The fiery moment on The Wizard of Oz set that left iconic star with third-degree burns
As a lifestyle expert with a keen interest in the intersection of art and adversity, I find Margaret Hamilton’s tale to be both enlightening and heartwarming. The fact that the iconic Wicked Witch of the West, portrayed by Hamilton, suffered severe burns on set during the filming of the original Wizard of Oz is a stark reminder of the realities of Hollywood’s golden age.
It’s been disclosed that the actress portraying the Wicked Witch of the West in the initial Wizard of Oz film endured both second- and third-degree burns while filming.
Margaret Hamilton, who died in May 1985 at the age of 82, famously took on the timeless character of the green witch, now being brought to life by British actress Cynthia Erivo in the latest Wicked movie adaptation. However, her memorable portrayal wasn’t without its challenges.
John Fricke, an authority on Oz and writer, has shared insights into an incident where Judy Garland got hurt while filming the 1939 movie, during a scene involving actual flames on the set.
In the mentioned scene, it’s when the witch emerges on the Yellow Brick Road, addressing Dorothy, portrayed by Judy Garland, and her pet dog Toto with this warning: “I intend to capture both of you – you and your tiny pup.
Following her well-known, eerie cackle echoing through the air, the witch vanished, leaving behind a swirling mass of red smoke and flames. Since computer-generated imagery (CGI) didn’t exist during that era, every element in the scene was genuine and highly combustible.
According to Fricke’s explanation to People, Hamilton was told to position herself on a platform within the yellow brick road’s floor, which could be lowered to bring her and her broom down as a red smoke haze enveloped her departure.
After Hamilton had been completely lowered beneath the stage setup, the team would ignite flames from vent openings in the floor nearby.
In the morning, they practiced it repeatedly and managed to capture it flawlessly in their first attempt. Maggie spoke the line, spun around, made it to the elevator, smoke billowed, they lowered her through the floor, she escaped unscathed, the fire effects were impeccable, and there was a lot of excitement on set.
After noon arrived, they all took their leave, just like Maggie would often remark. Upon their return from lunch, everyone seemed slightly less focused and not quite as spot-on as they were in the morning’s early hours.
After each attempt for another shot, there were failures, Fricke explained. Then, he stated that Director Victor Fleming became increasingly frustrated with the technical crew, and he sternly reprimanded them using strong words and actions.
Regrettably, during their subsequent attempt at the scene, unforeseen events transpired and Hamilton sustained an injury as he was immersed in water due to a collapsed floor.
According to Fricke, several things remained above the ground: her head, her shoulders, the broom straw, and her hat with its draped piece of gauze attached.
He disclosed that both the gauze and the broom straw ignited, and when this happened, crew members positioned below had to assist Hamilton in exiting from the platform elevator due to the fire.
They managed to extinguish the fire swiftly, yet it happened too slowly, resulting in injuries.
The crew allegedly informed the actress, “Ms. Hamilton, it’s crucial that we remove the makeup from your face. The green pigment is harmful, and if left on, the copper will penetrate your skin, potentially causing disfigurement.
In the ten years prior to her passing, Fricke reminisced about Hamilton, saying: “They cleaned her face and hand with rubbing alcohol, a tale she had shared with me multiple times.
She exclaimed, “I might just let out a shout.” She emphatically stated, “I will always remember the agony of those burns being treated with alcohol, for as long as I breathe.
According to Maggie’s past accounts, it seems that the flames from the broomstraw in her hand and the trailing fabric of her hat quickly jumped towards her face and hand, causing a burn.
The elevator shaft was remarkably small, with the smoke and fire exits situated right next to its entrance. Unfortunately, she suffered severe burns similar to what others might experience when trapped in a sudden blaze.
After the incident, Hamilton needed six weeks to recover before resuming filming, yet it took additional time for her skin to regain its usual appearance.
According to Fricke’s disclosure, she mentioned that following the filming period, others commented on her appearance by saying, “You seem somewhat green.” It turned out that some green substance from the film set had been absorbed into her skin. It took some time for her to wash it off or for her body to eliminate it altogether.
Nevertheless, even following the incident, he affirmed that Hamilton cherished working on the film and took great pride in it right up until his passing.
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2024-11-28 20:08