To celebrate the classic film's 75th anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is re-releasing
The Wizard of Oz for an exclusive one-week 3D IMAX theatrical engagement on September 20th, then bringing the newly remastered presentation to stores and online retailers via a trio of Blu-ray releases, which street on October 1st:
Official Synopsis: Adapted from L. Frank Baum's timeless children's tale about a Kansas girl's journey over the rainbow,
The Wizard of Oz opened at Grauman's Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed
Gone With the Wind), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Dorothy was portrayed by a 4'11" sixteen-year-old girl who quickly earned her reputation as the world's greatest entertainer: the incomparable Judy Garland. Ray Bolger appeared as the Scarecrow, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Jack Haley as the Tin Man, and Frank Morgan in six different roles, chief among them the Wizard himself.
The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture (Outstanding Production), and captured two Oscars -- Best Song ("Over the Rainbow") and Best Original Score -- plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland. The film was an overwhelmingly popular and critical success upon its initial release, and repeated its ability to captivate audiences when MGM reissued the film in 1949 and 1955. The film made a new kind of history with its network television premiere in 1956 on CBS. Nearly 45 million people tuned in for this initial telecast, marking the beginning of an annual tradition. Ever since,
The Wizard of Oz has been shown virtually annually on network (and then cable) television; its magical story and heartfelt performances have enabled it to grow from a perennial classic to its current status as a treasured icon of popular culture.
The
75th Anniversary Collector's Edition is a five-disc set that will include Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and UltraViolet versions of the film; a new documentary, additional bonus features and premium collectibles. Special features will include:
- "The Making of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," a candid overview of how a troubled production overcame the odds to become an integral part of American culture features contributions from historians John Fricke and Sam Wasson, composers Stephen Schwartz and Marc Shaiman, critics Leonard Maltin and Michael Sragow, Bert Lahr's son John as well as revealing interview clips with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Buddy Ebsen, Margaret Hamilton and Mervyn LeRoy, among others.
- Exclusive Collectible Memorabilia, including a 75th Anniversary journal, Sparkle Ruby Slippers Globe, a 3-piece Noble Collection enamel pin set, a map of Oz, and a 48-page hardcover book.
- All Previously Released Bonus Content
The 3D conversion was a long and complex project which Warner Bros. initiated with a very high resolution 8k scanning of the original Technicolor camera negative. The restored 2D image was then transformed by creating a depth-map of each frame to construct 3D imagery and determine distances from the viewer's vantage point. This was followed by the long process (with the use of a rotoscope) to further refine viewer distances and fully layer shapes and objects.
"We couldn't be happier to partner with IMAX as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of this iconic film," said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. "
The Wizard of Oz IMAX 3D Experience is an integral part of our studio-wide anniversary initiative and we are excited to give fans the rare opportunity to see this stunning version on the big screen."
"People have asked for years about
The Wizard of Oz 3D conversion. My answer was always, 'We're not doing it until it's perfect.' And now it is," said Ned Price, Warner Technical Operations' Vice President of Mastering. "As a kid, I was so enthralled by this film. Watching it, you just want to enter the frame, enter the Land of Oz. This new version will allow you to do just that."