Friday, January 23, 2009

Month O' Musicals: The Wizard of Oz


Vital Stats:
Year: 1939
Director: Victor Fleming
Stars: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Frank Morgan, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton
Based on the novel by: L. Frank Baum

Summary:
Dorothy Gale and her little dog Toto are swept away in a cyclone and transported to the magical land of Oz. In her quest to return back home, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road in search of the wonderful wizard of Oz, making new friends (and a dangerous enemy) along the way.

Memorable Moments:
The beautiful song "Over the Rainbow" made it to the top of AFI's 100 Years 100 Songs list. Many other aspects of the movie (the ruby slippers, the yellow brick road, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my", "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore") have been referenced elsewhere, showing the fairytale's wide appeal and cultural impact.

What I love about it:
It's hard to be objective about a childhood favorite, and it's very possible that nostalgia plays a part in why this one is close to my heart. Anyway I'm not alone; the movie seems pretty universally beloved. But one unusual thing I like about the story is the four main characters' connection to the four main temperament types outlined by David Keirsey. In the book People Patterns, these characters are referenced (along with other book and movie examples) to show how different temperaments behave. Dorothy is the stable Guardian, cautious and yearning for home; the Scarecrow is the quick-thinking, brainy Rational who figures out how things work; the Tin Man is the dreamy Idealist with the kindest heart of all; the Lion is the excitable Artisan who values courageous action above all else. I think it's a lot of fun trying to guess where people (and movie characters) fit into the different personality/temperament types, and these four make a good starting place (and reference point) for the basics. What's your personality type?

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