbits but most of all it gives an insightful review of those behind the camera in a way I've yet to find in other "OZ" related books. The one and only shortcoming of this book is to be found in the number of pictures, in my opinion there could have been more, otherwise it's a behind the scenes look that most OZ fans won't be disappointed with.
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